Disentangling the trajectories of alpha, beta and gamma plant diversity of North American boreal ecoregions since 15,500 years
Assessment of biodiversity in a changing world is a key issue and studies on the processes and factors influencing its history at relevant time scales are needed. In this study, we analysed temporal trends of plant diversity using fossil pollen records from the North American boreal forest-taiga bio...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2014-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fevo.2014.00006/full |
| _version_ | 1811343786152820736 |
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| author | Olivier eBlarquez Olivier eBlarquez Christopher eCarcaillet Christopher eCarcaillet Thibaut eFrejaville Yves eBergeron Yves eBergeron |
| author_facet | Olivier eBlarquez Olivier eBlarquez Christopher eCarcaillet Christopher eCarcaillet Thibaut eFrejaville Yves eBergeron Yves eBergeron |
| author_sort | Olivier eBlarquez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Assessment of biodiversity in a changing world is a key issue and studies on the processes and factors influencing its history at relevant time scales are needed. In this study, we analysed temporal trends of plant diversity using fossil pollen records from the North American boreal forest-taiga biome (NABT). We selected 205 pollen records spanning the last 15,500 years. Diversity was decomposed into α and γ richness, and β diversity, using Shannon entropy indices. We investigated temporal and spatial patterns of β diversity by decomposing it into independent turnover (variation in taxonomic composition due to species replacements) and nestedness (variation due to species loss) components. The palynological diversity of the NABT biome experienced major rearrangements during the Lateglacial and early Holocene in response to major climatic shifts. The β nestedness likely reflected plant immigration processes and generally peaked before the β turnover value, which mirrors spatial and temporal community sorting related to environmental conditions and specific habitat constraints. Palynological diversity was generally maximal during the Lateglacial and the early Holocene and decreased progressively during the Holocene. These results are discussed according to macro-ecological processes, such as immigration, disturbances and environmental fluctuations, with climate most notably as the main ecological driver at millennial scales. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T19:36:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e82ff4aa68ea4046827e189dac6d3797 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-701X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T19:36:06Z |
| publishDate | 2014-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-e82ff4aa68ea4046827e189dac6d37972022-12-22T02:33:02ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2014-04-01210.3389/fevo.2014.0000673239Disentangling the trajectories of alpha, beta and gamma plant diversity of North American boreal ecoregions since 15,500 yearsOlivier eBlarquez0Olivier eBlarquez1Christopher eCarcaillet2Christopher eCarcaillet3Thibaut eFrejaville4Yves eBergeron5Yves eBergeron6Université du Québec en Abitibi-TémiscaminguUniversité du Québec à MontréalÉcole Pratique des Hautes ÉtudesUniversité du Québec à MontréalÉcole Pratique des Hautes ÉtudesUniversité du Québec en Abitibi-TémiscaminguUniversité du Québec à MontréalAssessment of biodiversity in a changing world is a key issue and studies on the processes and factors influencing its history at relevant time scales are needed. In this study, we analysed temporal trends of plant diversity using fossil pollen records from the North American boreal forest-taiga biome (NABT). We selected 205 pollen records spanning the last 15,500 years. Diversity was decomposed into α and γ richness, and β diversity, using Shannon entropy indices. We investigated temporal and spatial patterns of β diversity by decomposing it into independent turnover (variation in taxonomic composition due to species replacements) and nestedness (variation due to species loss) components. The palynological diversity of the NABT biome experienced major rearrangements during the Lateglacial and early Holocene in response to major climatic shifts. The β nestedness likely reflected plant immigration processes and generally peaked before the β turnover value, which mirrors spatial and temporal community sorting related to environmental conditions and specific habitat constraints. Palynological diversity was generally maximal during the Lateglacial and the early Holocene and decreased progressively during the Holocene. These results are discussed according to macro-ecological processes, such as immigration, disturbances and environmental fluctuations, with climate most notably as the main ecological driver at millennial scales.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fevo.2014.00006/fullNorth AmericaturnoverBoreal BiomeKeywords: Macroecologyrichnesspalynological diversity |
| spellingShingle | Olivier eBlarquez Olivier eBlarquez Christopher eCarcaillet Christopher eCarcaillet Thibaut eFrejaville Yves eBergeron Yves eBergeron Disentangling the trajectories of alpha, beta and gamma plant diversity of North American boreal ecoregions since 15,500 years Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution North America turnover Boreal Biome Keywords: Macroecology richness palynological diversity |
| title | Disentangling the trajectories of alpha, beta and gamma plant diversity of North American boreal ecoregions since 15,500 years |
| title_full | Disentangling the trajectories of alpha, beta and gamma plant diversity of North American boreal ecoregions since 15,500 years |
| title_fullStr | Disentangling the trajectories of alpha, beta and gamma plant diversity of North American boreal ecoregions since 15,500 years |
| title_full_unstemmed | Disentangling the trajectories of alpha, beta and gamma plant diversity of North American boreal ecoregions since 15,500 years |
| title_short | Disentangling the trajectories of alpha, beta and gamma plant diversity of North American boreal ecoregions since 15,500 years |
| title_sort | disentangling the trajectories of alpha beta and gamma plant diversity of north american boreal ecoregions since 15 500 years |
| topic | North America turnover Boreal Biome Keywords: Macroecology richness palynological diversity |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fevo.2014.00006/full |
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