Functional traits and phylogeny jointly regulate the effects of environmental filtering and dispersal limitation on species spatial distribution

Abstract

IntroductionRevealing the spatial distribution pattern and formation mechanism of species in a community can provide important clues for community renewal, succession, and diversity maintenance mechanisms.MethodsIn this study, we employed spatial point process modeling to identify and quantify the processes contributing to the spatial distribution of species. Simultaneously, we explored the relationship between functional traits and species spatial distribution characteristics in conjunction with phylogenetic studies.ResultsThe results revealed that the LGCP model effectively described all species, indicating that the spatial pattern of species may be influenced by a combination of environmental filtering and dispersal limitation. Disparities in species spatial distribution were elucidated by characterizing functional traits, such as body size and resource conservation. Incorporating phylogenetic information enhanced the predictive capacity of functional traits in explaining species spatial distribution.DiscussionThis study underscores the significance of the joint effects of environmental filtering and dispersal limitation in generating species spatial distribution patterns. Integrating spatial point process models with considerations of functional traits and phylogeny proves to be an effective approach for comprehending the mechanisms governing species combinations.