Landscape structure shapes the diversity of tree seedlings at multiple spatial scales in a fragmented tropical rainforest.

ABSTRACT: The maintenance of seedling diversity of animal-dispersed tree species is fundamental for the structure and function of forest patches in fragmented tropical rainforests. Nonetheless, the effects of landscape structure at different spatial scales on α- and β-diversity of tree seedling communities are recently explored. Using a multi-scale approach, we assessed the relative effect of landscape composition and configuration on α- and β-diversity of animal-dispersed seedlings within 16 forest patches in the Lacandona rainforest, Mexico. We assessed these effects at 13 spatial scales (from 300 to 1500 m radius, at 100 m intervals) for three metrics of effective number of species considering α- and β-diversity. We found that α-diversity was largely affected by landscape composition and β-divers

SUBMITTER: Nicasio-Arzeta S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8284835 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature