Open AccessA comparative analysis reveals weak relationships between ecological factors and beta diversity of stream insect metacommunities at two spatial levels
Author(s) -
Heino Jani,
Melo Adriano S.,
Bini Luis Mauricio,
Altermatt Florian,
AlShami Salman A.,
Angeler David G.,
Bonada Núria,
Brand Cecilia,
Callisto Marcos,
Cottenie Karl,
Dangles Olivier,
Dudgeon David,
Encalada Andrea,
Göthe Emma,
Grönroos Mira,
Hamada Neusa,
Jacobsen Dean,
Landeiro Victor L.,
Ligeiro Raphael,
Martins Renato T.,
Miserendino María Laura,
Md Rawi Che Salmah,
Rodrigues Marciel E.,
Roque Fabio de Oliveira,
Sandin Leonard,
Schmera Denes,
Sgarbi Luciano F.,
Simaika John P.,
Siqueira Tadeu,
Thompson Ross M.,
Townsend Colin R.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
ecology and evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.17
H-Index - 63
ISSN - 2045-7758
DOI - 10.1002/ece3.1439
Subject(s) - metacommunity , beta diversity , ecology , biodiversity , latitude , spatial variability , alpha diversity , range (aeronautics) , aquatic insect , assemblage (archaeology) , distance decay , spatial ecology , geography , environmental science , biology , biological dispersal , habitat , population , statistics , materials science , demography , mathematics , geodesy , sociology , composite material
Abstract The hypotheses that beta diversity should increase with decreasing latitude and increase with spatial extent of a region have rarely been tested based on a comparative analysis of multiple datasets, and no such study has focused on stream insects. We first assessed how well variability in beta diversity of stream insect metacommunities is predicted by insect group, latitude, spatial extent, altitudinal range, and dataset properties across multiple drainage basins throughout the world. Second, we assessed the relative roles of environmental and spatial factors in driving variation in assemblage composition within each drainage basin . Our analyses were based on a dataset of 95 stream insect metacommunities from 31 drainage basins distributed around the world. We used dissimilarity‐based indices to quantify beta diversity for each metacommunity and, subsequently, regressed beta diversity on insect group, latitude, spatial extent, altitudinal range, and dataset properties (e.g., number of sites and percentage of presences). Within each metacommunity, we used a combination of spatial eigenfunction analyses and partial redundancy analysis to partition variation in assemblage structure into environmental, shared, spatial, and unexplained fractions. We found that dataset properties were more important predictors of beta diversity than ecological and geographical factors across multiple drainage basins. In the within‐basin analyses, environmental and spatial variables were generally poor predictors of variation in assemblage composition. Our results revealed deviation from general biodiversity patterns because beta diversity did not show the expected decreasing trend with latitude. Our results also call for reconsideration of just how predictable stream assemblages are along ecological gradients, with implications for environmental assessment and conservation decisions. Our findings may also be applicable to other dynamic systems where predictability is low.