In:
PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science (PLoS), Vol. 16, No. 7 ( 2021-7-16), p. e0253284-
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-diversity by landscape configuration. On the one hand, the amount of secondary forest influenced α-diversity. Additionally, species richness increased in landscapes with highly aggregated forest patches. On the other hand, β-diversity was affected positively by forest fragmentation and negatively by the edge contrast of forest patches with the surrounding matrix. Our findings indicate that landscape configuration is a strong driver of seedling diversity in highly deforested rainforests. Promoting forest patches and secondary forests through payment for ecosystem services’ programs, favoring matrix quality within land-sharing schemes of smallholder agriculture and secondary forest management, and identifying restoration opportunities for assisted or unassisted natural regeneration are urgently needed for conservation of seedling diversity in human-modified tropical landscapes.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1932-6203
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0253284
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0253284.g001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0253284.g002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0253284.g003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0253284.t001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0253284.t002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0253284.s001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0253284.s002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0253284.s003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0253284.r001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0253284.r002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0253284.r003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0253284.r004
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0253284.r005
Language:
English
Publisher:
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Publication Date:
2021
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2267670-3
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