Spatial Factors Play a Major Role as Determinants of Endemic Ground Beetle Beta Diversity of Madeira Island Laurisilva

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064591
• Publication Date: 2013-05-27T20:16:01Z
• Authors: Mário Boieiro; José C. Carvalho; Pedro Cardoso; Carlos A. S. Aguiar; Carla Rego; Israel de Faria e...; Isabel R. Amorim; Fernando Pereira; Eduardo B. Azevedo; Paulo A. V. Borges; Artur R. M. Serrano
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; Science; DISTANCE DECAY; Artrópodes; Environment; 01 natural sciences; Trees; Ground Beetle; Animals; COLEOPTERA CARABIDAE; Arthropods; Ecosystem; Laurisilva Forest; Islands; Geography; SPECIES RICHNESS; Q; CARABID BEETLES; R; CONSERVATION PRIORITIES; Biodiversity; BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS; Madeira Island; Coleoptera; CHINA WOODY-PLANTS; VEGETATION STRUCTURE; Medicine; DISPERSAL LIMITATION; PRESENCE-ABSENCE DATA; Research Article

The development in recent years of new beta diversity analytical approaches highlighted valuable information on the different processes structuring ecological communities. A crucial for understanding patterns was also its differentiation two components: species turnover and richness differences. In this study, we evaluate ground beetles from 26 sites Madeira Island distributed throughout Laurisilva--a relict forest restricted to Macaronesian archipelagos. We assess how components beetle (β(repl)--species β(rich)--species differences) relate with differences climate, geography, landscape composition matrix, woody plant soil characteristics relative importance effects these variables at spatial scales. sampled 1025 specimens 31 species, most which are endemic Island. spatially explicit analysis used contribution pure environmental, environmental structured variation composition. Variation partitioning showed that 31.9% (β(repl)) 40.7% (β(rich)) could be explained by variables. However, controlled types diversity: β(repl) influenced disturbance organic matter content whilst β(rich) altitude slope. Furthermore, variables, represented through Moran's eigenvector maps, played a significant role explaining both β(rich), suggesting dispersal ability complex orography group beetles.