Divergent trends in functional and phylogenetic structure in reptile communities across Africa

Till Ramm (), Juan L. Cantalapiedra, Philipp Wagner, Johannes Penner, Mark-Oliver Rödel and Johannes Müller
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Till Ramm: Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science
Juan L. Cantalapiedra: Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science
Philipp Wagner: Allwetterzoo Münster
Johannes Penner: Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science
Mark-Oliver Rödel: Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science
Johannes Müller: Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Despite extensive research on ecological community compositions, general patterns across large-scale environmental gradients have remained unclear. A widely used explanatory model is the stress dominance hypothesis (SDH), predicting that the relative influence of environmental filtering is greater in stressful habitats while competition is more important in benign environments. Here, we test the SDH using African squamates as a model system to facilitate general predictions on community structures amidst changing global environments. For the first time we investigate changes in functional, phylogenetic and species diversity across continental, environmental gradients within a multidimensional, phylogenetically informed approach. Results suggest that phylogenetic patterns of African squamates were likely shaped by clade-specific biogeographic histories, whereas functional structure reflects SDH predictions. We further detected significant structuring at both local and regional spatial scales, emphasizing the impact of regional-historical processes on local assemblages, and the need for broad conceptual frameworks to detect general patterns of community composition.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07107-y

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