Environmental filtering and dispersal limitation jointly shape the taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity in a subtropical karst forest of China.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Community assembly involves species forming communities through interactions and environmental adaptation, with traits and phylogeny playing key roles. Analyzing these factors is crucial for understanding community assembly and improving ecological restoration and biodiversity conservation, especially in karst ecosystems, where research is limited.

Methods

Here, we evaluated six metrics of taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional diversity in a subtropical climax forest, and then derived the relative contribution of environmental and spatial conditions on the diversity metrics.

Results

The results indicated that, except for the mean pairwise distance (MPD) index, all other indices exhibited a higher spatial distribution pattern on slopes compared to depress

SUBMITTER: Long Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12424234 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature