Spatial variation in phylogenetic diversity of communities of Atlantic Forest harvestmen (Opiliones, Arachnida)

Author(s)

Nogueira, Andre do Amaral ^[1] ; Bragagnolo, Cibele ^[2] ; DaSilva, Marcio Bernardino ^[3] ; Carvalho, Leonardo Sousa ^{[4, 5]} ; Benedetti, Alipio Rezende ^[1] ; Pinto-da-Rocha, Ricardo ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biociencias, Dept Zool, Rua Matao, Travessa 14, 321, BR-00550890 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Ecol & Biol Evolut, Diadema, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Paraiba, Ctr Ciencias Exatas & Nat, Dept Sistemat & Ecol, Joao Pessoa, PB - Brazil

^[4] Univ Fed Piaui, Floriano, PI - Brazil

^[5] Univ Fed Minas Gerais, Programa Posgrad Zool, Belo Horizonte, MG - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Insect Conservation and Diversity; v. 12, n. 5, p. 414-426, SEP 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The study of diversity has become increasingly sophisticated, including the use of measures of phylogenetic diversity. We calculate the spatial variation in species richness, taxonomic beta diversity, and alpha and beta phylogenetic diversity (PD alpha and PD beta, respectively) of Atlantic Forest harvestman communities using a data set containing 556 species from 68 sites, distributed in 12 Brazilian states. We compare the congruence of phylogenetic and taxonomic diversity patterns, and also compare PD alpha with null model expectations, to check for phylogenetic clustering or overdispersion in communities. Species richness and PD alpha are correlated, peaking in southern and south-eastern coastal sites and decreasing towards the interior and towards the north-east. PD alpha in north-eastern sites was higher than expected, while a clustered phylogenetic pattern characterised most other sites. Communities in the southern and south-eastern regions were dominated by species from the large family Gonyleptidae, presenting a high richness and a low PD alpha. As the dominance of Gonyleptidae decreased towards the north, where local communities have fewer species, but a higher PD alpha, they contain representatives of other families. The beta diversity was more sensitive to the compositional changes involving closely related Gonyleptidae species, while PD beta is more influenced by deeper phylogenetic compositional changes, between more distant lineages. Phylogenetic diversity may be of special importance to assess the conservation value of distantly related lineages. These species-poor groups are less likely to influence taxonomic-based diversity analyses, but their importance for conservation arises from their phylogenetic distinctiveness, captured by PD alpha and PD beta measures. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/23736-2 - Alpha, beta, functional and phylogenetic diversity of opilions in the Atlantic Forest: patterns and relationships with ecological and historical factors
• Grantee: André do Amaral Nogueira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 13/50297-0 - Dimensions US-BIOTA São Paulo: a multidisciplinary framework for biodiversity prediction in the Brazilian Atlantic forest hotspot
• Grantee: Cristina Yumi Miyaki
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants