Interactive effects of environmental filtering predict beta-diversity patterns in a subtropical forest metacommunity

摘要: Abstract The metacommunity framework offers a possibility to better understand how ecological processes influence patterns of species diversity along environmental gradients. species-sorting perspective predicts that community composition varies in response differences conditions among habitat patches. Our study focused on this perspective, aiming filtering interact directly and indirectly an area 95,000 km 2 (data from 432 forest plots). We employed structural equation modeling (PLS path modeling) disentangle the interactive effects topography, climate, water-energy balance, geometry patches upon alpha beta subtropical southern Brazil. Factors related showed substantial tree diversity. total amount variation explained by was high (64%) even more when together with (73%), corroborating prediction model at level. Climatic extremes, balance were key determinants patch size South Brazilian Atlantic forests. Partial mantel test occurred largely independent spatial effects, reinforcing tested prediction. provides strong empirical support for primarily reflects deterministic factors associated niches their responses studied scale.