Cave Community Instability in the Tropics: A Case Study on Environmental Filtering and β-Diversity Partitioning of Terrestrial Invertebrates
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37002/rbesp.v2i14.2848Keywords:
Environmental gradients, Species turnover, Habitat filtering, Neotropical invertebratesAbstract
Subterranean environments are characterized by relatively stable atmospheric conditions and the absence of light; however, their morphological complexity can influence connectivity with the surface, making them susceptible to environmental fluctuations that affect invertebrate communities. In this study, we examined the relationship between temperature, humidity, and distance from the cave entrance across two seasons (dry and wet), and their effects on species richness, composition, and β-diversity of terrestrial invertebrates in a neotropical limestone cave. Species richness was higher during the wet season and in areas closer to the entrance. Temperature positively influenced species richness, whereas humidity primarily affected community composition. Temporal β-diversity showed seasonal variation and was mainly driven by species turnover. Distance from the entrance negatively affected spatial β-diversity in both seasons, while temperature had a significant positive effect only during the dry season. Partitioning of β-diversity revealed species turnover as the dominant process underlying spatial differentiation of cave communities. Our findings suggest that both temporal and spatial environmental heterogeneity shape community dynamics in this cave. Elevated temperatures support greater species richness, underscoring their role in sustaining biodiversity. Furthermore, distance from the entrance influences species distribution, reflecting compositional and richness gradients along the subterranean ecotone. Overall, species replacement (rather than nestedness) emerges as the primary mechanism structuring cave communities, highlighting the ecological sensitivity and inherent instability of subterranean habitats to environmental change.
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