Tadpole metacommunity structuring in different vegetation types of the Atlantic Forest: an analysis at different spatial scales

Author(s)

Rodolfo Mei Pelinson

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São José do Rio Preto. 2016-02-12.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Instituto de Biociências Letras e Ciências Exatas. São José do Rio Preto
• Defense date: 2016-02-01
• Advisor: Denise de Cerqueira Rossa Feres; Michel Varajão Garey

Abstract

The metacommunity concept incorporates the process that occurs in different spatial scales. This concept is currently being investigated by two approaches: One identifies the influence of mechanisms that organize metammunities (i.e. local environmental factors and dispersion), and the second one identifies different types of metacommunity structure generated by biotic interactions (e.g. competition) and/or environmental filters. Here we applied these two approaches to assess the patters of species distribution in tadpole’s metacommunities in the Atlantic Forest in two different spatial extends: broad and fine. We studied two distinct biogeographic regions with different anuran species’ pool. One comprises the Mesophytic Semideciduous Forest (MSF) and transition areas between SSF and Cerrado (i.e. Brazilian savannah). The other study area is located in coastal plains and comprises part of the Dense Ombrophilous Forest (DOF). In broad spatial extents, we found that the climate is the main driver of the metacommunity structures. In the MSF, where climate is seasonal and drier, species are distributed following local environmental conditions and mainly climate conditions, which are spatially structured. Although climate varies little in this phytophysiognomy, in these severe environmental conditions, even small variations in temperature or humidity are enough to filter species that can survive these conditions. Additionally, the climate effect is probably enhanced by dispersion limitation due to deforestation and intense land use. In the DOF, the more humid and stable climate conditions had little effect in species distribution, probably because these conditions allow amphibian to disperse more with less desiccation risk. Therefore, canopy cover and stochastic processes are the most important factors driving metacommunity structure. Although we found some weak patterns of environmental filtering processes, in smaller spatial extends, particular features from each locality and stochastic processes promotes variation in structuring mechanisms and metacommunity structure. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/07591-7 - Influence of spatial scale and phytophysiognomy on metacommunity structure of anurans from the Atlantic Forest
• Grantee: Rodolfo Mei Pelinson
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master