Abstract
Biodiversity is multidimensional and different mechanisms can influence different dimensions. The spatial distribution of these dimensions can help in conservation decisions through the location of complementary areas with high diversity. We analyzed congruence in spatial patterns of species richness and functional diversity of cricetid rodents in the state of Oaxaca, southern Mexico, at different scales, and environmental variables related. Potential distribution models were produced for 49 species of cricetids in Maxent and superimposed to obtain potential communities in cells of 25, 50,100, 200 and 400 km2. We estimated species richness (SR) and functional diversity (SES.FD) eliminating the species richness effect through null models. The patterns and spatial congruence of species richness and functional diversity are described. The relationships between the environmental variables (elevation, temperature, precipitation, net primary productivity and potential evapotranspiration) and the SR and SES.FD were explored using Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) and Generalized Additive Models (GAMs). The highest species richness was found in mountainous ecosystems while the highest functional diversity was in tropical forests, revealing a spatial incongruence among these components of biodiversity (r = -0.14, p = 0.42; Pearson correlation). The locations of the cells of low congruence varied according to spatial resolution. In univariate models, elevation was the variable that best explained species richness (R2 = 0.77). No single variable explained the functional diversity; however, the models that included multiple environmental variables partially explained both the high and low functional diversity. The different patterns suggest that different historic, ecological and environmental processes could be responsible for the community structure of cricetid rodents in Oaxaca. These results indicate that one great challenge to be met to achieve more effective planning for biological conservation is to integrate knowledge regarding the spatial distribution of different dimensions of biodiversity.
Highlights
Understanding the processes and mechanisms that generate the spatial patterns of species richness is a central theme in biogeography and macroecology [1,2,3]
Microtus umbrosus was the only species for which we did not construct a distribution model because its records were restricted to a single locality, the distribution area was considered as a single cell (100 km2) (Table 3)
Superposition of the potential distribution models of the 49 species showed greater species richness of cricetid rodents in the mountainous areas, within the physiographic subprovinces Sierra Madre de Oaxaca, Montañas y Valles del Occidente and Sierra Madre del Sur (Fig 2)
Summary
Understanding the processes and mechanisms that generate the spatial patterns of species richness is a central theme in biogeography and macroecology [1,2,3]. The species-area relationship, biotic and abiotic determinants, and latitudinal gradients in species richness are recurrent and widely studied patterns [4]. To achieve a fuller understanding of the spatial patterns of biodiversity and its determinants, i.e., the environmental factors that regulate biodiversity, the spatial distribution of other facets or dimensions of biodiversity has become the subject of recent studies [5,6,7,8,9,10]. A disparity or spatial mismatch is often found in these dimensions of diversity; while species richness often correlates closely with environmental conditions, such as elevation, temperature and productivity, functional diversity depends on both environmental conditions and ecological interactions among coexisting species, such as competence [7, 8, 10, 23]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
