Geographical Ecology of Dry Forest Tree Communities in the West Indies

Janet Franklin; Riley Andrade; Mark L. Daniels; Patrick Fairbairn; Maria C. Fandino; Thomas W. Gillespie; Grizelle  González; Otto González; Daniel Imbert; Valerie Kapos; Daniel L. Kelly; Humfredo  Marcano-Vega; Elvia J. Meléndez-Ackerman; Kurt P. McLaren; Morag A. McDonald; Julie Ripplinger; Julissa  Rojas-Sandoval; Michael S. Ross; Jorge Ruiz; David W. Steadman; Edmund V. J. Tanner; Inge Terrill; Michael Vennetier

doi:10.1111/jbi.13198

Geographical Ecology of Dry Forest Tree Communities in the West Indies

Janet Franklin
, Riley Andrade
, Mark L. Daniels
, Patrick Fairbairn
, Maria C. Fandino
, Thomas W. Gillespie
, Grizelle González
, Otto González
, Daniel Imbert
, Valerie Kapos
, Daniel L. Kelly
, Humfredo Marcano-Vega
, Elvia J. Meléndez-Ackerman
, Kurt P. McLaren
, Morag A. McDonald
, Julie Ripplinger
, Julissa Rojas-Sandoval
, Michael S. Ross
, Jorge Ruiz
, David W. Steadman

Edmund V. J. Tanner, Inge Terrill, Michael Vennetier

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Aim Seasonally dry tropical forest (SDTF) of the Caribbean Islands (primarily West Indies) is floristically distinct from Neotropical SDTF in Central and South America. We evaluate whether tree species composition was associated with climatic gradients or geographical distance. Turnover (dissimilarity) in species composition of different islands or among more distant sites would suggest communities structured by speciation and dispersal limitations. A nested pattern would be consistent with a steep resource gradient. Correlation of species composition with climatic variation would suggest communities structured by broad-scale environmental filtering.

Location The West Indies (The Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Lucia), Providencia (Colombia), south Florida (USA), and Florida Keys (USA).

Taxon Seed plants -- woody taxa (primarily trees).

Methods We compiled 572 plots from 23 surveys conducted between 1969-2016. Hierarchical clustering of species in plots, and indicator species analysis for the resulting groups of sites, identified geographical patterns of turnover in species composition. Non parametric analysis of variance, applied to principal components of bioclimatic variables, determined the degree of covariation of climate with location. Nestedness versus turnover in species composition was evaluated using beta diversity partitioning. Generalized
dissimilarity modeling partitioned the effect of climate versus geographical distance on species composition.

Results Despite a set of commonly occurring species, SDTF tree community composition was distinct among islands and was characterized by spatial turnover on climatic gradients that covaried with geographical gradients. Greater Antillean islands were characterized by endemic indicator species. Northern subtropical areas supported distinct, rather than nested, SDTF communities in spite of low levels of endemism.

Main conclusions SDTF species composition was correlated with climatic variation. SDTF on large Greater Antillean islands (Hispaniola, Jamaica and Cuba) was characterized by endemic species, consistent with their geological history and the biogeography of plant lineages. These results suggest that both environmental filtering and speciation shape Caribbean SDTF tree communities.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1168-1181
Journal	Journal of Biogeography
Volume	45
Issue number	5
Early online date	7 Mar 2018
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.13198
Publication status	Published - May 2018

Keywords

beta diversity
Caribbean
community composition
seasonally dry tropical forest
species turnover
tropical dry forest
West Indies

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Franklin_et_al-2018-Journal_of_BiogeographyFinal published version, 5.33 MBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

Cite this

Franklin, J., Andrade, R., Daniels, M. L., Fairbairn, P., Fandino, M. C., Gillespie, T. W., González, G., González, O., Imbert, D., Kapos, V., Kelly, D. L., Marcano-Vega, H., Meléndez-Ackerman, E. J., McLaren, K. P., McDonald, M. A., Ripplinger, J., Rojas-Sandoval, J., Ross, M. S., Ruiz, J., ... Vennetier, M. (2018). Geographical Ecology of Dry Forest Tree Communities in the West Indies. Journal of Biogeography, 45(5), 1168-1181. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.13198

@article{7f2eb802548747cf82671f42a295c9f7,

title = "Geographical Ecology of Dry Forest Tree Communities in the West Indies",

abstract = "Aim Seasonally dry tropical forest (SDTF) of the Caribbean Islands (primarily West Indies) is floristically distinct from Neotropical SDTF in Central and South America. We evaluate whether tree species composition was associated with climatic gradients or geographical distance. Turnover (dissimilarity) in species composition of different islands or among more distant sites would suggest communities structured by speciation and dispersal limitations. A nested pattern would be consistent with a steep resource gradient. Correlation of species composition with climatic variation would suggest communities structured by broad-scale environmental filtering. Location The West Indies (The Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Lucia), Providencia (Colombia), south Florida (USA), and Florida Keys (USA). Taxon Seed plants -- woody taxa (primarily trees). Methods We compiled 572 plots from 23 surveys conducted between 1969-2016. Hierarchical clustering of species in plots, and indicator species analysis for the resulting groups of sites, identified geographical patterns of turnover in species composition. Non parametric analysis of variance, applied to principal components of bioclimatic variables, determined the degree of covariation of climate with location. Nestedness versus turnover in species composition was evaluated using beta diversity partitioning. Generalized dissimilarity modeling partitioned the effect of climate versus geographical distance on species composition. Results Despite a set of commonly occurring species, SDTF tree community composition was distinct among islands and was characterized by spatial turnover on climatic gradients that covaried with geographical gradients. Greater Antillean islands were characterized by endemic indicator species. Northern subtropical areas supported distinct, rather than nested, SDTF communities in spite of low levels of endemism. Main conclusions SDTF species composition was correlated with climatic variation. SDTF on large Greater Antillean islands (Hispaniola, Jamaica and Cuba) was characterized by endemic species, consistent with their geological history and the biogeography of plant lineages. These results suggest that both environmental filtering and speciation shape Caribbean SDTF tree communities.",

keywords = "beta diversity, Caribbean, community composition, seasonally dry tropical forest, species turnover, tropical dry forest, West Indies",

author = "Janet Franklin and Riley Andrade and Daniels, \{Mark L.\} and Patrick Fairbairn and Fandino, \{Maria C.\} and Gillespie, \{Thomas W.\} and Grizelle Gonz{\'a}lez and Otto Gonz{\'a}lez and Daniel Imbert and Valerie Kapos and Kelly, \{Daniel L.\} and Humfredo Marcano-Vega and Mel{\'e}ndez-Ackerman, \{Elvia J.\} and McLaren, \{Kurt P.\} and McDonald, \{Morag A.\} and Julie Ripplinger and Julissa Rojas-Sandoval and Ross, \{Michael S.\} and Jorge Ruiz and Steadman, \{David W.\} and Tanner, \{Edmund V. J.\} and Inge Terrill and Michael Vennetier",

year = "2018",

month = may,

doi = "10.1111/jbi.13198",

language = "English",

volume = "45",

pages = "1168--1181",

journal = "Journal of Biogeography",

issn = "1365-2699",

publisher = "Wiley",

number = "5",

}

Franklin, J, Andrade, R, Daniels, ML, Fairbairn, P, Fandino, MC, Gillespie, TW, González, G, González, O, Imbert, D, Kapos, V, Kelly, DL, Marcano-Vega, H, Meléndez-Ackerman, EJ, McLaren, KP, McDonald, MA, Ripplinger, J, Rojas-Sandoval, J, Ross, MS, Ruiz, J, Steadman, DW, Tanner, EVJ, Terrill, I & Vennetier, M 2018, 'Geographical Ecology of Dry Forest Tree Communities in the West Indies', Journal of Biogeography, vol. 45, no. 5, pp. 1168-1181. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.13198

TY - JOUR

T1 - Geographical Ecology of Dry Forest Tree Communities in the West Indies

AU - Franklin, Janet

AU - Andrade, Riley

AU - Daniels, Mark L.

AU - Fairbairn, Patrick

AU - Fandino, Maria C.

AU - Gillespie, Thomas W.

AU - González, Grizelle

AU - González, Otto

AU - Imbert, Daniel

AU - Kapos, Valerie

AU - Kelly, Daniel L.

AU - Marcano-Vega, Humfredo

AU - Meléndez-Ackerman, Elvia J.

AU - McLaren, Kurt P.

AU - McDonald, Morag A.

AU - Ripplinger, Julie

AU - Rojas-Sandoval, Julissa

AU - Ross, Michael S.

AU - Ruiz, Jorge

AU - Steadman, David W.

AU - Tanner, Edmund V. J.

AU - Terrill, Inge

AU - Vennetier, Michael

PY - 2018/5

Y1 - 2018/5

N2 - Aim Seasonally dry tropical forest (SDTF) of the Caribbean Islands (primarily West Indies) is floristically distinct from Neotropical SDTF in Central and South America. We evaluate whether tree species composition was associated with climatic gradients or geographical distance. Turnover (dissimilarity) in species composition of different islands or among more distant sites would suggest communities structured by speciation and dispersal limitations. A nested pattern would be consistent with a steep resource gradient. Correlation of species composition with climatic variation would suggest communities structured by broad-scale environmental filtering. Location The West Indies (The Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Lucia), Providencia (Colombia), south Florida (USA), and Florida Keys (USA). Taxon Seed plants -- woody taxa (primarily trees). Methods We compiled 572 plots from 23 surveys conducted between 1969-2016. Hierarchical clustering of species in plots, and indicator species analysis for the resulting groups of sites, identified geographical patterns of turnover in species composition. Non parametric analysis of variance, applied to principal components of bioclimatic variables, determined the degree of covariation of climate with location. Nestedness versus turnover in species composition was evaluated using beta diversity partitioning. Generalized dissimilarity modeling partitioned the effect of climate versus geographical distance on species composition. Results Despite a set of commonly occurring species, SDTF tree community composition was distinct among islands and was characterized by spatial turnover on climatic gradients that covaried with geographical gradients. Greater Antillean islands were characterized by endemic indicator species. Northern subtropical areas supported distinct, rather than nested, SDTF communities in spite of low levels of endemism. Main conclusions SDTF species composition was correlated with climatic variation. SDTF on large Greater Antillean islands (Hispaniola, Jamaica and Cuba) was characterized by endemic species, consistent with their geological history and the biogeography of plant lineages. These results suggest that both environmental filtering and speciation shape Caribbean SDTF tree communities.

AB - Aim Seasonally dry tropical forest (SDTF) of the Caribbean Islands (primarily West Indies) is floristically distinct from Neotropical SDTF in Central and South America. We evaluate whether tree species composition was associated with climatic gradients or geographical distance. Turnover (dissimilarity) in species composition of different islands or among more distant sites would suggest communities structured by speciation and dispersal limitations. A nested pattern would be consistent with a steep resource gradient. Correlation of species composition with climatic variation would suggest communities structured by broad-scale environmental filtering. Location The West Indies (The Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Lucia), Providencia (Colombia), south Florida (USA), and Florida Keys (USA). Taxon Seed plants -- woody taxa (primarily trees). Methods We compiled 572 plots from 23 surveys conducted between 1969-2016. Hierarchical clustering of species in plots, and indicator species analysis for the resulting groups of sites, identified geographical patterns of turnover in species composition. Non parametric analysis of variance, applied to principal components of bioclimatic variables, determined the degree of covariation of climate with location. Nestedness versus turnover in species composition was evaluated using beta diversity partitioning. Generalized dissimilarity modeling partitioned the effect of climate versus geographical distance on species composition. Results Despite a set of commonly occurring species, SDTF tree community composition was distinct among islands and was characterized by spatial turnover on climatic gradients that covaried with geographical gradients. Greater Antillean islands were characterized by endemic indicator species. Northern subtropical areas supported distinct, rather than nested, SDTF communities in spite of low levels of endemism. Main conclusions SDTF species composition was correlated with climatic variation. SDTF on large Greater Antillean islands (Hispaniola, Jamaica and Cuba) was characterized by endemic species, consistent with their geological history and the biogeography of plant lineages. These results suggest that both environmental filtering and speciation shape Caribbean SDTF tree communities.

KW - beta diversity

KW - Caribbean

KW - community composition

KW - seasonally dry tropical forest

KW - species turnover

KW - tropical dry forest

KW - West Indies

U2 - 10.1111/jbi.13198

DO - 10.1111/jbi.13198

M3 - Article

SN - 1365-2699

VL - 45

SP - 1168

EP - 1181

JO - Journal of Biogeography

JF - Journal of Biogeography

IS - 5

ER -

Geographical Ecology of Dry Forest Tree Communities in the West Indies

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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