Species richness patterns of mammals and birds and their drivers in the Nanling Mountain Range

doi:10.17520/biods.2023026

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims: The Nanling Mountains are a prominent mountain range serving as a natural geographical boundary in southern China and are recognized as one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. However, past studies on species richness in the Nanling Mountains have primarily focused on specific taxa and at localized scales. This has led to a dearth of research concerning the comprehensive spatial patterns of fauna across the entire Nanling region. The objective of this study is to identify the large-scale patterns and drivers of mammalian and avian species richness and offer insights to support the conservation of Nanling’s biodiversity.

Methods: Using geographical data for 123 mammal species and 524 bird species, we investigated the distribution of species richness within the Nanling Mountains. Additionally, we employed path analysis (PA) and spatial error models to disentangle the impacts of various predictors (climate, productivity, human activity, habitat heterogeneity, and elevation) on species richness.

Results: The hotspot of mammal species richness was in the southwestern part of the Nanling region, with a decline in richness observed from west to east. Avian species richness was highest in the southeast of Nanling, gradually decreasing from southeast to northwest. The path analysis and spatial error models demonstrated that temperature- related factors exerted the most significant influence on the spatial distribution patterns of species richness for both mammalian and avian species. Two temperature-related factors had contrasting effects on species richness. The average annual temperature had a negative impact on mammals but a positive impact on birds; however, the annual range of temperature had a positive impact on mammals but a negative impact on birds.

Conclusions: Our findings highlight the contrasting spatial distribution patterns of mammalian and avian species richness in the Nanling Mountains. The differential impact of average annual temperature and the annual range of temperature on birds and mammals may arise from physiological adaptability and behavioral strategies.

Key words: Nanling, mammal, bird, species richness, distribution pattern, impact factor

CLC Number:

Q958

Liyuan Wang, Huijian Hu, Jie Jiang, Yiming Hu. Species richness patterns of mammals and birds and their drivers in the Nanling Mountain Range[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2024, 32(1): 23026.

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URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.17520/biods.2023026

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2024/V32/I1/23026

Figures/Tables 5

References 55

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类群 Group	变量 Variables	总影响 Total effect	直接影响 Direct effect	间接影响 Indirect effect
哺乳类 Mammal	年均温 Average annual temperature	-0.537	-0.424	-0.113
	气温年较差 Annual range of temperature	0.344	0.361	-0.017
	年均降水量 Average annual precipitation	0.279	0.248	0.031
	归一化植被指数 Normalized difference vegetation index	-0.306	-0.306	0
	人类足迹指数 Human footprint index	0.056	0.017	0.039
	生境异质性 Habitat heterogeneity	-0.124	-0.124	0
	海拔 Elevation	-0.157	-0.208	0.051
鸟类 Bird	年均温 Average annual temperature	0.525	0.502	0.023
	气温年较差 Annual range of temperature	-0.597	-0.615	0.018
	年均降水量 Average annual precipitation	0.089	0.094	-0.005
	归一化植被指数 Normalized difference vegetation index	-0.030	-0.030	0
	人类足迹指数 Human footprint index	0.031	0.019	0.012
	生境异质性 Habitat heterogeneity	0.047	0.047	0
	海拔 Elevation	0.209	0.201	0.008

类群 Group	变量 Variables	总影响 Total effect	直接影响 Direct effect	间接影响 Indirect effect
哺乳类 Mammal	年均温 Average annual temperature	-0.537	-0.424	-0.113
	气温年较差 Annual range of temperature	0.344	0.361	-0.017
	年均降水量 Average annual precipitation	0.279	0.248	0.031
	归一化植被指数 Normalized difference vegetation index	-0.306	-0.306	0
	人类足迹指数 Human footprint index	0.056	0.017	0.039
	生境异质性 Habitat heterogeneity	-0.124	-0.124	0
	海拔 Elevation	-0.157	-0.208	0.051
鸟类 Bird	年均温 Average annual temperature	0.525	0.502	0.023
	气温年较差 Annual range of temperature	-0.597	-0.615	0.018
	年均降水量 Average annual precipitation	0.089	0.094	-0.005
	归一化植被指数 Normalized difference vegetation index	-0.030	-0.030	0
	人类足迹指数 Human footprint index	0.031	0.019	0.012
	生境异质性 Habitat heterogeneity	0.047	0.047	0
	海拔 Elevation	0.209	0.201	0.008

类群 Group	变量 Variables	空间误差模型 Spatial error model
类群 Group	变量 Variables	标准估计值 Standard estimate (β)	标准误差 Standard error	z检验概率值 Pr(>\|z\|)
哺乳类 Mammal	年均温 Average annual temperature	-0.096	0.009	< 0.01
	气温年较差 Annual range of temperature	0.138	0.009	< 0.01
	年均降水量 Average annual precipitation	-0.039	0.010	< 0.01
	归一化植被指数 Normalized difference vegetation index	-0.021	0.003	< 0.01
	人类足迹指数 Human footprint index	0.000	0.003	0.92
	生境异质性 Habitat heterogeneity	-0.045	0.004	< 0.01
	海拔 Elevation	-0.013	0.006	0.03
鸟类 Bird	年均温 Average annual temperature	0.398	0.008	< 0.01
	气温年较差 Annual range of temperature	-0.454	0.009	< 0.01
	年均降水量 Average annual precipitation	0.235	0.009	< 0.01
	归一化植被指数 Normalized difference vegetation index	-0.001	0.003	0.68
	人类足迹指数 Human footprint index	0.006	0.003	0.03
	生境异质性 Habitat heterogeneity	0.014	0.004	< 0.01
	海拔 Elevation	0.037	0.006	< 0.01

类群 Group	变量 Variables	空间误差模型 Spatial error model
类群 Group	变量 Variables	标准估计值 Standard estimate (β)	标准误差 Standard error	z检验概率值 Pr(>\|z\|)
哺乳类 Mammal	年均温 Average annual temperature	-0.096	0.009	< 0.01
	气温年较差 Annual range of temperature	0.138	0.009	< 0.01
	年均降水量 Average annual precipitation	-0.039	0.010	< 0.01
	归一化植被指数 Normalized difference vegetation index	-0.021	0.003	< 0.01
	人类足迹指数 Human footprint index	0.000	0.003	0.92
	生境异质性 Habitat heterogeneity	-0.045	0.004	< 0.01
	海拔 Elevation	-0.013	0.006	0.03
鸟类 Bird	年均温 Average annual temperature	0.398	0.008	< 0.01
	气温年较差 Annual range of temperature	-0.454	0.009	< 0.01
	年均降水量 Average annual precipitation	0.235	0.009	< 0.01
	归一化植被指数 Normalized difference vegetation index	-0.001	0.003	0.68
	人类足迹指数 Human footprint index	0.006	0.003	0.03
	生境异质性 Habitat heterogeneity	0.014	0.004	< 0.01
	海拔 Elevation	0.037	0.006	< 0.01