千岛湖陆桥岛屿地表蚂蚁群落物种多样性空间格局及其影响因素

为了探讨千岛湖岛屿景观参数对地表蚂蚁群落物种α和β多样性空间格局的影响, 作者分别于2017和2018年的5-8月, 采用陷阱法、凋落物分拣法和手捡法调查了千岛湖33个岛屿上的地表蚂蚁群落, 并依据食性将其划分为捕食性蚂蚁和杂食性蚂蚁。利用回归模型分析了全部蚂蚁、捕食性蚂蚁和杂食性蚂蚁群落α和β多样性与岛屿景观参数的关系。结果表明, 岛屿面积对全部蚂蚁、捕食性蚂蚁和杂食性蚂蚁的物种丰富度均有显著的正向影响, 而隔离度则无显著作用。蚂蚁群落的β多样性由空间周转组分主导。岛屿面积差对全部蚂蚁、捕食性蚂蚁和杂食性蚂蚁群落β多样性的嵌套组分有正向影响, 隔离度差只对杂食性蚂蚁的总体β多样性有正向影响。因此, 岛屿面积是影响千岛湖地表蚂蚁群落物种丰富度的主要因素, 并且岛屿面积通过嵌套组分来影响蚂蚁群落的β多样性, 表现出选择性灭绝过程。此外, 不同食性蚂蚁可能因为扩散能力的差异对岛屿景观参数产生不同的响应。     

千岛湖雀形目鸟类群落嵌套结构分析

2006年4月至2007年11月, 采用截线法对千岛湖20个岛屿上的雀形目鸟类种类组成进行调查, 检验其群落是否符合嵌套式分布的格局。此外通过野外直接记录与辨认法对岛屿上的植物种类组成进行调查, 同时通过查阅文献资料和野外调查获得鸟类体长、分布宽度和生境专属性等生活史特征参数, 以及采用GIS分析测定岛屿面积和隔离度参数, 进而分析和探讨雀形目鸟类群落嵌套格局的影响因素。结果显示, 千岛湖岛屿雀形目鸟类群落呈现显著的嵌套结构, 岛屿面积、植物物种丰富度和生境专属性对其嵌套结构具显著性的影响。千岛湖岛屿雀形目鸟类存在着选择性灭绝过程; 植物物种丰富度和鸟类生境专属性则通过影响鸟类在不同生境下的分布对鸟类群落嵌套结构产生影响。上述结果表明千岛湖岛屿雀形目鸟类群落嵌套格局同时受到栖息地和物种两方面因素的影响, 为此我们认为应更多地关注那些面积较大和植物物种丰富度较高的岛屿, 以及生境专属性较高的种类等鸟类多样性及其栖息地的保护策略。     

千岛湖两栖爬行类动物群落结构嵌套分析

生境片段化是导致生物多样性降低的主要原因之一.该文采用样线法对千岛湖23个岛屿的两栖爬行类进行了调查,并结合植物种类调查数据和GIS技术提取的栖息地景观参数,使用“BINMATNEST”软件和Spearman相关性分析等方法,对这些岛屿上的两栖爬行类群落的分布格局及其影响因素进行分析.结果表明,千岛湖两栖爬行类群落整体上呈现嵌套分布格局;嵌套格局与岛屿面积和生境类型相关显著.因此,在制定千岛湖地区两栖爬行动物保护措施时,应优先考虑面积较大和生境类型多的岛屿.     

The asymmetric relationships of the distribution of conspecific saplings and adults in forest fragments

随着土地利用方式变化的加剧,生境片段化已成为影响植物多样性的主要因子之一。通常,当成年树个体的密度越高,其周边同种幼树个体的存活率可能会下降,从而为其它物种提供了空间和资源,进而可以维持较高的局域物种多样性。因此,同种成年树和幼树个体的空间分布格局关系和作用强度可以调节植物多样性。然而,对于在片段化森林中,同种成年树和幼树个体空间分布关系的研究却很少报道,迄今尚不清楚片段化景观中同种个体的空间分布关系与物种多样性之间的联系。本研究选择千岛湖陆桥岛屿系统中的27个岛屿,基于岛屿上幼树和成年树个体的空间分布数据,利用混合效应模型分析它们之间的作用强度。同种幼树和成年树个体的空间作用强度越大,说明它们之间的负相互作用越强,即幼树和成年树个体空间分布越分散。此外,本研究分析了岛屿属性(岛屿面积、与大陆的距离和与最近岛屿的距离)与同种个体空间作用强度及物种多样性之间的关系。结果表明,同种个体的空间作用强度随着与最近岛屿距离的增加而增加。同时,物种多样性随着同种个体的空间作用强度的增加而显著增加,且岛屿面积和同种个体的空间作用强度分别解释了岛屿间物种多样性差异的26%和6%,共同解释了8%。耐阴种和非常见种比非耐阴种和常见种的同种幼树和成年树的空间分布更为分散。本研究表明,同种个体的空间分布可能会影响多度较低物种在片段化森林中的生存,反映了生物相互作用对于维持片段化森林中的植物多样性具有重要作用。 本研究也强调在检验同种密度制约时应考虑森林之间的连接度。     

福建平潭无居民岛屿空间特征对植物多样性的影响

为了明确岛屿空间特征对植物物种多样性的影响,该研究应用样线法和样方法对福建省平潭主岛周边19座无居民海岛进行植被调查,统计分析每座岛屿的物种丰富度和典型植物群落的Margalef丰富度指数、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Simpson多样性指数和Pielou均匀度指数;采用多种函数对种-面积关系进行拟合,并利用冗余分析影响岛屿典型植物群落物种多样性的空间因素,以探究岛屿植物物种多样性的形成与维持机制。结果表明：(1)平潭主岛周边19座无居民岛屿中有12座岛屿以典型的岛屿森林群落为主,有2座岛屿以灌草丛为主且缺乏乔木层,有5座岛屿只有草丛覆盖。(2)19座岛屿的植物物种丰富度均随岛屿面积的增加而增加,当岛屿面积增加到7.184 hm²时,物种数量增加的速率减慢。(3)岛屿的面积、周长、周长面积比、近岸距离是影响物种多样性的主要空间特征,其中岛屿的面积、周长越大,周长面积比、近岸距离越小,岛屿的物种丰富度越高。(4)在岛屿典型植物群落中,乔木层的物种多样性主要受岛屿面积、周长、周长面积比的影响,而灌、草层的物种多样性主要受近岸距离的影响。研究认为,岛屿面积达...     

生境片段化对千岛湖岛屿上黄足厚结猛蚁遗传多样性的影响

利用相关序列扩增多态性(SRAP)分子标记法,对千岛湖片段化生境中14个岛屿上的黄足厚结猛蚁(Pachycondyla luteipes)种群遗传结构和多样性进行研究。利用5对SRAP引物对42份材料的基因组进行扩增,共得到大小在50-800 bp之间的71个可重复位点,其中63个为多态性位点,多态性比率达88.73%。AMOVA分析结果显示,65.03%的遗传变异存在于种群间,34.97%的遗传变异来自种群内(P < 0.001)。利用PopGene Version 1.32软件对SRAP多态性数据进行分析,不同岛屿种群的多态位点比例和Nei's基因多样性指数变化范围分别介于35.21%-91.55%和0.2662-0.4905之间,平均值分别为58.25%和0.3729,其中多态位点比率最高的岛屿为面积最大的JSE岛。多态位点比例和Nei's基因多样性指数与岛屿面积、海拔均无显著相关性,但与隔离度呈显著正相关关系。种群间遗传分化指数介于0.0777-0.9328之间,平均值为0.4419,基因流值介于0.0360-5.9350之间,平均值为1.0451,种群间遗传分化程度较高,基因流较低。利用UPGMA聚类分析法对14岛屿上的42个个体进行遗传聚类分析,表明地理距离较近的个体和岛屿具有优先聚在一起的趋势。Mantel 检验表明黄足厚结猛蚁各种群间地理距离与遗传距离间存在显著相关性(r=0.7757,P < 0.01)。以上结果表明地理隔离是影响千岛湖黄足厚结猛蚁种群遗传结构和多样性的主要因素。     

中国东部海岛维管植物的beta多样性及其驱动因素

beta多样性描述群落物种组成如何随环境梯度而变化。海岛具有边界清晰、面积和离岸距离不同以及环境变化剧烈等自然禀赋。目前, 我们对离岸距离、岛间距离和气候因素在海岛植物beta多样性变化格局中的相对贡献仍认识不足。本研究基于中国东部36个海岛的维管植物物种名录, 以Jaccard相异性指数度量beta多样性, 利用Mantel偏相关分析和beta多样性的变异分解, 探究了海岛不同生活型维管植物的beta多样性格局及其非生物影响因素。结果显示: 36个海岛共记录维管植物1,404种, 其中木本植物481种, 草本植物859种, 藤本植物64种。植物beta多样性随岛间距离和离岸距离差的增大而显著增加(P < 0.001); 海岛面积和气候要素对植物beta多样性无显著影响(P > 0.05)。岛间距离单独对beta多样性总变异的解释度为29.3%, 离岸距离独立解释了2.8%, 面积和气候共同解释了0.5%。木本植物与草本植物的beta多样性格局与总体一致, 距离因子对木本植物beta多样性的解释度高于草本植物(37.5% > 25.3%)。综上, 海岛植物beta多样性主要受岛间距离和离岸距离的影响, 反映了扩散限制是塑造中国东部海岛植物beta多样性格局的主要生态过程。     

千岛湖岛屿小型兽类群落的多样性

2007 年秋季和2008 年春季,选取千岛湖地区14 个岛屿和2 个半岛作为样地,采用夹夜法进行小型兽类群落组成调查。两季度共布夹20 400 个,捕获小型兽类1 141 只,隶属2 目3 科9 属13 种,啮齿目(Rodentia)鼠科(Muridae)10 种和仓鼠科(Cricetidae)1 种,食虫目(Insectivora)鼩鼱科(Soricidae)2 种。利用以上结果分析其群落多样性,结果显示:14 个岛屿小型兽类群落春、秋两季的多样性指数、均匀度指数和优势度指数均呈现极显著差异且优势种发生变化;对可能影响岛屿小型兽类群落多样性的岛屿面积、距最近陆地距离、距最近大岛距离和植物丰富度等因素进行逐步回归分析,发现只有植物丰富度对小型兽类群落的物种丰富度有显著影响;对16 个样地按照物种组成比进行聚类,许源半岛样地与14 个岛屿聚为一类,姚家半岛样地单独归为一类,相似性指数比较结果亦显示姚家半岛样地与其它样地的相似性指数偏低。结论:景观破碎化导致千岛湖岛屿小型兽类群落的稳定性下降,物种多样性季节变化强烈;随岛屿面积的增加,小型兽类物种丰富度并非总是增加的,而是出现反复,呈现明显的小岛效应;14 个岛屿的物种与许源半岛样地物种构成比接近,推断在水库未形成前属同一生境。     

片段化景观中壳斗科植物种子捕食和扩散模式

生境片段化伴随的面积效应和边缘效应, 可改变分散贮食动物的竞争强度、觅食行为以及隐蔽条件, 影响种子捕食和扩散模式。阐明生境片段化对多物种种子捕食和扩散的影响, 对理解片段化生境中的植物更新和生物多样性维持十分重要。该研究在浙江省千岛湖地区的岛屿和大陆上开展了针对6种壳斗科植物的种子捕食和扩散实验, 分析了物种、分散贮食动物相对多度、种子产量、岛屿大小和边缘效应如何共同影响种子命运和种子扩散距离。主要结果: (1)种子命运和扩散距离在物种间存在显著差异; (2)大陆比岛屿有更长的种子留存时间, 小岛种子留存时间最短, 岛屿内部比岛屿边缘有更长的种子留存时间; (3)物种和岛屿大小对种子原地取食率存在交互作用, 白栎(Quercus fabri)种子在大岛上有更高的原地取食率; (4)种子在小岛上有最高的扩散率, 分散贮食动物相对多度对种子扩散后贮藏率有负效应。表明在千岛湖地区, 生境片段化改变了种子捕食和扩散模式, 且面积效应对不同物种的种子捕食和扩散模式产生了不同作用, 从而影响森林群落更新和生物多样性维持。     

不同放牧强度对赛罕乌拉草原蜘蛛多样性的影响

蜘蛛作为草原生态系统中的主要消费者, 对维系草原生物多样性和生态系统功能具有重大意义。放牧是人类利用草原最普遍的方式, 了解放牧对蜘蛛多样性的影响具有重要生态学意义。本研究调查了内蒙古赛罕乌拉草原上5个不同放牧强度样地中的蜘蛛多样性, 通过单因素方差分析(one-way analysis of variance)比较各样地中的蜘蛛多样性, 非度量多维标度分析(non-metric multidimensional scale, NMDS)和相似性分析(analysis of similarities, ANOSIM)比较各样地间的蜘蛛物种组成相似性, 再结合相关性分析探讨了植被高度对蜘蛛多样性的影响。结果表明: 重度放牧强度样地的蜘蛛多样性显著低于其他未放牧及轻度放牧样地; 具体到常见科上, 放牧强度对织网型的园蛛物种数和个体数影响显著, 而对游猎型的狼蛛、跳蛛却不明显; 织网型蜘蛛主要受植被结构影响, 而游猎型蜘蛛更可能受潜在猎物可得性的影响。NMDS分析表明不同放牧强度下, 蜘蛛类群的物种组成呈现明显的梯度变化, 放牧强度越低, 物种组成和未放牧样地越相近。相关性分析表明草原植被高度与蜘蛛多样性总体上呈正相关关系, 即植被高度越高, 蜘蛛多样性越高。其中依靠植物构建蛛网的园蛛科和在植物上层伏击猎物的蟹蛛科、逍遥蛛科等与植被高度显著相关。这说明植物资源及其空间异质性可能对草原蜘蛛多样性起着主导作用。因此, 降低放牧强度有助于保护草原蜘蛛群落的多样性, 特别有利于织网型蜘蛛。     

The influence of geographical and ecological factors on island beta diversity patterns

Aim To investigate the importance of various island characteristics in determining spatial patterns of variations in beta diversity for various animal groups. Location Analyses are presented for 10 animal groups living on the Aeolian Islands, a volcanic archipelago in the central Mediterranean, near Sicily. Methods Three hypotheses were formulated to explain patterns of beta diversity: the target‐area–distance effect, stepping stone dispersal and island age. Matrices of inter‐island dissimilarities were constructed under each hypothesis and correlated with matrices of faunal dissimilarities using Mantel tests. For the ‘target‐area–distance effect’ hypothesis, inter‐island dissimilarities were calculated using island sizes and distances to nearest mainland areas. For the ‘stepping stone dispersal’ hypothesis, inter‐island distances were measured. Finally, for the ‘island age’ hypothesis, inter‐island dissimilarities were calculated on the basis of the geological age of the islands. Cluster analysis was used to investigate inter‐island faunal relationships. Results Support for a target‐area–distance effect was found only for birds. For these highly mobile animals, inter‐island distances had no significant effects on beta diversity. Birds are known to colonize islands by crossing large sea barriers and thus they can easily reach the Aeolian Islands, which are close to source areas (notably Sicily). Inter‐island distances had a significant role in determining patterns of beta diversity in most invertebrates. For Mollusca, Opiliones, Chilopoda, Heteroptera, coprophagous Scarabaeoidea, and Tenebrionidae, even relatively short distances preclude invertebrates from colonizing an island regularly from the mainland, and most colonization probably results from inter‐island faunal exchanges. Island age was proved to be important only for orthopterans. Main conclusions The origin of most of the Aeolian invertebrate fauna is quite recent, and species appear to have established on the islands predominantly by stepping stone dispersal. Birds, which are highly mobile organisms, follow more direct mainland–island dynamics. As further studies on other islands become available, comparative analyses will confirm whether the factors influencing variations in beta diversity in this study and their relationships with species dispersal ability are consistent across scales and geographical context.     

Effects of Fragmentation and Sea-Level Changes upon Frog Communities of Land-Bridge Islands off the Southeastern Coast of Brazil

We investigate the composition of anuran communities of land-bridge islands off the southeastern coast of Brazil. These islands provide natural long-term experiments on the effects of fragmentation in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest (BAF). We hypothesize that Pleistocene sea-level changes, in combination with other abiotic variables such as area and habitat diversity, has affected anuran species richness and community composition on these islands. Data from the literature and collections databases were used to produce species lists for eight land-bridge islands and for the mainland adjacent to the islands. We assess the effects of area, number of breeding habitats and distance to the mainland upon anuran species richness on land-bridge islands. Additionally we use nestedness analysis to quantify the extent to which the species on smaller and less habitat-diverse islands correspond to subsets of those on larger and more diverse ones. We found that area has both direct and indirect effects on anuran species richness on land-bridge islands, irrespective of distance to the mainland. However, on islands with comparable sizes, differences in species richness can be attributed to the number and quality of breeding habitats. Anuran communities on these islands display a nested pattern, possibly caused by selective extinction related to habitat loss. Common lowland pond-breeders were conspicuous by their absence. In the BAF, the conservation of fragments with a high diversity of breeding habitats could compensate for the generally negative effect of small area upon species richness. We suggest that sea-level changes have an important role in shaping composition of anuran species on coastal communities.     

Area effect of distribution of Silphids (Coleoptera,Silphidae) on Korean islands

We investigated the spatial patterns in the distribution of carrion beetles on 26 islands to test the area and distance effects on species diversity. The relationships between species richness and assemblage and island area, distance from the mainland, and shortest distance from the largest island within 2?km were analyzed using linear regression, Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) and Multi-Response Permutation Procedures (MRPP). We hypothesized that both area and distance from the mainland played a significant role in species richness, while geographic location in the sea influenced aggregation of carrion beetles on islands. Area was the only factor influencing species richness of carrion beetles on islands. Moreover, distance from the mainland and close islands did not significantly influence to carrion beetles. In addition, geographic location in the same Sea did not influence beetle assemblages. Taken together, the results of this study indicated that carrion beetles on Korean islands were largely affected by island size and that dispersal was stochastic.     

Do forest plants conform to the theory of island biogeography: the case study of bog islands

Biodiversity conservation is confronted with increasing risk of extinction in isolated small-area remnants and the limitation of species to colonize recently formed habitats. We hypothesized that the equilibrium pattern of forest herb layer in long-term fragmented landscape should comply with the theory of island biogeography. Forests on mineral soil islands located in large mires of western Estonia were considered as dispersal target habitats, and forests on mainland and peninsulas in mires as sources. Species richness was the lowest in mainland forests and the effect was confounded by habitat structure, suggesting a negative effect of silvicultural management in easily accessible forests. We observed the ‘small island effect’, i.e. greater overall species richness in small-area habitats, which was determined by the habitat preference of shade tolerant generalists. The average species richness of common mainland forest specialists varied little, but capitalizing on the traditional approach and analyzing only island data, weak effects of distance and habitat quality were detected. At single species level, unexpectedly, many habitat specialists were observed to have successfully dispersed to islands, indicating insufficient knowledge of the long-distance dispersal mechanisms of forest-dwelling plants. In fragmented forest landscapes the theory of island biogeography can be applied to habitat specialist plant species, but only regarding the effect of isolation and in conditions of persistent forest structural quality. In the light of global changes, optimized conservation planning should primarily target on (i) the conservation of ancient habitat fragments independent of their current area, and (ii) the promotion of diversity of potential dispersal vectors in the landscape.     

生境片段化对千岛湖地表甲虫物种多样性的影响

在千岛湖片段化景观中选取20个陆桥岛屿和8个大陆样点,从2012年7月到2014年4月,按季度(春、夏、秋季)6次采用巴氏陷阱法收集地表甲虫,分析其物种多度、组成、多样性和季节动态,以及不同岛屿上的地表甲虫的物种多样性与岛屿面积和隔离度等岛屿空间特征的关系.结果表明: 共收集记录到地表甲虫26科101种3370头.大陆和大岛地表甲虫的物种丰富度有显著差异,且小岛地表甲虫密度显著高于大陆;大陆地表甲虫的物种组成变化较大,而岛屿上分布的地表甲虫的物种组成则变化较小.地表甲虫的物种丰富度与岛屿面积呈显著正相关,密度与隔离度呈显著正相关.夏季岛屿上地表甲虫物种丰富度高于春秋两季,岛屿与大陆样地的Shannon指数、Simpson指数和Pielou均匀度指数均在夏季最高、秋季最低.     

Colonization of Sphagnum on land uplift islands in the Baltic Sea: time, area, distance and life history

Aim To test whether species richness of Sphagnum mosses on islands in a land uplift archipelago is related to island age, area or connectivity, and whether the frequency of different species can be predicted by their life history and autecology. Location The northern Stockholm archipelago in the Baltic Sea, east‐central Sweden, with a current land uplift rate of 4.4 mm year^?1. Methods We sampled 17 islands differing in area (0.55–55 ha), height (3.6–18 m, representing c. 800–4000 years of age) and distance from mainland (1.6–41 km). For each Sphagnum patch we measured area, height above sea level, horizontal distance from the shore and shading from vascular plants. Factors affecting island species richness, species frequency and habitats on the islands were tested by stepwise regressions. Species frequency was tested on nine life history and autecological variables, including estimated abundance and spore output on the mainland, habitat preference and distribution. Results We recorded 500 patches of 19 Sphagnum species, distributed in 83 rock pools on 14 islands. Island species richness correlated positively with island area and with degree of shelter by surrounding islands, while distance from the mainland, connectivity, height or age did not add to the model. Species frequency (number of colonized islands and rock pools) was mainly predicted by spore output on the mainland and by habitat preference (swamp forest species were more frequent than others), while spore size, for example, did not add to the model. Species differed in mean height above and horizontal distance from the shore, area of occupied rock pools and in the degree of shading of patches. The mean horizontal distance from the shore and the area of occupied rock pools correlated positively with the normal growth position above the water table among species. Spore capsules were found in only 2% of patches, mostly in the bisexual Sphagnum fimbriatum. Main conclusions The presence of Sphagnum in the Stockholm archipelago seems to be governed by regional spore production and habitat demands. Sphagnum does not appear to be dispersal limited at distances up to 40 km and time spans of centuries. Species with a high regional spore output have had a higher colonization rate, which, together with the rarity of spore capsules on the islands, indicate the mainland as a source for colonization rather than dispersal among islands. Swamp forest species seem more tolerant to the island conditions (summer droughts and some salt spray) than open mire species. The different distances from the sea occupied by the species indicate a slow, continuous succession and species replacement towards the island interior as islands are being uplifted and thus expand in area. This partly explains why larger islands harbour more species. Our results thus support some of the island biogeographical theories related to the species–area relationship.     

Effects of isolation,logging and dispersal on woody-species richness of islands

Isolation effects on species richness of woody plants were investigated in a system of islands that were created by the filling of the Clarks Hill Reservoir, Georgia. This reservoir was built between 1946–1954. Some islands were logged and cleared of woody plants prior to the filling of the reservoir and others were not logged. The presence of logged versus unlogged islands in the same system allowed us to test whether and how geographical isolation interacts with island history and species-specific dispersal properties in determining patterns of among-island variation in species number. Thirty-six years after the islands were created, logged islands had significantly fewer species of woody plants than unlogged ones. On logged islands, total number of woody species was negatively correlated with distance to the closest mainland (r=–0.95). On unlogged islands, variation in species number was very low (CV=4.9%) and was not correlated with distance to the mainland. These results indicate that the studied system as a whole has not yet reached equilibrium. However, the mean number of species on unlogged islands was very close to the intercept of the regression obtained for logged islands, suggesting that islands close to the mainland have already reached their equilibrium species richness. This conclusion is consistent with predictions of island biogeography theory. When species representing different dispersal properties were analyzed separately, statistically significant distance effects were obtained for bird-dispersed species (r=0.88) and for species with no adaptations to bird or wind dispersal (r=0.81). Wind-dispersed species did not show a decrease in species number with increasing isolation, but their relative frequency was positively and significantly correlated with distance to the mainland (r=0.94). Historical factors, as well as differences among species in dispersal properties, are important in explaining patterns of among-island variation in species number.     

A multi-scale test for dispersal filters in an island plant community

Constraints on plant distributions resulting from seed limitation (i.e. dispersal filters) were evaluated on two scales of ecological organization on islands off the coast of British Columbia, Canada. First, island plant communities were separated into groups based on fruit morphology, and patterns in species diversity were compared between fruit‐type groups. Second, abundance patterns in several common fleshy‐fruited, woody angiosperm species were compared to species‐specific patterns in seed dispersal by birds. Results from community‐level analyses showed evidence for dispersal filters. Dry‐fruited species were rare on islands, despite being common on the mainland. Island plant communities were instead dominated by fleshy‐fruited species. Patterns in seed dispersal were consistent with differences in diversity, as birds dispersed thousands of fleshy‐fruited seeds out to islands, while dry fruited species showed no evidence of mainland‐island dispersal. Results from population‐level analyses showed no evidence for dispersal filters. Population sizes of common fleshy‐fruited species were unrelated to island isolation, as were rates of seed dispersal. Therefore, island isolation distances were not large enough to impose constraints on species’ distributions resulting from seed limitation. Rates of seed dispersal were also unrelated to island area. However, several species increased in abundance with island area, indicating post‐dispersal processes also help to shape species distributions. Overall results suggest that seed dispersal processes play an important role in determining the diversity and distribution of plants on islands. At the community‐level, dry‐fruited species were seed limited and island communities were instead dominated by fleshy‐fruited species. At the population‐level, common fleshy‐fruited species were not seed limited and showed few differences in distribution among islands. Therefore, although evidence for dispersal filters was observed, their effects on plant distributions were scale‐dependent.     

Species richness, extinction and immigration rates of vascular plants on islands in the Stockholm archipelago, Sweden, during a century of ceasing management

Survey of eighteen islands in the Stockholm archipelago from 1884–1908 was re-examined during 1996–1998 to investigate how island size, degree of isolation and human impact affect the species number, extinction and immigration rates of terrestrial vascular plants. Cattle grazing and haymaking was widely and commonly in practice on the islands, but became less intensive since the 1920s and ceased during the 1960s. In the first survey species number was positively correlated with area and negatively correlated with distance to mainland. This pattern was similar in the later survey. However, the number of surrounding islands was positively correlated with island specific species number. During the period from the first to the second survey twenty species disappeared and ninety-three appeared as new. The increased abundance of trees, bushes and shade tolerant herbs suggest that this increase in species number is the effect of an ongoing succession in the landscape. The absolute extinction rate was negatively correlated with island size and distance to mainland, while the immigration rate was positively correlated to island size. The extinction rate was negatively correlated with the distance to mainland probably due to an earlier more intense cultural exploitation closer to the mainland. Our measure of human impact, the presence of houses on islands, was not related to terrestrial plant species number or extinction rate. However, there was a trend for the immigration rate to be higher on islands with houses in 1942 than those without, indicating the importance of human activities for dispersal and/or recruitment.