Premium
Effects of neutrality, geometric constraints, climate, and habitat quality on species richness and composition of A tlantic F orest small‐mammals
Author(s) -
Dambros Cristian S.,
Cáceres Nilton C.,
Magnus Luiza,
Gotelli Nicholas J.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
global ecology and biogeography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.164
H-Index - 152
eISSN - 1466-8238
pISSN - 1466-822X
DOI - 10.1111/geb.12330
Subject(s) - species richness , ecology , habitat , body size and species richness , biological dispersal , species diversity , composition (language) , biodiversity , biology , population , demography , linguistics , philosophy , sociology
Aim To compare the fit of models of climate, habitat quality, neutral processes, and geometric constraints to species richness and composition of small mammal assemblages. Location The S outh A merican A tlantic F orest biome. Methods Using neutral models and mid‐domain effect models, we simulated species spread in a spatially explicit array of grid cells representing the A tlantic F orest domain. We compared empirical patterns of species richness and composition with predictions of the neutral and mid‐domain effect models. We also modeled individual species responses to climatic conditions and forest integrity, a measure of habitat quality. Results Habitat quality was the single best predictor of local species richness (α‐diversity), but was a poor predictor of local species composition and of the decay in species similarity with distance (β‐diversity). The neutral and mid‐domain models generated very similar predictions, and were better predictors of species composition than of species richness. Climate variables were also strongly associated with overall species composition, but not with species richness. Main Conclusions The species richness of small‐mammal assemblages in the A tlantic F orest is best explained by variation in habitat quality. In contrast, the composition of small‐mammal assemblages is best explained by models of limited dispersal (neutral and mid‐domain) and effects of climate on local species composition. Collectively, these results suggest that regional patterns of species richness may be uncoupled from patterns of species composition. Both species richness and composition should be considered when evaluating the predictions of neutral and mid‐domain effect models, and of correlations of community structure with climatic or habitat variables.