New paper shows that arthropod exotic species promote assemblage homogenization In Azores
- November 6th, 2013
- Biodiversity
- Print Article
In a paper published in the prestigious Journal, DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS (IF: 6.122) investigators of the Azorean Biodiversity Group (CITA-A), Centro de Estudo Clima Metereologia e Mudanças Globais (CITA-A), Finish Museum of Natural History and Natural History Museum of Madrid, showed that exotic species increased overall assemblage similarity.
Distinct arthropod assemblages occurred on the different islands and in the different habitats. Assemblage differences between the habitats depended on the island. This pattern was largely explained by the abundance patterns of the most abundant indigenous and exotic species (ten indigenous and ten exotic species accounted for 75% of total individuals).
We demonstrate that exotic species promote assemblage homogenization on these oceanic islands, and that such process is contingent and independent between islands and habitats.
General habitat characteristics seemed to be the main driver of assemblage structure, independently of the different climatic conditions or disturbance levels.
A monitoring programme should be established to measure further changes in epigean arthropod assemblages in the Azores. Further studies should be focused on the persistence of indigenous species in these habitats to preserve the original arthropod assemblages, which is a current priority for conservation.
Florencio, M., Cardoso, P., Lobo, J.M., Azevedo, E.B. & Borges, P.A.V. (2013). Arthropod assemblage homogenisation in oceanic islands: the role of exotic and indigenous species under landscape disturbance. Diversity and Distributions, 19: 1450-1460 DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12121 (IF: 6.122)
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ddi.12121/abstract