First multitaxon assessment of arthropod responses to urbanisation in a widely distributed native and ruderal plant of Brazil

Abstract

Abstract Unplanned urban development has consequences for natural ecosystems, resulting in habitat fragmentation and loss. Arthropod responses to urbanisation are well documented in the Global North, but no clear responses are found for the Global South. We assessed beta diversity, composition, richness and abundance responses of arthropods in Turnera subulata in an urbanisation gradient. Urbanisation affected arthropod communities' composition, and more urbanised areas showed lower insect richness and abundance. Arthropod taxa did not respond homogeneously to urbanisation. Turnover best explained the change in beta diversity along the urbanisation gradient, indicating urbanisation causes species replacement compared to less urbanised areas. We found negative results of urbanisation on the arthropod community on flowers of T. subulata. Our results are a first approximation to the effects of rural–urban gradient of urbanisation on multiple arthropod taxon in Brazil, highlighting the need for maintenance of urban green areas to allow the existence of a richer and more diverse community, especially in the face of the arthropod biodiversity crisis that we are experiencing.