Data from: Matrix context and patch quality jointly determine diversity in a landscape-scale experiment

The biodiversity of a habitat patch is predicted to be driven in part by interactions between patch quality and landscape context (i.e., type of regional matrix), but these interactions are rarely explored experimentally. Understanding the interaction between patch quality and matrix context can provide insight into the kind of dynamics that best describe a metacommunity and help predict how the diversity of a patch will respond to environmental change at different scales. We conducted a landscape-scale experiment to examine how regional and local aspects of the terrestrial matrix interact to affect biodiversity within artificial ponds designed to mimic generic features of freshwater ephemeral ponds. We manipulated both the kind of matrix surrounding ponds (open canopy grassland, pine forest, and hardwood forest) and pond quality (three different types of leaf litter substrate). Ponds were left open to natural colonization for three months by aquatic insects and amphibians. The terrestrial matrix had consistent and strong effects on biodiversity throughout the experiment: ponds in open canopy areas had more animal morphotypes than ponds in pine or hardwood forests. Leaf litter type affected biodiversity during the experiment, with more animal morphotypes in ponds with higher quality litter than ponds with lower quality litter, and this effect was stronger in open canopy areas. The effect of leaf litter, however, disappeared by the end of the experiment. Our results suggest that the matrix surrounding patches has strong effects on community dynamics and biodiversity within patches, and conservation efforts aimed at maintaining biodiversity requires simultaneous consideration of both matrix habitats and habitat patches.据推测，生境斑块的生物多样性在一定程度上由斑块质量与景观背景（即区域基质类型）之间的相互作用所驱动，但此类相互作用的实验探究却鲜有开展。明晰斑块质量与基质背景间的相互作用，有助于洞悉最适用于描述集合群落（metacommunity）的动态模式，并可助力预测不同尺度下斑块多样性对环境变化的响应规律。本研究开展了一项景观尺度的实验，以探究陆地基质的区域与局部特征如何相互作用，进而影响模拟淡水临时池塘通用特征的人工池塘内的生物多样性。我们对两类实验变量进行了操控处理：一是池塘周边的基质类型（涵盖开阔冠层草地、松林与硬叶林），二是池塘质量，设置了三种不同类型的落叶凋落物基质。人工池塘保持开放状态，允许水生昆虫与两栖动物自然定植，持续时长共计三个月。实验全程中，陆地基质对生物多样性均表现出一致且显著的影响：开阔冠层区域内的池塘所拥有的动物形态型数量显著多于松林或硬叶林区域的池塘。实验期间，落叶凋落物类型对生物多样性存在影响：高质量凋落物组池塘的动物形态型数量多于低质量凋落物组，且该效应在开阔冠层区域更为显著。但至实验结束时，落叶凋落物类型的影响已不复存在。本研究结果表明，斑块周围的基质对斑块内的群落动态与生物多样性具有显著影响，因此旨在维持生物多样性的保护工作，需同时兼顾基质生境与斑块生境二者。