Contribution of rare and common species to subterranean species richness patterns.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

Common species contribute more to species richness patterns (SRPs) than rare species in most studies. Our aim was to test this hypothesis using a novel model system, species living exclusively in subterranean habitats. They consist of mainly rare species (small ranges), only a few of them being common (large ranges), and challenge whether rare species are less important for the development of SRPs in this environment. We separately analyzed aquatic and terrestrial species.

Location

Western Balkans in southeastern Europe.

Methods

We assembled two datasets comprising 431 beetle and 145 amphipod species, representing the model groups of subterranean terrestrial and aquatic diversity, respectively. We assessed the importance of rare and common species using the stepwi

SUBMITTER: Bregovic P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6822026 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature