10.5061/DRYAD.J00P6
Deans, Robert A.
East Carolina University
The University of Texas at Austin
Chalcraft, David R.
East Carolina University
Data from: Matrix context and patch quality jointly determine diversity in
a landscape-scale experiment
Dryad
dataset
2016
Acer rubrum
Hylidae
leaf litter
Pinus taeda
Rhynchospora inundata
pond mesocosm
National Science Foundation
https://ror.org/021nxhr62
DEB–0716558
2016-11-01T17:12:01Z
2016-11-01T17:12:01Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1111/oik.03809
170678 bytes
1
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
The biodiversity of a habitat patch is predicted to be driven in part by
interactions between patch quality and landscape context (i.e., type of
regional matrix), but these interactions are rarely explored
experimentally. Understanding the interaction between patch quality and
matrix context can provide insight into the kind of dynamics that best
describe a metacommunity and help predict how the diversity of a patch
will respond to environmental change at different scales. We conducted a
landscape-scale experiment to examine how regional and local aspects of
the terrestrial matrix interact to affect biodiversity within artificial
ponds designed to mimic generic features of freshwater ephemeral ponds. We
manipulated both the kind of matrix surrounding ponds (open canopy
grassland, pine forest, and hardwood forest) and pond quality (three
different types of leaf litter substrate). Ponds were left open to natural
colonization for three months by aquatic insects and amphibians. The
terrestrial matrix had consistent and strong effects on biodiversity
throughout the experiment: ponds in open canopy areas had more animal
morphotypes than ponds in pine or hardwood forests. Leaf litter type
affected biodiversity during the experiment, with more animal morphotypes
in ponds with higher quality litter than ponds with lower quality litter,
and this effect was stronger in open canopy areas. The effect of leaf
litter, however, disappeared by the end of the experiment. Our results
suggest that the matrix surrounding patches has strong effects on
community dynamics and biodiversity within patches, and conservation
efforts aimed at maintaining biodiversity requires simultaneous
consideration of both matrix habitats and habitat patches.
JuneMorphotypeDataSite-by-species matrix for June samples. First column is
the individual tank identification code, with the first letters
representing a site identifier, the second letter representing the matrix
type (O=open, HW=hardwood, P=pine), and the last letter representing the
litter type (P=pine, M=maple, S=sedge).JulyMorphotypeDataSite-by-species
matrix for July samples. First column is the individual tank
identification code, with the first letters representing a site
identifier, the second letter representing the matrix type (O=open,
HW=hardwood, P=pine), and the last letter representing the litter type
(P=pine, M=maple, S=sedge).AugustMorphotypeDataSite-by-species matrix for
August samples. First column is the individual tank identification code,
with the first letters representing a site identifier, the second letter
representing the matrix type (O=open, HW=hardwood, P=pine), and the last
letter representing the litter type (P=pine, M=maple,
S=sedge).ProducerDataPeriphyton and phytoplankton abundance data as
measured by spectroscopic analysis. First column is the individual tank
identification code, with the first letters representing a site
identifier, the second letter representing the matrix type (O=open,
HW=hardwood, P=pine), and the last letter representing the litter type
(P=pine, M=maple, S=sedge).Light(Lux)Light levels measured in lux. First
column is the individual tank identification code, with the first letters
representing a site identifier, the second letter representing the matrix
type (O=open, HW=hardwood, P=pine), and the last letter representing the
litter type (P=pine, M=maple, S=sedge).
Southeastern United States