The importance of grain and cut-off size in shaping tree beta diversity along an elevation

The importance of grain and cut-off size in shaping tree beta diversity along an elevational gradient in

the northwest of Colombia

Johanna Andrea Martínez-Villa; Sebastián González-Caro; álvaro Duque

【期刊名称】《森林生态系统：英文版》 【年(卷),期】2020(007)001

【摘要】Background:Species turnover(β-diversity)along elevational gradients is one of the most important concepts in plant ecology.However,there is a lack of consensus about the main driving mechanisms of treeβ-diversity at local scales in very diverse ecosystems(e.g.,Andean mountains),as well as how the sampling effect can alterβ-diversity estimations.Recently,it has been hypothesized that patterns of change inβ-diversity at local scales along elevational gradients are driven by sampling effects stemming from differences in the size of the species pool rather than by underlying community assembly mechanisms.Thus,we aim to evaluate the relative extent to which sampling effects,such as species pool size,grain size,and tree size cut-off,determine species sorting,and thus,the variability ofβ-diversity at local scales along elevational gradients in the northwest of Colombia.Results:Using 151-ha permanent plots spread out along a 3000m elevational gradient,we used standardizedβ-deviation to assess the extent to which either sampling effects or the community assembly