Spatial patterns of species richness and nestedness in ant assemblages along an elevational gradient in a Mediterranean mountain range.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The study of biodiversity spatial patterns along ecological gradients can serve to elucidate factors shaping biological community structure and predict ecosystem responses to global change. Ant assemblages are particularly interesting as study cases, because ant species play a key role in many ecosystem processes and have frequently been identified as useful bioindicators.

Methods

Here we analyzed the response of ant species richness and assemblage composition across elevational gradients in Mediterranean grasslands and subsequently tested whether these responses were stable spatially and temporally. We sampled ant assemblages in two years (2014, 2015) in two mountain ranges (Guadarrama, Serrota) in Central Spain, along an elevational gradient ranging from 685 to

SUBMITTER: Flores O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6300198 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature