The discussion about the drivers that govern the spatial patterns of diversity has been focussed on two seemingly independent models: (1) neutral dynamics, mediated by larval supply and dispersal limitations, and (2) niche processes, mainly environmental control. However, metacommunity theory assumes that drivers evoked by both models (niche and neutral) might act simultaneously, but at different spatial scales, in shaping assemblage composition and structure. In this study, we use communities inhabiting prop roots of the Caribbean mangrove Rhizophora mangle L. as a model system to test hypotheses about the role of environmental control and neutral dynamics as potential synergic drivers at multiple spatial scales. For this, environmental, biological and spatial data were obtained from the southern Caribbean under a hierarchical sampling design that includes (1) mangrove systems distanced apart by hundreds of km, (2) sectors within each mangrove systems separated by a few km, (3) sites within each sector separated by tens of metres and (4) neighbouring roots in a site. Non-parametric multivariate statistics were used to describe, link and test the environmental, biological and spatial patterns. In general, we found that environmental filtering, principally salinity and supply of energy/nutrients, could be the primary filters that sustain differences in composition and structure of the assemblages at the spatial scale of mangrove systems. At local spatial scales, shallow depths (<1 m) seem to be a critical environmental filter for these assemblages. Beyond this environmental filter, it seems that the distribution and abundance of species might be more affected by neutral processes. However, we detect a wide diversity of spatiotemporal trends of species distribution and abundance. These results support the conclusion that niche and neutral processes act simultaneously, affecting species and individuals, rather than as general drivers affecting the whole metacommunity.

中文翻译：

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与加勒比地区 Rhizophora mangle L. 支柱根相关的污垢组合的变化：中性和生态位过程的作用

关于控制多样性空间模式的驱动因素的讨论集中在两个看似独立的模型上：（1）中性动态，由幼虫供应和扩散限制介导，以及（2）生态位过程，主要是环境控制。然而，元社区理论假设由两种模型（利基和中性）引发的驱动因素可能同时作用，但在不同的空间尺度上，塑造组合的组成和结构。在这项研究中，我们使用居住在加勒比红树林Rhizophora mangle支柱根的社区L. 作为一个模型系统来测试关于环境控制和中性动态作为多个空间尺度的潜在协同驱动因素的作用的假设。为此，在分层抽样设计下从加勒比南部获得环境、生物和空间数据，其中包括 (1) 相距数百公里的红树林系统，(2) 每个红树林系统内相距几公里的部门，(3 ) 每个扇区内相隔数十米的站点和 (4) 站点中的相邻根。非参数多元统计用于描述、链接和测试环境、生物和空间模式。总的来说，我们发现环境过滤，主要是盐度和能量/营养素的供应，可能是维持红树林系统空间尺度上组合的组成和结构差异的主要过滤器。在局部空间尺度上，浅层深度（<1 m）似乎是这些组合的关键环境过滤器。除了这个环境过滤器，似乎物种的分布和丰度可能更受中性过程的影响。然而，我们检测到物种分布和丰度的时空趋势的广泛多样性。这些结果支持这样的结论，即生态位和中性过程同时作用，影响物种和个体，而不是作为影响整个元群落的一般驱动因素。除了这个环境过滤器，似乎物种的分布和丰度可能更受中性过程的影响。然而，我们检测到物种分布和丰度的时空趋势的广泛多样性。这些结果支持这样的结论，即生态位和中性过程同时作用，影响物种和个体，而不是作为影响整个元群落的一般驱动因素。除了这个环境过滤器，似乎物种的分布和丰度可能更受中性过程的影响。然而，我们检测到物种分布和丰度的时空趋势的广泛多样性。这些结果支持这样的结论，即生态位和中性过程同时作用，影响物种和个体，而不是作为影响整个元群落的一般驱动因素。