Altitude as environmental filtering influencing phylogenetic diversity and species richness of plants in tropical mountains

Galván-Cisneros, Carlos M.; Villa, Pedro Manuel; Coelho, Alex Josélio Pires; Campos, Prímula Viana; Meira‐Neto, João Augusto Alves

doi:10.1007/s11629-022-7687-9

Cited by 13 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 93 publications

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“…This result is somewhat contrary to our expectations given that it challenges the environmental ltering hypothesis on species numbers and functional traits described above. Indeed, previous studies have reported an environmental ltering effect along elevational gradients leading to phylogenetic clustering and decreased phylogenetic diversity of mountain plant assemblages towards higher elevations (Bergamin et al 2021, Galván-Cisneros et al 2023. It is possible, however, that trait adaptation necessary to cope with the harsh environmental conditions at high elevations happened independently in distantly related lineages (see also Bryant et al 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Combining taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity metrics to explain spatiotemporal variation in mountaintop flora

Vanneste,

Graae,

Kyrkjeeide

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Questions Accounting for multiple facets of biodiversity can help to shed light on community assembly of mountaintop flora across space and time, but this approach has rarely been applied. Here we addressed the following questions: (a) Is the filtering effect of elevation on taxonomic diversity of mountaintop plant communities also mirrored in their functional and phylogenetic structure? (b) Can environmental changes over time interact with, and thus change, elevational patterns in mountaintop plant diversity? Location Dovrefjell, central Norway Methods The floristic composition of four mountaintops, spread across an elevational gradient from tree line to the uppermost margins of vascular plant life, was surveyed every seven years between 2001–2022. Six metrics of taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic richness and diversity were calculated for each mountaintop and survey. With these data, we assessed how richness and diversity metrics varied over space (across the elevational gradient) and over time (between surveys). Results All richness and diversity metrics decreased towards higher elevations, except phylogenetic diversity which showed a marked increase with elevation. Taxonomic richness did not change significantly over time, while functional and phylogenetic richness increased between 2001–2022. No significant temporal trend in taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity was detected. Conclusions Different metrics of taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity can show divergent spatial and temporal trends. Future environmental changes may give rise to functionally or phylogenetically novel communities that cannot be predicted from trends in species richness alone. We therefore encourage researchers to look beyond species richness and consider multiple facets of biodiversity when analysing the impact of environmental change on mountaintop flora.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Combining taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity metrics to explain spatiotemporal variation in mountaintop flora

Vanneste,

Graae,

Kyrkjeeide

et al. 2023

Preprint

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“…The first factor is the species′ ability to adapt to future climatic changes, which depends on their degree of specialization: the more specialized species may be less prone to quickly adapt. Also, with increasing elevation the phylogenetic diversity decreases (Galván-Cisneros et al, 2023); hence, a highly specialized and genetically unique ecosystem is at high risk (Cuesta et al, 2020). The second factor is the species′ ability to migrate to regions with suitable conditions, which depends on their dispersal strategy (Carnicero et al, 2022).…”

Section: 4mentioning

confidence: 99%

The ghost of past climate acting on present‐day plant diversity: Lessons from a climate‐based delimitation of the tropical alpine ecosystem

Kandziora,

Gorospe,

Salomon

et al. 2024

J of Sytematics Evolution

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Habitat stability is important for maintaining biodiversity by preventing species extinction, but this stability is being challenged by climate change. The tropical alpine ecosystem is currently one of the ecosystems most threatened by global warming, and the flora close to the permanent snow line is at high risk of extinction. The tropical alpine ecosystem, found in South and Central America, Malesia and Papuasia, Africa, and Hawaii, is of relatively young evolutionary age, and it has been exposed to changing climates since its origin, particularly during the Pleistocene. Estimating habitat loss and gain between the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and the present allows us to relate current biodiversity to past changes in climate and habitat stability. In order to do so, (i) we developed a unifying climate‐based delimitation of tropical alpine regions across continents, and (ii) we used this delimitation to assess the degree of habitat stability, that is, the overlap of suitable areas between the LGM and the present, in different tropical alpine regions. Finally, we discuss the link between habitat stability and tropical alpine plant diversity. Our climate‐based delimitation approach can be easily applied to other ecosystems using our developed code, facilitating macro‐comparative studies of habitat dynamics through time.

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“…Nestedness and turnover can provide valuable insights into the ecological processes, such as species interactions, environmental filtering and the evolutionary processes (Baselga, 2010; Chase, 2003), that shape euglossine bee communities in mountains. For example, with increasing elevation in mountain ecosystems, environmental conditions such as temperature become more stressful and act as an environmental filter (e.g., plants: Galván‐Cisneros et al, 2023; bees: Hoiss et al, 2012). Communities with high nestedness suggest a non‐random process of species losses in which species‐poor communities are subsets of species‐rich communities (see Baselga, 2010; Legendre, 2014; Soininen et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution patterns of orchid bees in xeric and mesic habitats on a tropical mountaintop

Freitas

Novais

Júnior

et al. 2023

Insect Conserv Diversity

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Most studies evaluating insect communities along climatic gradients in mountain regions have overlooked the relevance of the contrasting effects of xeric and mesic habitats on species distribution and richness. Mesic zones in xeric ecosystems can provide more favorable conditions for the maintenance of some insects, including orchid bees (Apidae, Euglossini), which are known for their high species diversity in humid tropical forests. For the first time, we sought to understand the distribution of Euglossini in xeric and mesic habitats during dry and wet seasons along an elevational gradient in Espinhaço mountains, southeastern Brazil. The study collected 4873 orchid bees from three genera and 14 species. During the wet season, bee richness decreased with elevation in both xeric and mesic habitats. However, during the dry season, there was an increase in both bee richness and abundance at intermediate elevations. In the dry season, lower bee richness and abundance were recorded in xeric habitats compared with mesic habitats. Bee richness and abundance did not differ between the dry and wet seasons for mesic habitats, while lower richness and abundance were recorded in the dry season for xeric habitats. Species composition remained unchanged across habitats, and species turnover was identified as the primary driver of β‐diversity among elevations and seasons. Orchid bees require high temperatures, but they cannot tolerate water stress in xeric habitats during the dry season. This highlights the importance of mesic habitats for maintaining these pollinators, which are essential for ecosystems in savanna and mountainous regions.

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Altitude as environmental filtering influencing phylogenetic diversity and species richness of plants in tropical mountains

Cited by 13 publications

References 93 publications

Combining taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity metrics to explain spatiotemporal variation in mountaintop flora

Combining taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity metrics to explain spatiotemporal variation in mountaintop flora

The ghost of past climate acting on present‐day plant diversity: Lessons from a climate‐based delimitation of the tropical alpine ecosystem

Distribution patterns of orchid bees in xeric and mesic habitats on a tropical mountaintop

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