Journal article
Alpha and beta diversity patterns of macro-moths reveal a breakpoint along a latitudinal gradient in Mongolia
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v 11(1), 15018
22 Jul 2021
PMID: 34294812
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Little is known about the diversity and distribution patterns of moths along latitudinal gradients. We studied macro-moths in Mongolia along an 860 km latitudinal climatic gradient to gain knowledge on community composition, alpha, beta, and gamma diversity as well as underlying factors, which can be used as baseline information for further studies related to climate change. We identified 236 species of moths of ten families. Our study shows that the diversity of moths increased with the latitude, i.e., low species richness in the south and higher richness in the north. Moth community composition changed along the gradient, and we revealed a breakpoint of beta diversity that divided grassland and desert communities. In the desert, beta diversity was driven by species loss (i.e., nestedness), and few tolerant species existed with high abundance. In contrast, in the grassland, beta diversity was driven by species replacement with more unique species, (i.e., species which occurred only in one site). We found the lowest species diversity in the transitional zones dominated by few generalist species such as Agrotis ripae and Anarta trifolii. Low precipitation and an increasing number of grazing goats are drivers of species loss. We suggest different conservation strategies regarding the contrasting patterns of beta diversity in desert and grassland.
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Details
- Title
- Alpha and beta diversity patterns of macro-moths reveal a breakpoint along a latitudinal gradient in Mongolia
- Publication Details
- SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v 11(1), 15018
- Publisher
- NATURE PORTFOLIO; BERLIN
- Grant note
- Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL. K.E. funded by DAAD [Research Grants Doctoral Programme in Germany, 2017/18 (57299294)]. Field work was supported by the Taylor Family-Asia Foundation Endowed Chair in Ecology and Conservation Biology and the Department of Equal Chance Opportunity, University of Bayreuth.
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Drexel University
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000682802200051
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85111170394
- Other Identifier
- 991021860760704721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Ecology