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Moths in the Pyrénées: spatio-temporal patterns and indicators of elevational assemblages

  • May 2019
  • Biodiversity and Conservation 28(6)
DOI:10.1007/s10531-019-01745-4
Authors:
Emma Dale at Griffith University
Emma Dale
Roger L. Kitching at Griffith University
Roger L. Kitching
Christophe Thébaud at Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III
Christophe Thébaud
Sarah Maunsell
Sarah Maunsell
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Abstract and Figures

Understanding how assemblages of invertebrates change over continuous elevational gradients not only generates an understanding of current rules of community assembly but may also be useful for predicting the future distributions of species under global change. Temperature decreases predictably with increasing elevation and, accordingly, gradients in elevation permit the study of adjacent climates within small geographical areas. The present study examines if and how assemblages of moths change with increasing elevation in the eastern French Pyrenees. Elevation had a strong effect on the assemblage composition of moth species in both seasons. The species sets which contributed most to this strong pattern differed completely across seasons. Analysis of restrictions and fidelity to particular elevational ranges generated a set of indicator species which can be used to monitor future changes in distribution. Twelve species were identified as elevation-specific indicators (the 'predictor set') from the spring samples and summer samples. We note the strong contrasts between species that produce overall statistical pattern and those that show strong fidelity to particular elevations and discuss this in terms of the biologies of the species concerned. We discuss best practice for the identification and use of indicator species for monitoring future responses to climate change.
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Vol.:(0123456789)
Biodiversity and Conservation (2019) 28:1593–1610
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-019-01745-4
1 3
ORIGINAL PAPER
Moths inthePyrénées: spatio‑temporal patterns
andindicators ofelevational assemblages
E.J.Dale1· R.L.Kitching1· C.Thebaud2· S.C.Maunsell1,3· L.A.Ashton1,4,5
Received: 5 June 2018 / Revised: 5 March 2019 / Accepted: 11 March 2019 / Published online: 29 March 2019
© Springer Nature B.V. 2019
Abstract
Understanding how assemblages of invertebrates change over continuous elevational gra-
dients not only generates an understanding of current rules of community assembly but
may also be useful for predicting the future distributions of species under global change.
Temperature decreases predictably with increasing elevation and, accordingly, gradients in
elevation permit the study of adjacent climates within small geographical areas. The pre-
sent study examines if and how assemblages of moths change with increasing elevation in
the eastern French Pyrenees. Elevation had a strong effect on the assemblage composition
of moth species in both seasons. The species sets which contributed most to this strong pat-
tern differed completely across seasons. Analysis of restrictions and fidelity to particular
elevational ranges generated a set of indicator species which can be used to monitor future
changes in distribution. Twelve species were identified as elevation-specific indicators (the
‘predictor set’) from the spring samples and summer samples. We note the strong contrasts
between species that produce overall statistical pattern and those that show strong fidelity
to particular elevations and discuss this in terms of the biologies of the species concerned.
We discuss best practice for the identification and use of indicator species for monitoring
future responses to climate change.
Keywords Moths· Elevational gradients· Indicator species· Assemblage turnover
Handling Editor: Nigel E. Stork.
* L. A. Ashton
lashton@hku.hk
1 Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane4111, Australia
2 Laboratoire Evolution & Diversité Biologique (EDB, UMR 5174),
CNRS/ENSFEA/IRD/Université Toulouse III, 118 Route de Narbonne, 31062Toulouse, France
3 Museum ofComparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA02138, USA
4 Department ofLife Sciences, Natural History Museum, LondonW127BX, UK
5 School ofBiological Sciences, The University ofHong Kong, HongKong, China
Content courtesy of Springer Nature, terms of use apply. Rights reserved.
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