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Stochastic processes dominate community assembly at large spatial scales in Patagonian fjord ecosystems
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  • Vicente Villalobos,
  • Nelson Valdivia,
  • Gabriel Khattar,
  • Stacy Ballyram,
  • Günter Försterra,
  • Alexis Catalán,
  • Vreni Häussermann
Vicente Villalobos
Alfred Wegener Institute for Marine and Polar Research

Corresponding Author:vivolobos@gmail.com

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Nelson Valdivia
Universidad Austral de Chile Instituto de Ciencias Marinas y Limnológicas
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Gabriel Khattar
Concordia University Faculty of Arts and Science
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Stacy Ballyram
Fundación San Ignacio del Huinay
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Günter Försterra
Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso
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Alexis Catalán
Centro de Investigacion en Ecosistemas de la Patagonia
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Vreni Häussermann
Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso
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Abstract

Understanding how community assembly processes vary across spatial scales and environmental gradients is key to predicting species coexistence and informing conservation priorities. Beta-diversity represents the spatial variation in biodiversity and is intimately linked to processes ranging from fully niche-based to neutral assembly processes. Here we investigated the beta-diversity patterns of rocky subtidal macrobenthic assemblages in two environmentally contrasting fjords of Chilean Patagonia and across three spatial scales and dimensions within each fjord: vertical scale (subtidal depth; 0 – 21 m), fine horizontal (within fjord sections; 1 - 10 km) and broad horizontal (between fjord sections; 10 - 100 km). We applied generalized dissimilarity models (GDMs) to analyse three underlying processes that shape ecological communities: density-independent responses to abiotic conditions (salinity and temperature), dispersal (geographical distances and depth), and stochasticity (beta-null deviations) on beta-diversity expressed as Bray-Curtis dissimilarities. Stochastic and dispersal processes dominated beta-diversity along horizontal gradients, particularly at larger spatial scales, while environmental filters consistently contributed to beta-diversity along depth gradients. The southern fjord presented higher community variation in line with higher environmental heterogeneity. Stochastic processes dominate the northern fjord, suggesting a greater influence of habitat homogenization. These results emphasize the scale-dependent nature of assembly processes in fjord ecosystems and underscore the importance of incorporating multiple spatial dimensions into biodiversity assessments.