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Understanding the factors influencing variation in the diversity and structure of rich biological communities (e.g., Neotropical upland forests) is essential in the context of climate change. In this study, we examine how environmental filters (temperature, precipitation, and elevation) and distinct habitats (moist upland forests - MUF and dry upland forests - DHF) influence the phylogenetic diversity and structure of 54 tree communities (28 MHF and 26 DHF). We used the standardized effect size (ses) of the metrics phylogenetic diversity (ses.PD), mean pairwise distance (ses.MPD), and mean nearest neighbor distance (ses.MNTD) to quantify changes in tree community diversity and structure. Then, we assessed the relationships of the phylogenetic metrics with the environmental filters as predictors using generalized linear models (GLMs). Our results indicate that increasing temperature negatively affects the phylogenetic indices analyzed, leading to less diverse and more clustered communities. In contrast, increasing precipitation and elevation showed a significant positive relationship with the analyzed indices, directing communities towards greater phylogenetic diversity and random or overdispersed structure. Our findings also reveal that phylogenetic diversity and structure vary with habitat type. For example, while MUFs exhibit higher phylogenetic diversity and random structure, DUFs display lower phylogenetic diversity and clustered structure. In conclusion, our results suggest that the phylogenetic patterns exhibited by upland communities in the semiarid region are strongly related to climatic conditions and the habitat in which they are found. Therefore, if the predicted temperature increases and precipitation decreases in climate change scenarios for the semi-arid region materialize, these communities may face significant biodiversity loss.
Understanding the factors influencing variation in the diversity and structure of rich biological communities (e.g., Neotropical upland forests) is essential in the context of climate change. In this study, we examine how environmental filters (temperature, precipitation, and elevation) and distinct habitats (moist upland forests - MUF and dry upland forests - DHF) influence the phylogenetic diversity and structure of 54 tree communities (28 MHF and 26 DHF). We used the standardized effect size (ses) of the metrics phylogenetic diversity (ses.PD), mean pairwise distance (ses.MPD), and mean nearest neighbor distance (ses.MNTD) to quantify changes in tree community diversity and structure. Then, we assessed the relationships of the phylogenetic metrics with the environmental filters as predictors using generalized linear models (GLMs). Our results indicate that increasing temperature negatively affects the phylogenetic indices analyzed, leading to less diverse and more clustered communities. In contrast, increasing precipitation and elevation showed a significant positive relationship with the analyzed indices, directing communities towards greater phylogenetic diversity and random or overdispersed structure. Our findings also reveal that phylogenetic diversity and structure vary with habitat type. For example, while MUFs exhibit higher phylogenetic diversity and random structure, DUFs display lower phylogenetic diversity and clustered structure. In conclusion, our results suggest that the phylogenetic patterns exhibited by upland communities in the semiarid region are strongly related to climatic conditions and the habitat in which they are found. Therefore, if the predicted temperature increases and precipitation decreases in climate change scenarios for the semi-arid region materialize, these communities may face significant biodiversity loss.
<p>Se caracterizó y estimó la diversidad de ecosistemas templados de la Sierra Juárez, Oaxaca: un encinar arbustivo, dos bosques de encino y un bosque de pino-encino, en orden creciente de altitud. Aunque la diversidad α fue relativamente baja en todos los sitios, particularmente para especies arbóreas, existe un gran recambio de especies aun entre sitios cercanos como lo evidencia la significativa contribución de la diversidad β a la diversidad total. La menor diversidad arbórea se encontró en el sitio más bajo. La diversidad arbustiva disminuyó con la altitud. El área basal arbórea disminuyó al aumentar la cobertura de arbustos. Las coberturas del dosel y del mantillo, a nivel de superficie del suelo, y el área basal arbórea aumentaron con la altitud, donde la humedad es mayor, por lo que ésta parece limitar la biomasa. Un déficit de árboles de la clase diamétrica más pequeña y bajas densidades de plántulas sugieren bajos niveles de reclutamientos recientes en los sitios estudiados. Proyecciones de cambio climático para 2030 establecen que las condiciones actuales de precipitación y temperatura se ubicarán a altitudes, al menos 175 m por arriba de lo encontrado actualmente, por lo que se espera la expansión del encinar arbustivo a expensas del bosque templado y la extinción de especies de pisos altitudinales elevados. Estas predicciones son consistentes con las diferencias observadas entre sitios de estructura de tamaños, densidades de juveniles y plantas muertas en pie. Es probable que las sierras oaxaqueñas no puedan brindar en un futuro cercano las condiciones climáticas en las que ahora se ubica la vegetación de altura. Se recomienda explorar los beneficios y costos de acciones de conservación activa como migración asistida y programas de mejoramiento genético para disminuir los riesgos de extinción por cambio climático. </p>
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