4 research outputs found

    Neutral colonisations drive high beta-diversity in cavernicole springtails (Collembola)

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    <div><p>The theory of island biogeography predicts the effects of habitat isolation and size on species richness, community assembly, and the persistence of species. Various studies showed that habitat conditions and the ecology of species are also of relevance in explaining community assembly. Geographically isolated habitats like caves with rather constant environmental conditions provide models to test for the relevance of the above described variables. In this study we analysed springtails living in karst caves of the Romanian Carpathians and Dobrogea region. We considered phylogenetic relatedness, habitat and species characteristics to identify the relevant drivers of community assembly. Our data show that species richness of single caves is low. Neither phylogenetic relatedness nor habitat filtering and competitive interactions seem to shape species composition or to affect species richness. We found that glacial-interglacial cycles with subsequent range contractions and expansions might have led to independent and multiple colonisations of caves. Furthermore, single caves might have acted as refugia and thus might have provided the prerequisite for distinct evolution processes, leading to a high level of endemicity of these animal species.</p></div

    General linear modelling (given are partial η<sup>2</sup> values) indicated cave length to be positively (indicated by the + sign) associated with local cave-dwelling springtail species richness (α-diversity).

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    <p>The dominant eigenvector of the cave Euclidean distance matrix (EV1) served as covariate to account for possible spatial non-independence of richness and phylogenetic relatedness. The net relatedness index increased with richness and decreased with geographical distance of caves. N = 189.</p

    The net relatedness index (NRI) of local springtail assemblages was weakly positively related to cave species richness (P < 0.01; Table 1) but did not deviate from random expectation (equiprobable null model) that expects NR values < |2.0| at the two-sided 5% error level.

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    <p>The net relatedness index (NRI) of local springtail assemblages was weakly positively related to cave species richness (P < 0.01; <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0189638#pone.0189638.t001" target="_blank">Table 1</a>) but did not deviate from random expectation (equiprobable null model) that expects NR values < |2.0| at the two-sided 5% error level.</p
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