Scale-dependent diversity patterns affect spider assemblages of two contrasting forest ecosystems

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Authors

Spiders are important generalist predators in forests. However, differences in assemblage structure and diversity can have consequences for their functional impact. Such differences are particularly evident across latitudes, and their analysis can help to generate a better understanding of region-specific characteristics of predator assemblages. Here, we analyse the relationships between species richness, family richness and functional diversity (FD) as well as α- and β-components of epigeic spider diversity in semi-natural temperate and subtropical forest sites. As expected, within-plot and overall spider species and family richness were higher in the subtropical plots. In contrast, local FD within plots was similar between sites, and differences in FD only became evident at larger spatial scales due to higher species turnover in the subtropical forests. Our study indicates that the functional effects of predator assemblages can change across spatial scales. We discuss how differences in richness and functional diversity between contrasting forest ecosystems can depend on environmental heterogeneity and the effects of species filters acting at local scales. The high turnover observed in the species-rich subtropical forests also requires a more regional perspective for the conservation of the overall diversity and the ecological functions of predators than in less diverse forests, as strategies need to account for the large spatial heterogeneity among plots.
Original languageEnglish
JournalActa Oecologica
Volume49
Pages (from-to)17-22
Number of pages6
ISSN1146-609X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 05.2013

    Research areas

  • Ecosystems Research - BEF China, Beta-diversity, Ecosystem function, Latitude, Plant diversity, Predators, Spatial scale, Turnover

Recently viewed

Publications

  1. High-precision frequency measurements: indispensable tools at the core of the molecular-level analysis of complex systems.
  2. The Role of Formalisation, Participation and Context in the Success of Public Involvement Mechanisms in Resource Management
  3. Implicit Mental Processes in Ethical Management Behavior
  4. Natural enemy diversity reduces temporal variability in wasp but not bee parasitism
  5. Initial evidence for a systematic link between core values and emotional experiences in environmental situations
  6. In situ synchrotron radiation diffraction during solidification of Mgl5Gd
  7. Simulation of composite hot extrusion with high reinforcing Volumes
  8. Hedge Detection Using the RelHunter Approach
  9. A qualitative view on first year university students’ assessment preparation
  10. Where is (im)balance? Necessity and construction of evaluated cut-off points for effort-reward imbalance and overcommitment
  11. Foul Play in Context
  12. Tetrabutylammonium prolinate-based ionic liquids
  13. Using Multi-Label Classification for Improved Question Answering
  14. Towards a socio-cognitive approach to knowledge transfer
  15. The internal audience of external communications
  16. Vorräte - Schätzung des Fertigstellungsgrades bei der Percentage of Completion Methode
  17. Der Zentrale Runde Tisch der DDR: Wortprotokoll und Dokumente
  18. The Lüneburg Sustainable University Project in international comparison
  19. A multivariate, multilevel analysis of the relationship between cognitive abilities and scholastic achievement
  20. "There is no alternative"
  21. Conservatives are less accurate than liberals at recognizing false climate statements, and disinformation makes conservatives less discerning
  22. Wissenschaftliche Kommunikation im Netz 2013
  23. Techniques to Control Microbial Contaminants in Nonsterile Microalgae Cultivation
  24. Wie gesprochen werden?
  25. Modeling approach of thermal decomposition of salt-hydrates for heat storage systems
  26. Processability of Mg-Gd Powder via Friction Extrusion
  27. Lernende in der Hauptschule
  28. Does reference to COVID-19 improve climate change communication? Investigating the influence of emotions and uncertainty in persuasion messages
  29. Soziale und kulturelle Differenz
  30. Enterprise Integration
  31. The influence of teacher-trainings on in-service teachers’ expertise: a teacher-training-study on formative assessment in competency-oriented mathematics
  32. Error management or error prevention
  33. Coresets for Archetypal Analysis
  34. Branding the campus
  35. Notting Hill Gate 4 Basic
  36. Exhibiting Earth History
  37. Influence of three different balance shoes on EMG-activity during one-leg standing
  38. Who are the workers who never joined a union?
  39. Knowledge Graph Question Answering Leaderboard
  40. Alternatives to Organizational Downsizing
  41. Gab es wirklich eine Sintflut?
  42. Integration eines Open-Source-Lernmanagementsystems an der Medizinischen Fakultät der LMU München
  43. Transformations of pesticides in the atmosphere