Vegetation Pattern Modulates Ground Arthropod Diversity in Semi-Arid Mediterranean Steppes
The ecological functioning of dryland ecosystems is closely related to the spatial pattern of the vegetation, which is typically structured in patches. Ground arthropods mediate key soil functions and ecological processes, yet little is known about the influence of dryland vegetation pattern on thei...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-01-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/11/1/59 |
| _version_ | 1828430184949219328 |
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| author | Fernando Meloni Berta F. Civieta Juan A. Zaragoza María Lourdes Moraza Susana Bautista |
| author_facet | Fernando Meloni Berta F. Civieta Juan A. Zaragoza María Lourdes Moraza Susana Bautista |
| author_sort | Fernando Meloni |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The ecological functioning of dryland ecosystems is closely related to the spatial pattern of the vegetation, which is typically structured in patches. Ground arthropods mediate key soil functions and ecological processes, yet little is known about the influence of dryland vegetation pattern on their abundance and diversity. Here, we investigate how patch size and cover, and distance between patches relate to the abundance and diversity of meso-and microarthropods in semi-arid steppes. We found that species richness and abundance of ground arthropods exponentially increase with vegetation cover, patch size, and patch closeness. The communities under vegetation patches mainly respond to patch size, while the communities in the bare-soil interpatches are mostly controlled by the average distance between patches, independently of the concurrent changes in vegetation cover. Large patches seem to play a critical role as reserve and source of ground arthropod diversity. Our results suggest that decreasing vegetation cover and/or changes in vegetation pattern towards small and over-dispersed vegetation patches can fast lead to a significant loss of ground arthropods diversity in drylands. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T17:44:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9bc07535693f4562882fc89cfa84b838 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T17:44:53Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-9bc07535693f4562882fc89cfa84b8382022-12-22T01:39:16ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502020-01-011115910.3390/insects11010059insects11010059Vegetation Pattern Modulates Ground Arthropod Diversity in Semi-Arid Mediterranean SteppesFernando Meloni0Berta F. Civieta1Juan A. Zaragoza2María Lourdes Moraza3Susana Bautista4Departamento de Física, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, CEP 14040-901 Ribeirão Preto, BrazilDepartment of Ecology and IMEM, University of Alicante, E-03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, SpainDepartment of Ecology and IMEM, University of Alicante, E-03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, SpainDepartment of Environmental Biology, University of Navarra, E-31080 Pamplona, SpainDepartment of Ecology and IMEM, University of Alicante, E-03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, SpainThe ecological functioning of dryland ecosystems is closely related to the spatial pattern of the vegetation, which is typically structured in patches. Ground arthropods mediate key soil functions and ecological processes, yet little is known about the influence of dryland vegetation pattern on their abundance and diversity. Here, we investigate how patch size and cover, and distance between patches relate to the abundance and diversity of meso-and microarthropods in semi-arid steppes. We found that species richness and abundance of ground arthropods exponentially increase with vegetation cover, patch size, and patch closeness. The communities under vegetation patches mainly respond to patch size, while the communities in the bare-soil interpatches are mostly controlled by the average distance between patches, independently of the concurrent changes in vegetation cover. Large patches seem to play a critical role as reserve and source of ground arthropod diversity. Our results suggest that decreasing vegetation cover and/or changes in vegetation pattern towards small and over-dispersed vegetation patches can fast lead to a significant loss of ground arthropods diversity in drylands.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/11/1/59arthropods diversitydrylandssoil faunaspatial patternvegetation patches |
| spellingShingle | Fernando Meloni Berta F. Civieta Juan A. Zaragoza María Lourdes Moraza Susana Bautista Vegetation Pattern Modulates Ground Arthropod Diversity in Semi-Arid Mediterranean Steppes Insects arthropods diversity drylands soil fauna spatial pattern vegetation patches |
| title | Vegetation Pattern Modulates Ground Arthropod Diversity in Semi-Arid Mediterranean Steppes |
| title_full | Vegetation Pattern Modulates Ground Arthropod Diversity in Semi-Arid Mediterranean Steppes |
| title_fullStr | Vegetation Pattern Modulates Ground Arthropod Diversity in Semi-Arid Mediterranean Steppes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Vegetation Pattern Modulates Ground Arthropod Diversity in Semi-Arid Mediterranean Steppes |
| title_short | Vegetation Pattern Modulates Ground Arthropod Diversity in Semi-Arid Mediterranean Steppes |
| title_sort | vegetation pattern modulates ground arthropod diversity in semi arid mediterranean steppes |
| topic | arthropods diversity drylands soil fauna spatial pattern vegetation patches |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/11/1/59 |
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