Abstract
Theory predicts that spatial structure can mediate interactions that affect species diversity in a patchy environment. A rarely considered effect of spatial structure on biodiversity is the interplay of spatial habitat arrangement with species interactions at multiple spatial scales. We investigated how spatial habitat arrangement and predation mediate the assembly of the larval communities of fungivorous insects breeding in the oyster mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq. ex Fr.) P.Kumm in a North American woodland. In a two‐way factorial design, we varied the spatial arrangement of mushroom clumps (‘clustered', ‘patchy', and ‘uniform'; 3 levels) crossed with predator exclusion (access allowed or not; 2 levels) to study their joint effects on patterns of α, β and γ diversity of the fungivorous insect communities. Partitioning diversity into these three components suggested that neither spatial nor predation treatments significantly affected α, β and γ diversity. We found that an intermediate inter‐clump distance (i.e., the ‘patchy' treatment) increased spatial autocorrelation in insect community composition within experimental blocks, particularly in the mushrooms to which predators had access. The spatial structuring in β diversity indicates that the arrangement of mushroom clumps can structure β diversity of fungivorous larval communities through direct effects on the species themselves (e.g., increased aggregation and habitat choice of ovipositing females of fungivorous insects), as well as effects mediated through the presence and behavior of predators (e.g., spatially structured selective foraging by predators acting as a filter on which species were in the clumps). The naturally patchy nature of mushroom fruiting may transform the spatial pattern of β diversity by altering the behavior of ovipositing females, or by weakening the negative effect of larval competition.
Highlights
Treatment) increased spatial autocorrelation in insect community composition within experimental blocks, in the mushrooms to which predators had access
One advance in community ecology over the last decade has been an increased recognition that spatial heterogeneity is key to maintaining biodiversity at multiple spatial scales
We investigated how spatial habitat arrangement and predation mediate the assembly of larval communities of fungivorous insects breeding in the oyster mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq. ex Fr.) P.Kumm., in a North American woodland
Summary
Treatment) increased spatial autocorrelation in insect community composition within experimental blocks, in the mushrooms to which predators had access. The spatial structuring in b diversity indicates that the arrangement of mushroom clumps can structure b diversity of fungivorous larval communities through direct effects on the species themselves (e.g., increased aggregation and habitat choice of ovipositing females of fungivorous insects), as well as effects mediated through the presence and behavior of predators (e.g., spatially structured selective foraging by predators acting as a filter on which species were in the clumps). Spatial heterogeneity in the distributions of organisms arises for many reasons, including dispersal v www.esajournals.org
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.