Plant–plant interactions and local patterns of diversity from semi-arid to subalpine Mediterranean plant communities

Abstract

An understanding of the diversity spatial organization in plant communities provides essential information for management and conservation planning. In this study we investigated, using a multi-species approach, how plant–plant interactions determine the local structure and composition of diversity in a set of Mediterranean plant communities, ranging from semi-arid to subalpine habitats. Specifically, we evaluated the spatial pattern of diversity (i.e., diversity aggregation or segregation) in the local neighborhood of perennial plant species using the ISAR (individual species–area relationship) method. We also assessed the local pattern of beta-diversity (i.e., the spatial heterogeneity in species composition among local assemblages), including the contribution of species turnover (i.e., species replacement) and nestedness (i.e., differences in species richness) to the overall local beta-diversity. Our results showed that local diversity segregation decreased in the less productive plant communities. Also, we found that graminoids largely acted as diversity segregators, while forbs showed more diverse neighborhoods than expected in less productive study sites. Interestingly, not all shrub and dwarf shrub species aggregated diversity in their surroundings. Finally, an increase in nestedness was associated with less segregated diversity patterns in the local neighborhood of shrub species, underlining their role in creating diversity islands in less productive environmental conditions. Our results provide further insights into the effect of plant–plant interactions in shaping the structure and composition of diversity in Mediterranean plant communities, and highlight the species and groups of species that management and conservation strategies should focus on in order to prevent a loss of biodiversity.

Are degraded karst tiankengs coupled with microclimatic underground forests the refugia of surface flora? Evidence from China’s Yunnan

“…Investigations on plant diversity have been continuously pursued at home and abroad. In a Mediterranean study, plant interactions from semiarid to subalpine habitats shaped the structure and composition of plant diversity, and species nesting and regional dispersal of shrubs created a diverse islands (Arroyo et al, 2021). Study of an Mexican coastal ecosystems showed that the invasive species did not affect spatial patterns of species diversity, but rather strongly influence the dominance patterns of species (Parra Tabla et al, 2018).…”

Asociación espacial de Nothofagus antarctica y Berberis microphylla: mecanismos de facilitación sobre la regeneración arbórea en sistemas silvopastoriles

“…Los arbustos son altamente reconocidos como plantas facilitadoras ya que pueden minimizar los impactos negativos de la radiación solar excesiva, la compactación del suelo, la temperatura del aire y el viento; también puede aumentar la disponibilidad de nutrientes del suelo, el espesor de la hojarasca, la cantidad de materia orgánica, entre otros beneficios (Veblen et al, 2004;Heinemann y Kitzberger, 2006;Oliet y Jacobs, 2007;Callaway, 2007;Cortina et al, 2011;Mosquera-Losada et al, 2015;Valenzuela et al, 2016;Al-Namazi et al, 2020;Arroyo et al, 2021;Parajuli et al, 2021). Incluso existen antecedentes de que la densidad de semillas bajo arbustos es mayor que en áreas abiertas (Marone et al, 2004).…”

“…Los arbustos colonizadores que rebrotan después del fuego (Blackhall et al, 2015;Kitzberger et al, 2016;Landesmann et al, 2021) generan condiciones diferentes bajo su copa que podrían favorecer la germinación y el establecimiento de las especies leñosas en ambientes estresantes (Callaway, 2007;Oliet y Jacobs,2007;Gómez-Aparicio et al, 2004;Veblen et al, 2004;Heinemann y Kitzberger, 2006;Cortina et al, 2011;Mosquera-Losada et al, 2015;Valenzuela et al, 2016;Al-Namazi et al, 2020;Yuan et al, 2019;Arroyo et al, 2021;Parajuli et al, 2021;Chillo et al, 2022;Yang et al, 2022). En zonas áridas los arbustos dan origen a las denominas islas de fertilidad (Maestre et al, 2009b;Eldridge et al, 2011;Perea et al, 2014;Moncayo-Riascos y Gálvez-Cerón, 2018;Navarro-Cano et al, 2019;Karlin et al, 2021;Crockett y Hurteau, 2022;Sales Lucas et al, 2022).…”

“…Los arbustos poco palatables, especialmente aquellos que poseen espinas (Hanley et al, 2007), favorecen la supervivencia y el crecimiento de plantas que crecen en su cercanía (Callaway et al, 2000;Rebollo et al, 2002;Gómez-Aparicio et al, 2004;Pugnaire et al, 2004;Padilla y Pugnaire, 2006;Smit et al, 2007;López y Cavallero, 2017;Peebles-Spencer y Gorchov, 2017;Bannister et al, 2020;Wang et al, 2021b;Chillo et al, 2022). Por otro lado, como se observó en el Capítulo II y como evidencia la bibliografía, los arbustos pueden disminuir la radiación solar excesiva, la compactación del suelo, amortiguar la temperatura del aire, la temperatura del suelo, entre otras (Veblen et al, 2004;Heinemann y Kitzberger, 2006;Callaway, 2007;Oliet y Jacobs, 2007;Cortina et al, 2011;Mosquera-Losada et al, 2015;Valenzuela et al, 2016;Al-Namazi et al, 2020;Arroyo et al, 2021;Parajuli et al, 2021;Sales Lucas et al, 2022).…”