The spatial extent and the dispersal strategy of species shape the occupancy frequency distribution of stream insect assemblages

Abstract Several theoretical models have been proposed as the underlying mechanisms behind occupancy frequency distribution (OFD) patterns. For instance, the metapopulation dynamic model predicts bimodal OFD pattern indicating the dominance of dispersal processes in structuring the assemblages, whil...

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Main Authors: I. Szivák, Z. Csabai, D. Schmera, A. Móra
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-07-01
Series:Ecology and Evolution
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11663
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author I. Szivák
Z. Csabai
D. Schmera
A. Móra
author_facet I. Szivák
Z. Csabai
D. Schmera
A. Móra
author_sort I. Szivák
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Several theoretical models have been proposed as the underlying mechanisms behind occupancy frequency distribution (OFD) patterns. For instance, the metapopulation dynamic model predicts bimodal OFD pattern indicating the dominance of dispersal processes in structuring the assemblages, while the niche‐based model predicts unimodal right‐skewed OFD pattern, and thus assemblages are driven mostly by niche processes. However, it is well known that the observed OFD pattern reflects the interplay of several other factors (e.g. habitat heterogeneity, species specificity and sampling protocol parameters). It follows that the individual contribution of each factor to the OFD pattern is rather complicated to explore. Our main objective was to examine the role of the spatial extent of the sampling and the dispersal strategies of species in shaping OFD pattern. For this, we collected samples of stream insect assemblages inhabiting near‐natural streams in the Pannon Ecoregion. We formed groups of species representing contrasting dispersal strategies (referred to as dispersal groups). Applying a computer program algorithm, we produced samples with different spatial extent. We found that with increasing spatial extent, the OFD pattern changed from bimodal to unimodal for active dispersers. Insect groups with different dispersal strategies differed in the strength of support for OFD patterns within all spatial extent. Furthermore, the strength of support for OFD patterns varied across dispersal groups differently as the spatial extent increased. Our results reflected underlying changes in mechanisms structuring assemblages along an increasing spatial extent. We also assumed that the stream insect dispersal strategy influences the relative role of dispersal and niche processes particularly as spatial extent increases from stream reaches to the extent of adjacent valleys. We could define spatial extents and dispersal strategies within which unique metacommunity processes could underlie the organisation of assemblages.
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spelling doaj-art-5d33cec9c00b441faa4146f4e4d561b52025-08-20T03:31:42ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582024-07-01147n/an/a10.1002/ece3.11663The spatial extent and the dispersal strategy of species shape the occupancy frequency distribution of stream insect assemblagesI. Szivák0Z. Csabai1D. Schmera2A. Móra3HUN‐REN Balaton Limnological Research Institute Tihany HungaryHUN‐REN Balaton Limnological Research Institute Tihany HungaryHUN‐REN Balaton Limnological Research Institute Tihany HungaryFaculty of Sciences, Department of Hydrobiology University of Pécs Pécs HungaryAbstract Several theoretical models have been proposed as the underlying mechanisms behind occupancy frequency distribution (OFD) patterns. For instance, the metapopulation dynamic model predicts bimodal OFD pattern indicating the dominance of dispersal processes in structuring the assemblages, while the niche‐based model predicts unimodal right‐skewed OFD pattern, and thus assemblages are driven mostly by niche processes. However, it is well known that the observed OFD pattern reflects the interplay of several other factors (e.g. habitat heterogeneity, species specificity and sampling protocol parameters). It follows that the individual contribution of each factor to the OFD pattern is rather complicated to explore. Our main objective was to examine the role of the spatial extent of the sampling and the dispersal strategies of species in shaping OFD pattern. For this, we collected samples of stream insect assemblages inhabiting near‐natural streams in the Pannon Ecoregion. We formed groups of species representing contrasting dispersal strategies (referred to as dispersal groups). Applying a computer program algorithm, we produced samples with different spatial extent. We found that with increasing spatial extent, the OFD pattern changed from bimodal to unimodal for active dispersers. Insect groups with different dispersal strategies differed in the strength of support for OFD patterns within all spatial extent. Furthermore, the strength of support for OFD patterns varied across dispersal groups differently as the spatial extent increased. Our results reflected underlying changes in mechanisms structuring assemblages along an increasing spatial extent. We also assumed that the stream insect dispersal strategy influences the relative role of dispersal and niche processes particularly as spatial extent increases from stream reaches to the extent of adjacent valleys. We could define spatial extents and dispersal strategies within which unique metacommunity processes could underlie the organisation of assemblages.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11663dispersal processesdispersal strategy of speciesniche processesoccupancy frequency distributionspatial extent of samplingstream insects
spellingShingle I. Szivák
Z. Csabai
D. Schmera
A. Móra
The spatial extent and the dispersal strategy of species shape the occupancy frequency distribution of stream insect assemblages
Ecology and Evolution
dispersal processes
dispersal strategy of species
niche processes
occupancy frequency distribution
spatial extent of sampling
stream insects
title The spatial extent and the dispersal strategy of species shape the occupancy frequency distribution of stream insect assemblages
title_full The spatial extent and the dispersal strategy of species shape the occupancy frequency distribution of stream insect assemblages
title_fullStr The spatial extent and the dispersal strategy of species shape the occupancy frequency distribution of stream insect assemblages
title_full_unstemmed The spatial extent and the dispersal strategy of species shape the occupancy frequency distribution of stream insect assemblages
title_short The spatial extent and the dispersal strategy of species shape the occupancy frequency distribution of stream insect assemblages
title_sort spatial extent and the dispersal strategy of species shape the occupancy frequency distribution of stream insect assemblages
topic dispersal processes
dispersal strategy of species
niche processes
occupancy frequency distribution
spatial extent of sampling
stream insects
url https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11663
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