Elevational variation of spider and insect communities in the Swedish mountains

• DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4540
• Publication Date: 2023-06-07T07:43:39Z
• Authors: Johannes Måsviken; Daniel Marquina; Karin Norén; Love Dalén; Fredrik Dalerum
• Keywords: Taxonomic rank; Elevation (ballistics)

Abstract Mountain topography gives rise to often dramatic climate‐driven elevation gradients in primary productivity, which can generate substantial biodiversity variation. Therefore, mountain areas may be particularly useful for evaluating the ecological consequences of climate change. Arthropods are most diverse animal phylum, play important roles ecosystems. However, despite their importance, we have limited information on how arthropods vary along gradients. We investigated taxonomic richness, composition, and spatial structuring spider insect communities varied among three geographic locations a region northern Sweden. The provided latitude gradient spanning approximately 3° (from 62° N 65° N), but were otherwise selected contain similar environmental characteristics. Taxonomic richness both spiders insects declined monotonically with increasing elevation, there differences between such declines. composition groups, also differed sites. Linyphiid more widely distributed than other taxa, whereas broad range occurred over almost all elevations. observed nested as well modular distributions While patterns suggest that species turnover has generated distinct at different elevations, some generalist still widespread throughout large parts Our results point smaller groups community elevation. interpret these support taxonomically specific adaptations conditions being arthropod communities. changes environments regulated by two not mutually exclusive processes, one become dominant shift ranges upward high‐elevation specialists go extinct because increasingly fragmented habitats.