Landscape Attributes and Their Role in Shaping Tree Species Diversity in a Highly Fragmented Tropical Dry Forest Landscape in Coastal Ecuador: 2013 - 2023

Keywords: remote sensing, biodiversity, landscape ecology, tropics
Abstract Type: Paper Abstract

Abstract

Understanding landscape effects on species diversity is particularly critical in landscapes that are highly fragmented, but of critical importance for biodiversity conservation such as the biodiversity hotspots. In this study, we examine the relationship between landscape attributes and tree species diversity across fragmented forests in coastal Ecuador. Using Landsat-derived landscape predictors—including land cover, NDVI, and slope—we assess how variations in landscape structure influence tree diversity at local and landscape scales. We employ Hill numbers (Hill 0, Hill 1, and Hill 2) to capture different dimensions of species diversity, with Hill 0 reflecting species richness, Hill 1 representing the balance of common species, and Hill 2 emphasizing dominant species.
Our generalized linear models reveal that distinct landscape attributes differentially impact these dimensions of tree diversity. For instance, forest cover within a 500-meter buffer and slope within a 250-meter buffer significantly influence species richness (Hill 0), while pasture cover within a 1000-meter buffer plays a key role in explaining variation in the dominance-weighted index (Hill 2). These findings suggest that diverse dimensions of tree diversity are shaped by different landscape configurations, with varying spatial scales of influence.
Finally, we explore the potential to map tree diversity across the landscapes using these models and the landscape predictor maps to evaluate landscape suitability to tree species diversity. This research emphasizes the need to account for multiple dimensions of biodiversity when assessing landscape impacts and offers valuable insights for understanding species ecology and conservation in fragmented ecosystems.