Energy Availability and Spatial Effect Determine the Multi-Scale Distributional Patterns of Multi-Dimensional Diversity of Amphibians in China

Aim

This work focused on the multi-scale distributional patterns of multi-dimensional diversity among different groups of amphibians in China and systematically investigated the underlying environmental driving mechanisms by evaluating the performance of multiple ecological hypotheses.

Location

China.

Taxon

Amphibians.

Methods

We examined the effects of different spatial scales on the distribution patterns of taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity of amphibians. Additionally, we assessed the relative importance of eight hypotheses in explaining these multi-scale diversity patterns using hierarchical partitioning.

Results

The spatial distributional patterns of amphibian taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity exhibited scale dependency. Generally, the explanatory powers of hypotheses-related covariates increased with larger spatial grain sizes. Across eight spatial grains (ranging from 0.25 to 2 arc-degree), energy availability and spatial effect emerged as principal determinants for different amphibian groups in China. This was consistent for all species (469 species), as well as endemic, threatened and both endemic and threatened species.

Main Conclusion

Multi-group biodiversity patterns are characterised by multi-dimensional components and exhibit multi-scale dependency. Our study highlights the significant influences of spatial scale on biodiversity pattern and on the explanatory power of ecological hypotheses. These findings provide valuable insights for future conservation planning of amphibians in China.