Lake productivity and waterbird functional diversity across geographic and environmental gradients in temperate China.

ABSTRACT: Geographical gradients in species diversity have long fascinated biogeographers and ecologists. However, the extent and generality of the effects of the important factors governing functional diversity (FD) patterns are still debated, especially for the freshwater domain. We examined the relationship between lake productivity and functional diversity of waterbirds sampled from 35 lakes and reservoirs in northern China with a geographic coverage of over 5 million km². We used structural equation modeling (SEM) to explore the causal relationships between geographic position, climate, lake productivity, and waterbird FD. We found unambiguous altitudinal and longitudinal gradients in lake productivity and waterbird FD, which were strongly mediated by local environmental factors. Spe

SUBMITTER: Zhang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7593163 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature