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Global fern and lycophyte richness explained: How regional and local factors shape plot richness
Author(s) -
Weigand Anna,
Abrahamczyk Stefan,
Aubin Isabelle,
BitaNicolae Claudia,
Bruelheide Helge,
I. CarvajalHernández Cesar,
Cicuzza Daniele,
Nascimento da Costa Lucas Erickson,
Csiky János,
Dengler Jürgen,
Gasper André Luís de,
Guerin Greg R.,
Haider Sylvia,
HernándezRojas Adriana,
Jandt Ute,
ReyesChávez Johan,
Karger Dirk N.,
Khine Phyo Kay,
Kluge Jürgen,
Krömer Thorsten,
Lehnert Marcus,
Lenoir Jonathan,
Moulatlet Gabriel M.,
Aros-Mualin Daniela,
Noben Sarah,
Olivares Ingrid,
G. Quintanilla Luis,
Reich Peter B.,
Salazar Laura,
SilvaMijangos Libertad,
Tuomisto Hanna,
Weigelt Patrick,
Zuquim Gabriela,
Kreft Holger,
Kessler Michael
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of biogeography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 158
eISSN - 1365-2699
pISSN - 0305-0270
DOI - 10.1111/jbi.13782
Subject(s) - species richness , fern , ecology , vegetation (pathology) , taxon , biodiversity , geography , biology , medicine , pathology
Aim To disentangle the influence of environmental factors at different spatial grains (regional and local) on fern and lycophyte species richness and to ask how regional and plot‐level richness are related to each other. Location Global. Taxon Ferns and lycophytes. Methods We explored fern and lycophyte species richness at two spatial grains, regional (hexagonal grid cells of 7,666 km 2 ) and plot level (300–500 m 2 ), in relation to environmental data at regional and local grains (the 7,666 km 2 hexagonal grid cells and 4 km 2 square grid cells, respectively). For the regional grain, we obtained species richness data for 1,243 spatial units and used them together with climatic and topographical predictors to model global fern richness. For the plot‐level grain, we collated a global dataset of nearly 83,000 vegetation plots with a surface area in the range 300–500 m 2 in which all fern and lycophyte species had been counted. We used structural equation modelling to identify which regional and local factors have the biggest effect on plot‐level fern and lycophyte species richness worldwide. We investigate how plot‐level richness is related to modelled regional richness at the plot's location. Results Plot‐level fern and lycophyte species richness were best explained by models allowing a link between regional environment and plot‐level richness. A link between regional richness and plot‐level richness was essential, as models without it were rejected, while models without the regional environment‐plot‐level richness link were still valid but had a worse goodness‐of‐fit value. Plot‐level richness showed a hump‐shaped relationship with regional richness. Main conclusions Regional environment and regional fern and lycophyte species richness each are important determinants of plot‐level richness, and the inclusion of one does not substitute the inclusion of the other. Plot‐level richness increases with regional richness until a saturation point is reached, after which plot‐level richness decreases despite increasing regional richness, possibly reflecting species interactions.