Abstract
Understanding the spatial distributions of rarity and diversity is crucial for both targeted conservation efforts and elucidating the mechanisms that underpin species richness patterns. Existing studies suggest local communities with greater species richness also hold higher numbers of low abundance species. Rarity hotspots at the global scale tend to be spatially divergent from species richness hotspots and differ among many taxonomic groups, but much less work has been done to understand rarity patterns at the regional scale. Here, we used a large-scale dataset of comprehensive lichen diversity from a global biodiversity hotspot in eastern North America to explore the relationships of rarity, species richness, and elevation, while also examining the key plot characteristics that support increased rarity within the system. We found a mid-elevation slump in lichen rarity, with increased rarity at low and high elevations, contrasting with the mid-elevation hump in species richness for lichens in the same system. Additionally, important plot-level predictors of rarity changed with elevation. Rocky, open habitats hosted increased levels of rarity at low elevations, and the highest, coldest plots at the high elevations also hosted increased levels of rarity. Our results illustrate a contrast between elevational patterns and important plot characteristics for lichen rarity and species richness, suggesting a need for separate, complementary conservation efforts to protect both areas with high species richness and areas with high numbers of rare species.
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Acknowledgements
The following are thanked for permission to carry out this project on their managed lands: AL State Parks and Forever Wild, NC State Parks, The Nature Conservancy, TN State Parks and Wildlife, US National Forest Service (Bankhead, Chattahoochee, Cherokee, Nantahala, Pisgah, Sumter, Talladega), US National Park Service (Great Smoky Mountains, Little River Canyon), US Fish and Wildlife Service (Wheeler NWR). Malcolm Hodges, Gary Kauffman, and Paul Super in particular are thanked for their assistance in permitting, logistics, and site selection. The following assisted in field data collection and processing: Jessica Allen, Carly Anderson-Stewart, Laura Boggess, Philip Evich, Robert Helsel, Malcolm Hodges, Jordan Hoffman, Jason Hollinger, Klara Kempter, Kyle Keepers, Will Kuhn, R. Troy McMullin, Zachary Muscavitch, and Kristin White. Ana Maria Ruiz served as project manager at NYBG and was essential to data entry and organization. Melissa Tulig and Joel Ramirez are thanked for implementing database structure and development. Ryan Adams, Laura Briscoe, Dina Clark, and Tim Hogan facilitated herbarium aspects of the study at COLO. This study is a product of National Science Foundation Dimensions of Biodiversity Award to University of Colorado (EAMT, CMM Award #1542629) and New York Botanical Garden (JCL Award #1432629).
Funding
This study is a product of National Science Foundation Dimensions of Biodiversity Award to University of Colorado (EAMT, CMM Award #1542629) and New York Botanical Garden (JCL Award #1432629).
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GLV in collaboration with CMM led development of the study. CMM, JCL, and EAMT designed and implemented the field and associated lab methods. JCL and EAMT led fieldwork, collection of field data, and field identification of vouchers; JCL finalized taxonomic identification and compilation of the species occurrence dataset; CMM led the building of the ecological dataset, GLV led the building of the GIS-derived dataset. GLV conducted the analyses. GLV wrote the initial manuscript and all authors contributed to the final version of the text.
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Vagle, G.L., Lendemer, J.C., Manzitto-Tripp, E.A. et al. Patterns and predictors of lichen rarity in a biodiversity hotspot. Biodivers Conserv 33, 1303–1324 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-024-02795-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-024-02795-z