Partitioning beta-diversity of lichens assemblages in a vertical gradient on five tree species of the montane rainforest of Gran Piedra, Cuba

Abstract

This study aims to determine which component of the beta-diversity (replacement, species richness differences or nestedness) contributes to the dissimilarities among lichens assemblage in a vertical gradient of heights from the base of the trees until the external branches in five phorophytes species in the montane rainforest of Gran Piedra. The species of trees sampled were Myrcia fenzliana, Coccoloba wrightii, Clusia tetrastigma, Dendropanax arboreus and Brunellia comocladifolia. The dissimilarities among lichens assemblage because of the substitution of species, the differences in species richness or nestedness of species were calculated according to Baselga (2010, 2012) and Carvalho et al. (2012). The nestedness measure was determined through the coefficients NODF (Almeidanet et al. 2008) and Nestedness (Ulrich 2006). The beta-diversity among lichens assemblage in the vertical gradient of heights are determined by the replacement. Among the areas I and II, the dissimilarities among lichens assemblage are attributed to the differences in species richness, a nestedness pattern were also presented between both areas.