Climate-Driven Vegetation Characteristics Shape Phytophagous and Carnivorous Insect Diversity in South African Savannahs
Corresponding Author
Fernando P. Gaona
Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
Biology Centre, Institute of Entomology, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
Correspondence:
Fernando P. Gaona ([email protected])
Robert Tropek ([email protected])
Search for more papers by this authorSylvain Delabye
Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
Biology Centre, Institute of Entomology, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
Search for more papers by this authorPavel Potocký
Biology Centre, Institute of Entomology, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
Search for more papers by this authorValeriy Govorov
Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
Search for more papers by this authorJan Čuda
Department of Invasion Ecology, Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Průhonice, Czechia
Search for more papers by this authorLlewellyn C. Foxcroft
Scientific Services, South African National Parks, Skukuza, South Africa
Department of Botany and Zoology, Centre for Invasion Biology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa
Search for more papers by this authorRafał Garlacz
Nature Education Centre, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
Search for more papers by this authorMartin Hejda
Department of Invasion Ecology, Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Průhonice, Czechia
Search for more papers by this authorSandra MacFadyen
Mathematical Biosciences, Department of Mathematical Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Search for more papers by this authorTomasz Pyrcz
Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
Search for more papers by this authorKlára Pyšková
Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
Department of Invasion Ecology, Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Průhonice, Czechia
Search for more papers by this authorOndřej Sedláček
Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
Search for more papers by this authorDavid Storch
Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
Center for Theoretical Study, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
Search for more papers by this authorPetr Pyšek
Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
Department of Invasion Ecology, Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Průhonice, Czechia
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Robert Tropek
Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
Biology Centre, Institute of Entomology, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
Correspondence:
Fernando P. Gaona ([email protected])
Robert Tropek ([email protected])
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Fernando P. Gaona
Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
Biology Centre, Institute of Entomology, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
Correspondence:
Fernando P. Gaona ([email protected])
Robert Tropek ([email protected])
Search for more papers by this authorSylvain Delabye
Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
Biology Centre, Institute of Entomology, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
Search for more papers by this authorPavel Potocký
Biology Centre, Institute of Entomology, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
Search for more papers by this authorValeriy Govorov
Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
Search for more papers by this authorJan Čuda
Department of Invasion Ecology, Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Průhonice, Czechia
Search for more papers by this authorLlewellyn C. Foxcroft
Scientific Services, South African National Parks, Skukuza, South Africa
Department of Botany and Zoology, Centre for Invasion Biology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa
Search for more papers by this authorRafał Garlacz
Nature Education Centre, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
Search for more papers by this authorMartin Hejda
Department of Invasion Ecology, Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Průhonice, Czechia
Search for more papers by this authorSandra MacFadyen
Mathematical Biosciences, Department of Mathematical Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Search for more papers by this authorTomasz Pyrcz
Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
Search for more papers by this authorKlára Pyšková
Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
Department of Invasion Ecology, Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Průhonice, Czechia
Search for more papers by this authorOndřej Sedláček
Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
Search for more papers by this authorDavid Storch
Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
Center for Theoretical Study, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
Search for more papers by this authorPetr Pyšek
Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
Department of Invasion Ecology, Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Průhonice, Czechia
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Robert Tropek
Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
Biology Centre, Institute of Entomology, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
Correspondence:
Fernando P. Gaona ([email protected])
Robert Tropek ([email protected])
Search for more papers by this authorFunding: This study was supported by the Czech Science Foundation (18-18495S and 21-24186M).
ABSTRACT
Aim
Despite the evidenced importance of insects in savannah ecosystems, the drivers of their diversity patterns remain poorly understood, particularly in the Afrotropical region. This study addresses part of this gap by investigating the effects of climate, habitat, disturbance and vegetation variables on species richness and community composition of phytophagous and predatory insects in South African savannahs.
Location
Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa.
Taxon
Phytophagous insects (moths) and carnivorous insects (mantises).
Methods
Moths and mantises were light-trapped in 60 plots distributed across KNP during two seasons. Direct and indirect effects of environmental variables on insect species richness were analysed using structural equation models, and on community composition through distance-based redundancy analyses (db-RDA).
Results
Based on an extensive dataset of 65,593 moth individuals representing 817 species and 3511 mantis individuals representing 38 species, we identified plant communities as the primary driver of species richness and community structure for both insect groups. The effects of vegetation on insect communities were indirectly shaped by climate, particularly mean temperature (negatively correlated with precipitation), through its effects on plant species richness. Additionally, a complex interplay among bedrock type, water availability and disturbance from large herbivores further shaped insect diversity.
Main Conclusions
Our findings highlight the critical role of plant species richness in determining insect diversity patterns in savannah ecosystems. We also confirmed the region's vulnerability to climate change, as decreasing precipitation and increasing temperatures alter vegetation composition and biomass, consequently affecting insect communities. Effective conservation strategies should focus on managing large herbivores to maintain diverse vegetation, which is crucial for supporting insect diversity. Priority should be given to balancing water availability and disturbance intensity, particularly in preserving the health of rivers and their surroundings, to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on these ecosystems.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Open Research
Data Availability Statement
Data are provided via the Zenodo platform: https://zenodo.org/records/12204570.
Supporting Information
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Data S1. |
Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.
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