Articles | Volume 17, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/we-17-37-2017
© Author(s) 2017. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/we-17-37-2017
© Author(s) 2017. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
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15 Aug 2017
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| 15 Aug 2017
Species richness and phylogenetic structure in plant communities: 20 years of succession
Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research, Department Community
Ecology, Theodor-Lieser-Str. 4, 06120 Halle/Saale, Germany
Stefan Klotz
Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research, Department Community
Ecology, Theodor-Lieser-Str. 4, 06120 Halle/Saale, Germany
Roland Brandl
Philipps-University Marburg, Faculty of Biology, Department
of Ecology, Animal Ecology, 35032 Marburg, Germany
Sonja Knapp
Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research, Department Community
Ecology, Theodor-Lieser-Str. 4, 06120 Halle/Saale, Germany
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Short summary
During early succession plant communities show a decrease in the initial species richness and a change in the phylogenetic structure from random or clustered to overdispersion. We tested this general model in two regional distinct sites. In one region we found the expected trajectory of species richness while phylogenetic structure did not follow the expected trend. In the other region species richness did not follow the expected trajectory and phylogenetic structure remained clustered.
During early succession plant communities show a decrease in the initial species richness and a...
