Patterns of change in α and β taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity in the secondary succession of semi-natural grasslands in the Northern Apennines

Abstract

We studied the secondary succession in semi-natural grasslands (dry grasslands and hay meadows) located in the eastern side of the Tuscan Apennines (Tuscany, Central Italy). We compared these habitats, investigating: (i) the changes in species richness, composition and phylogenetic diversity during the succession; (ii) whether the trends in species loss and species turnover in taxonomic diversity matched those in phylogenetic diversity. We performed a stratified random sampling, in a full factorial design between habitat type and succession stage (60 sampled plots, 10 × 2 types of habitat × 3 stages of succession). We constructed a phylogenetic tree of the plant communities and compared the differences in taxonomic/phylogenetic aand β-diversity between these two habitats and during their succession. We identified indicator species for each succession stage and habitat. Looking at a-diversity, both habitats displayed a decrease in species richness, with a random process of species selection in the earlier succession stages from the species regional pool. Nevertheless, in the latter stage of dry grasslands we recorded a shift towards phylogenetic overdispersion at the higher-level groups in the phylogenetic tree. In both habitats, while the richness decreased with succession stage, most species were replaced during the succession. However, the hay meadows were characterized by a higher rate of new species' ingression whereas the dry grasslands became dominated with Juniperus communis. Accordingly, the two habitats showed similar features in phylogenetic β-diversity. The main component was true phylogenetic turnover, due to replacement of unique lineages along the succession. Nevertheless, in dry grasslands this trend is slightly higher than expected considering the major importance of difference in species richness of dry grasslands sites and this is due to the presence of a phylogenetically very distant species (J. communis).

Plant Functional and Phylogenetic Diversity Regulate Ecosystem Multifunctionality in Semi-Arid Grassland During Succession

“…As succession progresses, the different facets of diversity undergo differential patterns of change (Lohbeck et al, 2012;Vellend et al, 2013;Yuan et al, 2016). Both increasing and decreasing trends of taxonomic diversity during grassland succession have been reported (Purschke et al, 2013;Lazzaro et al, 2020). The phylogenetic alpha diversity significantly increased from the early-mid to late-successional stages but with no significant changes detected in the early and early-mid successional stages in an arable-to-grassland chronosequence more than 270-years-long (Purschke et al, 2013).…”

Taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity of communities hosting Ionopsidium savianum (Brassicaceae) growing on serpentine and limestone substrates

“…Pelato are the only ones hosting a fern (Asplenium ceterach L.). It has already been shown that the presence of a single species characterized by a deep separation in the phylogeny of the communities may raise substantial differences in phylogenetic trends (Lazzaro et al 2020).…”

The incidence of alien species on the taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional diversity of lentic and lotic communities dominated byPhragmites australis(Cav.) Steud

“…The main idea behind this approach is to interpret taxa phylogenetic positions as result of evolutionary processes, such as extinction (Purvis et al, 2000), speciation (Winter et al, 2009) and biological invasion (Srivastava et al, 2012). It has already become widely accepted that merging the phylogenetic and functional information allows to better quantify the impact of disturbances and to understand the processes contributing on plant community dynamics (Flynn et al, 2011;Perronne et al, 2014;Dehling et al, 2014;Hao et al, 2018;Chun and Lee, 2019;Lazzaro et al, 2020b).…”