POSTER: Determining the environmental control of plant diversity patterns in coastal wetlands

Description

Biodiversity is declining at an unprecedented rate. To understand these changes requires determining which factors control biodiversity at different spatial and taxonomic levels. We used multi-scalar environmental gradients in seasonal coastal wetlands to determine the controls that drive alpha and beta diversity. Plant community composition, plant available nutrient status and soil characteristics were measured for 164 quadrats in 41 dune slacks across 12 sand dune system. Hydrological regimes were modelled, and climate and atmospheric deposition data were collated. Alpha diversity (richness, Shannon diversity and Pielou’s evenness) and beta diversity (turnover and nestedness) for species and genera were calculated across three spatial levels from sand dune system (highest) to dune slack to quadrat (lowest). We show that diversity patterns depend on the spatial and taxonomic level considered. At smaller spatial levels (dune slack and quadrat) alpha and beta diversity varied along gradients driven by soil characteristics, water table depth and atmospheric deposition. At larger spatial levels (sand dune) patterns of beta diversity were driven by plant available nutrients. Genus level mirrored those at the species level. This research demonstrates how scale of measurement and taxonomic resolution can alter the interpretation of diversity in dune slacks, which is invaluable for their conservation.

Period	2022 May 16
Event title	Swedish Climate Symposium 2022
Event type	Conference
Location	Norrköping, SwedenShow on map