Spatial versus spatio-temporal approaches for studying metacommunities: a multi-taxon analysis in Mediterranean and tropical temporary ponds

Prior research on metacommunities has largely focused on snapshot surveys, often overlooking temporal dynamics. In this study, our aim was to compare the insights obtained from metacommunity analyses based on a spatial approach repeated over time, with a spatio-temporal approach that consolidates al...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Gálvez, Ángel, Peres-Neto, Pedro R., Castillo-Escrivà, Andreu, Bonilla, Fabián, Camacho, Antonio, García-Roger, Eduardo M., Iepure, Sanda, Miralles, Javier, Monrós, Juan S., Olmo, Carla, Picazo, Antonio, Rojo, Carmen, Rueda, Juan, Sasa, Mahmood, Segura, Mati, Armengol Díaz, Xavier, Mesquita-Joanes, Francesc
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2024
País:España
Institución:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repositorio:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:10256/26624
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10256/26624
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Biogeografia
Biogeography
Ecologia d'aigua dolça
Freshwater ecology
Connectivitat ecològica
Ecological connectivity
Descripción
Sumario:Prior research on metacommunities has largely focused on snapshot surveys, often overlooking temporal dynamics. In this study, our aim was to compare the insights obtained from metacommunity analyses based on a spatial approach repeated over time, with a spatio-temporal approach that consolidates all data into a single model. We empirically assessed the influence of temporal variation in the environment and spatial connectivity on the structure of metacommunities in tropical and Mediterranean temporary ponds. Employing a standardized methodology across both regions, we surveyed multiple freshwater taxa in three time periods within the same hydrological year from multiple temporary ponds in each region. To evaluate how environmental, spatial and temporal influences vary between the two approaches, we used nonlinear variation partitioning analyses based on generalized additive models. Overall, this study underscores the importance of adopting spatio-temporal analytics to better understand the processes shaping metacommunities. While the spatial approach suggested that environmental factors had a greater influence, our spatio-temporal analysis revealed that spatial connectivity was the primary driver influencing metacommunity structure in both regions. Temporal effects were equally important as environmental effects, suggesting a significant role of ecological succession in metacommunity structure