Seasonality in metacommunity structure: an empirical test in the Atlantic Forest

• Published in: Landscape ecology Vol. 33; no. 10; pp. 1769 - 1783
• Main Authors: Delciellos, Ana Cláudia, Borges-Júnior, Vitor Nelson Teixeira, Prevedello, Jayme Augusto, Ribeiro, Suzy Emidio, Braga, Caryne, Vieira, Marcus Vinícius, Cerqueira, Rui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.10.2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Ecology; Empirical analysis; Environmental gradient; Environmental Management; Forests; Landscape; Landscape Ecology; Landscape/Regional and Urban Planning; Life Sciences; Local communities; Nature Conservation; Permeability; Research Article; Seasonal variations; Seasons; Species; Sustainable Development; Atlantic Forest; Ecological gradient; Habitat fragmentation; Elements of metacommunity structure; Temporal dynamics; Turnover
• ISSN: 0921-2973; 1572-9761
• DOI: 10.1007/s10980-018-0701-5

Context The metacommunity concept helps to understand how local and regional processes regulate species distributions in landscapes. Metacommunity structure is often assumed as static, but may be rather dynamic, following temporal changes along environmental gradients. Objectives We present an empirical test of the temporal dynamics of metacommunity structure, using small mammals in an Atlantic Forest landscape as a model system. Methods We analyzed incidence matrices using the Elements of Metacommunity Structure framework and evaluated whether local, landscape, and spatial factors structured the metacommunity during different climatic seasons (HS = humid; SHS = super-humid) and time periods (1 = 1999–2001; 2 = 2005–2009). We compared HS-1 and SHS-1 to evaluate if metacommunity structure varies between seasons, and HS-1 and HS-2 to evaluate if it varies between time periods. Results Metacommunity structure changed from Clementsian (HS-1) to random (SHS-1), but during HS-2 it was Clementsian again. This suggests that groups of species are responding similarly to the major gradient of variation during the HS only. Patch size structured the metacommunity during both humid periods, and local habitat structure only during HS-1. We suggest that during the SHS these gradients are lost due to increased matrix permeability to movement, which homogenizes local communities resulting in a random structure. Conclusions Species habitat requirements and specializations determined metacommunity structure, but only during the HS. The Clementsian structure indicates that forest disturbances may result in the loss of whole groups of species during the HS. Alternating patterns of metacommunity structure may be associated to changes on matrix suitability between seasons.