High plant taxonomic beta diversity and functional and phylogenetic convergence between two Neotropical inselbergs

• Published in: Plant ecology & diversity Vol. 13; no. 1; pp. 61 - 73
• Main Authors: de Paula, Luiza F. A., Colmenares-Trejos, Sara L., Negreiros, Daniel, Rosado, Bruno H. P., Arcoverde de Mattos, Eduardo, de Bello, Francesco, Porembski, Stefan, Silveira, Fernando A. O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 02.01.2020; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Atlantic forest; Biodiversity; community assembly; Convergence; Endemic species; Environmental conditions; environmental factors; environmental stress; forests; geographical distribution; indigenous species; linear models; Neotropics; Outcrops; Phylogenetics; Phylogeny; Plant diversity; plant taxonomy; Redundancy; rock outcrops; Rocks; species diversity; Taxonomy; trait convergence
• ISSN: 1755-0874; 1755-1668; 1755-1668
• DOI: 10.1080/17550874.2019.1673846

Background: Inselbergs (granitic and gneissic rock outcrops) are common elements in the Atlantic Forest and present large taxonomic (TD), functional (FD) and phylogenetic (PD) diversity. Aims: We investigated how plant diversity changed across ecological and biogeographic scales by comparing TD, FD and PD of communities within and between two inselbergs. We expected converging FD and PD but distinct TD between outcrops, because of similar local environmental conditions in inselbergs and the long-term lineage isolation. Methods: We calculated TD, PD and FD, and partitioned diversity into α (each inselberg), β (between inselbergs) and γ (whole sample) components. Phylogenetic signal was estimated for all traits. To link environmental predictors to functional traits a redundancy analysis was run. Variation in TD, FD and PD was analysed by general linear models with patch area and the two inselbergs as predictors. Results: The inselbergs were taxonomically different, but showed convergence in their functional and phylogenetic diversity. The limited retention of phylogenetic signal suggests that different species may converge and respond similarly to environmental variables. Within inselbergs, larger patches displayed higher TD, FD and PD. Conclusions: Seeking conservation strategies for inselbergs is challenging since, despite their functional and phylogenetic similarity, endemic species make individual rock outcrops unique.