Diversity of ostracod communities (Crustacea, Ostracoda) across hierarchical spatial levels in a tropical floodplain

Abstract

Assessing and evaluating the mechanism and patterns of species distribution across multiple hierarchical spatial levels, such as in floodplains, are important for understanding the factors that influence the structure of communities. The species composition may vary at these spatial levels or between the spatial levels along the hierarchical scale. Thus, using the additive partitioning in species richness, Shannon index, and Simpson coefficient, we tested the hypothesis that the alpha and beta components of ostracod diversity are unevenly distributed along the hierarchical spatial levels in the Upper Parana River floodplain (Brazil). The results obtained by PCoA and diversity partitioning allowed us to conclude that dispersal is efficient, and that at higher spatial levels (floodplain, systems, and environments), the establishment of a new population of ostracods depends on both abiotic and biotic factors. However, at lower levels, spatial factors such as plants architecture and other biotic factors, e.g., competition, may have greater influence on community structure.