Empirical evaluations between beta-diversity, environmental heterogeneity, and spatial extent among multiple taxonomic groups

Testes empíricos das relações entre diversidade beta, heterogeneidade ambiental e extensão espacial entre múltiplos grupos taxonômicos

Abstracts

Abstract 

Aim  Beta diversity is expected to increase due to environmental heterogeneity and spatial extent. However, it remains unknown whether the response of beta diversity to these variables is consistent among different taxonomic groups. I investigated whether the beta diversity of lacustrine phytoplankton, zooplankton, and macroinvertebrate communities within nine ecoregions in the United States of America correlates with environmental heterogeneity and spatial extent.

Methods  I used simple linear regression analyses to examine how the beta diversity of different communities was related to environmental heterogeneity and spatial extent.

Results  Phytoplankton and macroinvertebrate community's beta diversity was positively related to environmental heterogeneity, while zooplankton and macroinvertebrates' beta diversity was significantly related to the spatial extent (within ecoregions).

Conclusions  My results align with theoretical expectations that beta diversity increases due to environmental heterogeneity and spatial extent. These results contribute to a better understanding of processes structuring the composition of different aquatic communities in the United States.

Keywords:
biodiversity patterns; environmental complexity; ecoregional diversity; aquatic communities