Limited evidence of local phylogenetic clustering in the urban flora of Brussels

Abstract

As species functioning is not randomly distributed with respect to phylogeny, we should expect that species assemblages, which are subject to the same environmental filters, often possess a clustered phylogenetic structure. This locally clustered phylogenetic structure is usually detected with randomization tests. In this paper we apply a test of community phylogenetic clustering that takes into account the non-random distribution of species frequency across the phylogeny of the urban flora of Brussels (Belgium). Our results provide only moderate support to the idea that a locally clustered phylogenetic structure is central to the coarse-scale patterns of species co-occurrence of this urban area. The abiotic drivers that promote a locally clustered phylogeny in cities like Brussels are also shortly discussed.

Keywords::

• Built up area
• habitat filters
• indicator species
• null model
• randomization tests
• regional species pool
• species richness