scholarly journals A direct comparison of the effects and mechanisms between species richness and genotype richness in a dominant species on multiple ecosystem functions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Man Jiang ◽  
Xue Yang ◽  
Tao Wang ◽  
Yujuan Xu ◽  
Ke Dong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Dominant Species ◽  
Ecosystem Functions

Dominance determines fish community biomass in a temperate seagrass ecosystem

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron Matthius Eger ◽  
Rebecca J. Best ◽  
Julia Kathleen Baum
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Ecosystem Function ◽  
Fish Community ◽  
Prey Capture ◽  
Fish Communities ◽  
Functional Trait ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Community Biomass ◽  
Ecosystem Valuation ◽  
Species Abundances

Biodiversity and ecosystem function are often correlated, but there are multiple hypotheses about the mechanisms underlying this relationship. Ecosystem functions such as primary or secondary production may be maximized by species richness, evenness in species abundances, or the presence or dominance of species with certain traits. Here, we combined surveys of natural fish communities (conducted in July and August, 2016) with morphological trait data to examine relationships between diversity and ecosystem function (quantified as fish community biomass) across 14 subtidal eelgrass meadows in the Northeast Pacific (54° N 130° W). We employed both taxonomic and functional trait measures of diversity to investigate if ecosystem function is driven by species diversity (complementarity hypothesis) or by the presence or dominance of species with particular trait values (selection or dominance hypotheses). After controlling for environmental variation, we found that fish community biomass is maximized when taxonomic richness and functional evenness is low, and in communities dominated by species with particular trait values – those associated with benthic habitats and prey capture. While previous work on fish communities has found that species richness is positively correlated with ecosystem function, our results instead highlight the capacity for regionally prevalent and locally dominant species to drive ecosystem function in moderately diverse communities. We discuss these alternate links between community composition and ecosystem function and consider their divergent implications for ecosystem valuation and conservation prioritization.

Seasonality in a taxocoenosis of molluscs from soft bottoms in the Bay of Cádiz (southern Spain)

2001 ◽  
Vol 81 (6) ◽  
pp. 903-912 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose L. Rueda ◽  
Manuel Fernández-Casado ◽  
Carmen Salas ◽  
Serge Gofas
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Correspondence Analysis ◽  
Dominant Species ◽  
Southern Spain ◽  
Soft Bottom ◽  
Soft Bottoms ◽  
High Species Richness ◽  
Bay Of Cadiz ◽  
Bay Of Cádiz ◽  
Autumn And Winter

The macrofauna of molluscs associated with soft bottoms in the Bay of Cádiz (southern Spain) was studied monthly from February 1994 to January 1996. The number of species (63) is high for a soft bottom and is related to environmental characteristics (growth of macrophytes) and the biogeographical setting of the studied area. Corbula gibba (∼90%) was the dominant species in this taxocoenosis together with the gastropod Nassarius pygmaeus and the bivalves Pandora inaequivalvis, Parvicardium exiguum and Macoma melo. The most frequent species during the two years was also the bivalve Corbula gibba (100%) followed by the gastropods Nassarius pygmaeus, Tricolia tenuis, Rissoa membranacea and the bivalve Macoma melo. Total abundance of the taxocoenosis in both years reached higher values in spring. The dynamics of the ecological indices such as diversity or evenness, and the species richness showed a similar pattern in both years, with low values of diversity and evenness together with high species richness in spring and summer months and the reverse in autumn and winter. The qualitative correspondence analysis of monthly samples shows an ordination related to seasonality in both studied years, however the values of Jaccard's coefficient do not indicate significant boundaries among the monthly samples. The quantitative correspondence analysis shows an ordination and grouping of samples related to the biology of species, particularly with the recruitment of C. gibba, the dominant species. The existence of similar trends in the structure of the taxocoenoses over both years, and the seasonality highlighted by the qualitative correspondence analysis, seems to indicate a certain stability of the ecosystem.

scholarly journals Composition and diversity of anurans in the Restinga of the Conde municipality, northern coast of the state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Felipe Augusto Trindade Gondim-Silva ◽  
Alessandra Rodrigues Santos Andrade ◽  
Rafael Oliveira Abreu ◽  
Jamile Santos Nascimento ◽  
Geovane Paixão Corrêa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Dominant Species ◽  
The State ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Freshwater Wetland ◽  
Northern Coast ◽  
Anuran Species

Abstract The Conde municipality is located in the northern coast of the state of Bahia (NC), northeastern Brazil, and is part of the Atlantic Tropical domain. The anuran fauna of the northern portion of the NC is still poorly known if compared to the southern portion. The Restinga is one of the predominant environments of the coastal plains of the NC and it is characterized essentially by presenting sandy soil covered by herbaceous and shrubby vegetation. The objective of this study was to determine the anuran species composition and diversity for the Restinga of the Conde municipality. Sampling was carried out at night by active search over four periods of five consecutive days each, two over the 'main rainy season' and two in a 'lesser rainy season', using 14 sample units (SUs) and five extra sample plots (EPs). We calculated dominance and species diversity using the Berger-Parker and Shannon-Wiener H' indices, respectively. We used accumulation curves and the Jackknife 1 estimator to estimate anuran species richness, considering only the data obtained from the SUs. We recorded 713 anuran specimens distributed within 33 species, 13 genera and five families (Bufonidae, Craugastoridae, Hylidae, Leptodactylidae and Microhylidae). The Hylidae and Leptodactylidae families had the highest species richness. Considering only the SUs (Jackknife 1 estimator in brackets), we recorded 28 species in the study area (33.9 ± 2.3), 13 in Shrubby Vegetation Zones - SVZ (20.8 ± 2.9) and 25 in Freshwater Wetland Zones - FWZ (28.9 ± 1.9). The abundance and species diversity of the FWZ (n = 638 specimens; H'= 2.4) were higher than those recorded for the SVZ (n = 52 specimens; H' = 1.9). The SVZ and FWZ showed distinct dominant species, wherein Pristimantis paulodutrai was the dominant species in SVZ and Scinax fuscomarginatus in FWZ. The Restinga of the Conde municipality stands out as the one with the highest anuran species richness already recorded considering only SVZ and FWZ. Moreover, its anuran species composition represented 55% of the anuran species known for the NC and included taxa common to three different morphoclimatic domains (Tropical Atlantic, Cerrado and Caatinga).

Ecology of moss-dwelling rotifers in a raised bog: Differentiation of rotifer communities in microhabitats

Biologia ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Irena Bielańska-Grajner ◽  
Tomasz Mieczan ◽  
Anna Cieplok
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Dominant Species ◽  
Peat Bogs ◽  
Raised Bog ◽  
Ecological Relationships ◽  
Seasonal Factors ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Endangered Ecosystems ◽  
Rotifer Communities

AbstractPeat bogs play key roles in preserving the stability of ecological relationships, but are some of the fastest disappearing and most endangered ecosystems in Europe. The aims of this study were: (1) to compare the distribution, species richness, diversity, and density of rotifers in microhabitats of a raised bog; and (2) to verify the hypothesis that rotifer density and species composition are dependent on seasonal factors, moss moisture content, and the dominant species of mosses in the microhabitats. Sampling was done monthly from April to November in 2013–2014 in the bog Moszne in eastern Poland (51°27′28.7″ N, 23°07′15.8″ E). The microhabitats sampled included hummocks, slopes, and hollows. A total of 40 rotifer taxa were identified. The highest species richness occurred in the hollows (40), dominated by

scholarly journals Scavenging in the Anthropocene: Human impact drives vertebrate scavenger species richness at a global scale

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Sebastián-González ◽  
JM Barbosa ◽  
JM Pérez-García ◽  
Z Morales-Reyes ◽  
F Botella ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Human Impact ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Number Of Species ◽  
Terrestrial Vertebrate ◽  
Latitudinal Patterns

© 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd Understanding the distribution of biodiversity across the Earth is one of the most challenging questions in biology. Much research has been directed at explaining the species latitudinal pattern showing that communities are richer in tropical areas; however, despite decades of research, a general consensus has not yet emerged. In addition, global biodiversity patterns are being rapidly altered by human activities. Here, we aim to describe large-scale patterns of species richness and diversity in terrestrial vertebrate scavenger (carrion-consuming) assemblages, which provide key ecosystem functions and services. We used a worldwide dataset comprising 43 sites, where vertebrate scavenger assemblages were identified using 2,485 carcasses monitored between 1991 and 2018. First, we evaluated how scavenger richness (number of species) and diversity (Shannon diversity index) varied among seasons (cold vs. warm, wet vs. dry). Then, we studied the potential effects of human impact and a set of macroecological variables related to climatic conditions on the scavenger assemblages. Vertebrate scavenger richness ranged from species-poor to species rich assemblages (4–30 species). Both scavenger richness and diversity also showed some seasonal variation. However, in general, climatic variables did not drive latitudinal patterns, as scavenger richness and diversity were not affected by temperature or rainfall. Rainfall seasonality slightly increased the number of species in the community, but its effect was weak. Instead, the human impact index included in our study was the main predictor of scavenger richness. Scavenger assemblages in highly human-impacted areas sustained the smallest number of scavenger species, suggesting human activity may be overriding other macroecological processes in shaping scavenger communities. Our results highlight the effect of human impact at a global scale. As species-rich assemblages tend to be more functional, we warn about possible reductions in ecosystem functions and the services provided by scavengers in human-dominated landscapes in the Anthropocene.

scholarly journals Syntaxonomical analysis of sandy grassland vegetation dominated by Festuca vaginata and F. pseudovaginata in the Pannonian basin

Hacquetia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 217-224
Author(s):  
Károly Penksza ◽  
Péter Csontos ◽  
Gergely Pápay
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Dominant Species ◽  
Cynodon Dactylon ◽  
Pannonian Basin ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Grassland Vegetation ◽  
Typical Species ◽  
Ephedra Distachya ◽  
Sandy Grassland ◽  
Dominant Grass

Abstract Festucetum vaginatae Rapaics ex Soó 1929 em. Borhidi 1996 is a characteristic association of the calcareous sandy areas of the Pannonian basin; its dominant grass species is Festuca vaginata. Another typical species of these sandy areas is the newly discovered F. pseudovaginata. The question is whether F. pseudovaginata forms an independent coenotaxa? Our study proved that F. vaginata and F. pseudovaginata populations grow separately and compose different associations. Stands dominated by F. pseudovaginata had a higher species richness and harboured twice as many Festuco-Brometea species compared to the Festucetum vaginatae stands. Diagnostic species of the Festucetum pseudovaginatae association are Festuca pseudovaginata, Colchicum arenarium, Ephedra distachya, Koeleria majoriflora, and Astragalus onobrychis. The number of species, the density of the individuals, and the variability and diversity of the vegetation separated it from the Festucetum vaginatae association; thus, it can be considered an independent endemic association. Festucetum pseudovaginatae has its own differentiating and dominant species: Carex stenophylla, Cynodon dactylon, Eryngium campestre, Kochia laniflora.

scholarly journals Consistent drivers of plant biodiversity across managed ecosystems

2016 ◽  
Vol 371 (1694) ◽  
pp. 20150284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa Minden ◽  
Christoph Scherber ◽  
Miguel A. Cebrián Piqueras ◽  
Juliane Trinogga ◽  
Anastasia Trenkamp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Real World ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
Biomass Productivity ◽  
Plant Species Richness ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
Managed Ecosystems

Ecosystems managed for production of biomass are often characterized by low biodiversity because management aims to optimize single ecosystem functions (i.e. yield) involving deliberate selection of species or cultivars. In consequence, considerable differences in observed plant species richness and productivity remain across systems, and the drivers of these differences have remained poorly resolved so far. In addition, it has remained unclear if species richness feeds back on ecosystem functions such as yield in real-world systems. Here, we establish N = 360 experimental plots across a broad range of managed ecosystems in several European countries, and use structural equation models to unravel potential drivers of plant species richness. We hypothesize that the relationships between productivity, total biomass and observed species richness are affected by management intensity, and that these effects differ between habitat types (dry grasslands, grasslands, and wetlands). We found that local management was an important driver of species richness across systems. Management caused system disturbance, resulting in reduced productivity yet enhanced total biomass. Plant species richness was directly and positively driven by management, with consistently negative effects of total biomass. Productivity effects on richness were positive, negative or neutral. Our study shows that management and total biomass drive plant species richness across real-world managed systems.

scholarly journals DINÁMICA DEL FITOPLANCTON DE LA CIÉNAGA GRANDE DE SANTA MARTA, CARIBE COLOMBIANO

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Virginia De La Hoz Aristizbal
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Dominant Species ◽  
General Trend ◽  
Meteorological Conditions ◽  
Phytoplankton Dynamics ◽  
Four Seasons ◽  
Low Diversity

In order to assess phytoplankton dynamics in the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, bimonthly sampling was done at six stations from March 1996 to February 1997. Salinity showed wide ranges so the year could be divided in four seasons. Higher salinities were related to higher phytoplankton density, while lower salinities were related to lower phytoplankton densities and increased species richness. 224 taxa were recorded, and the general trend was towards a low diversity with a few dominant species, and most of them rare. Cyanophytes showed the highest abundances all year. Salinity, turbidity and orthophosphates were the environmental factors best related to the biotic data. Seasonal changes in phytoplankton concerning to meteorological conditions, fresh and tidal floods and dredging of Clarín canal are discussed.

scholarly journals Litterfall Chemistry Is Modulated by Wet-Dry Seasonality and Leaf Phenology of Dominant Species in the Tropics

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan M. Tonin ◽  
Laís S. Lima ◽  
Paulino Bambi ◽  
Monique L. Figueiredo ◽  
Renan S. Rezende ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Dominant Species ◽  
Generalized Additive Models ◽  
Additive Models ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Seasonal Patterns ◽  
Riparian Ecosystems ◽  
Litter Traits ◽  
Dominant Plant Species ◽  
The Tropics

Litterfall has a large influence on carbon and nutrient cycling of ecosystems, particularly in light-limited forested streams, as most nutrients return in the form of litter. Although recent evidence points to the prevalence of seasonal litterfall in species-rich and evergreen tropical riparian forests, there is a limited understanding of how riparian plant diversity intersects with stream and riparian ecosystem functions. To explore this question, we investigate litterfall chemistry across wet and dry seasons and the congruence between litter traits and plant species composition of litterfall in the wet-dry tropics. Using generalized additive models, we observed consistent seasonal patterns of litterfall chemistry over 2 years, mostly influenced by dominant species in litterfall. While drier seasons showed litter lower in nutrients and structural compounds and higher in polyphenols, litter from wetter seasons were nutrient rich but lower in polyphenols. We also found contrasting seasonal patterns in litterfall chemistry, one showing that litterfall nutrient, structural compounds, and secondary metabolite concentrations declined in drier seasons while the other showed that mass-based litterfall inputs increased markedly in drier seasons. Our findings suggest that litterfall chemistry may be altered by shifts in the identity of dominant plant species and seasonality, possibly leading to changes in carbon and nutrient fluxes in tropical riparian ecosystems.

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