Functional perspectives on the dynamics of desert lizard assemblages

摘要: Abstract Ecology has long sought whether there are general assembly rules that underlie patterns of community organization. However, new perspectives disassembly and reassembly have emerged as environments depart from baseline conditions due to agents global change. A trait-based approach can provide insights how changes affect performance a species their subsequent loss, gain, or persistence in an assemblage. We quantified the spatiotemporal dynamics functional diversity systematic surveys local lizard assemblages distributed along elevation gradient three 50-year period (1950s–2000s) Big Bend National Park (BBNP), USA. BBNP was subjected then released intensive grazing, which resulted vegetative composition cover. examine context traits, including thermal niche breadth. hypothesized temperature specialists were more likely colonize be lost sites. Species richness lowest 1950s (N = 3 species), revealed increased both 1960s 2000s (N = 6 N = 8 species, respectively), but not all sites responded uniformly. found this system affected by drastic increase richness, indicative redundancy traits. Lizards added tended smaller bodied with lower tolerances. high preferred body temperatures locally extirpated experienced shrub encroachment, reduction gradients these species. These results reveal long-term desert maintained, consequences at scale need examined further.