Liu Fangyuan, Yu Xiaoping, Che Xianli, Zhang Qiang, Grossi Alexandra Ashley, Zhang Min, Wang Zhengzhen, Zou Fasheng
College of Life Sciences Shaanxi Normal University Xi'an China.
Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Library of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology Guangdong Academy of Sciences Guangzhou China.
Ecol Evol. 2024 Jun 6;14(6):e11446. doi: 10.1002/ece3.11446. eCollection 2024 Jun.
Understory bird communities, especially those comprising insectivores, are highly sensitive to forest loss and fragmentation. Currently, there is little knowledge regarding the large-scale diversity patterns of understory bird communities, particularly in Eastern Asia. Consequently, we aimed to identify the distribution patterns of understory birds in southern China and the factors underlying these patterns. We analysed the diversity distribution patterns of taxonomic and functional α and β diversity for understory Passeriformes birds in southern China utilising cluster and ordination analyses. Subsequently, we analysed the effects of geographic distance, annual mean temperature, annual temperature range, annual mean precipitation, and annual precipitation range on diversity distribution patterns. In total, 9282 individuals belonging to 11 orders, 48 families, and 297 species were captured over 98,544 net hours, with Alcippeidae being the most abundant family in southern China. The understory bird communities of the 25 sites were categorised into six sub-regions of the Oriental Realm (Indo-Malayan Realm). The pattern in the distribution of taxonomic and functional β-diversity of understory birds in southern China was consistent with zoogeographical regionalisation. Three distinct geographical groups were identified: Group 1 was located in the Min-Guang Coast and Hainan sub-regions; Group 2 was located in the East Hilly Plain, Southwest Mountains, and Western Mountains and Plateaus sub-regions; and Group 3 was located in the Southern Yunnan Mountain subregion. The most critical factors related to the distribution patterns of β-diversity were geographical distance, annual mean temperature, and annual temperature range. Our results showed that the understory bird communities of the Southwest Mountain, East Hilly Plain, and Western Mountains, and Plateaus sub-regions were similar, as were those of the Min-Guang Coast and Hainan sub-regions. Our results underscore the joint roles of distance, temperature, and historical evolution in understory bird communities.
林下鸟类群落，尤其是那些以食虫动物为主的群落，对森林丧失和破碎化高度敏感。目前，关于林下鸟类群落的大规模多样性模式，尤其是在东亚地区，人们了解甚少。因此，我们旨在确定中国南方林下鸟类的分布模式以及这些模式背后的因素。我们利用聚类分析和排序分析，分析了中国南方林下雀形目鸟类分类和功能α多样性及β多样性的分布模式。随后，我们分析了地理距离、年平均温度、年温度范围、年平均降水量和年降水量范围对多样性分布模式的影响。在98544个网捕小时内，共捕获了9282只个体，分属于11目、48科、297种，其中雀鹛科是中国南方数量最多的科。25个地点的林下鸟类群落被划分为东洋界（印马界）的六个亚区域。中国南方林下鸟类分类和功能β多样性的分布模式与动物地理区划一致。确定了三个不同的地理组：第1组位于闽广海岸和海南亚区域；第2组位于东部丘陵平原、西南山地和西部山地及高原亚区域；第3组位于滇南山地亚区域。与β多样性分布模式相关的最关键因素是地理距离、年平均温度和年温度范围。我们的结果表明，西南山地、东部丘陵平原和西部山地及高原亚区域的林下鸟类群落相似，闽广海岸和海南亚区域的林下鸟类群落也相似。我们的结果强调了距离、温度和历史演化在林下鸟类群落中的共同作用。
