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The mechanisms explaining tree species richness and composition are convergent in a megadiverse hotspot

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Abstract

Understanding the drivers of species’ geographic distribution and assembly of communities is one of the most intriguing questions in ecology and has become extremely important in face of global changes. This study aims to assess broad-scale patterns of tree species diversity and compare the importance of environmental correlates relative to purely spatial factors in structuring communities in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We compiled abundance data from 2948 species in 117 localities across the entire biome and obtained climatic and soil variables that we hypothesized to be environmental filters. We constructed correlograms for species richness and composition and assessed the relative importance of correlates using spatially explicit generalized additive models coupled with information-theoretic analyses. Variation partitioning was used to infer the relative importance of environmental- and spatial-based hypotheses. Species richness presented positive spatial correlation of ~ 435 km beyond which it became negative and again positive at the furthest distances, whereas compositional turnover showed positive correlation of ~ 435–555 km with decreasing similarity in increasing distances. Climatic variables were important factors correlating with richness patterns, with soil being less important. Species composition was significantly correlated with environmental variables and spatial constraints. The spatial component showed similar amount of explanation in statistical models compared to the environmental component. Our results suggest a combined contribution of environment, stochasticity, and historical-dispersion processes in patterns of biodiversity. More interestingly, a similar set of variables was the better correlates of species richness and composition, indicating convergence of driving factors for both descriptors of plant communities.

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Acknowledgements

We are thankful for the comments of Marcelo Tabarelli and Jean Paul Metzger which improved earlier versions of the manuscript. The Brazilian Research Council (CNPq) provided Grants to MCMM (Grants 304650-2012-9 and 229349-2013-7) and AAP (Grants 307984/2015-0 and 402828/2016-0); and the Brazilian Education Council (CAPES) provided scholarship to VPZ and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (Grant No. 8144/13-3).

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  1. Departamento de Biodiversidade, Setor Palotina, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Rua Pioneiro, 2153, Jardim Dallas, Palotina, PR, CEP 85950-000, Brazil

    Victor P. Zwiener

  2. Laboratório de Análise e Síntese em Biodiversidade, Departamento de Botânica, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, CEP 81531-980, Brazil

    André A. Padial

  3. Laboratório de Ecologia Vegetal, Departamento de Botânica, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Caixa Postal. 19031, Curitiba, PR, CEP 81531-980, Brazil

    Márcia C. M. Marques

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Zwiener, V.P., Padial, A.A. & Marques, M.C.M. The mechanisms explaining tree species richness and composition are convergent in a megadiverse hotspot. Biodivers Conserv 29, 799–815 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-019-01910-9

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