Effects Of Dispersal Ability And Rarity On Spatial Distribution Pattern, And Community Phylogenetic Structure Of Breeding Birds In The Thousand Island Lake

Aim We study the spatial distribution pattern and community phylogenetic structure of breeding birds in the Thousand Island Lake, China. We test the effects of dispersal ability and rarity on the spatial distribution of breeding bird communities on our study islands. Through analyzing taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic α- and β-diversity of bird communities, we further explore community structure and its environmental determinants.Location Thousand Island Lake, ChinaMethods We surveyed breeding birds on 36 islands from 2007 to 2013. (1) We divided breeding birds into two types according to their dispersal ability, and used multivariate logistic regression and maximum likelihood estimate to analyze the biogeographical parameters, e.g. colonization, extinction and turnover rates. (2) We estimated bird’s rarity and assessed the influences on nestedness patterns. (3) We calculated taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity indices to test the phylogenetic community structure of island birds.Results (1) Birds with strong dispersal ability had been less affected by isolation than others, with a higher turnover rate. (2) Rare birds were more sensitive than common ones with a higher rank of nestedness. (3) Island area had significant effects in multifaceted α- and β-diversity that were determined by island area. Phylogenetic diversity was similar to taxonomic diversity.Conclutions Dispersal ability and rarity of species have significant effects on spatial distribution pattern of bird community on islands of our study system. Birds with lower dispersal ability or higher rarity are more sensitive to geographical barriers, i.e. distance between islands. Phylogenetic structure of birds was mainly determined by island area.