Impact of patch edge patterns on plant species beta diversity in global vegetation

Habitat patch fragmentation and edge effects on biodiversity have gained increasing attention in recent years. In this study, we aim to quantitatively analyze the relationship between patch edge metrics, plant beta diversity, and functional diversity across forests, shrubs, and grasslands at three spatial scales (2 km, 4 km, 6 km), utilizing data from 6188 globally distributed vegetation plots. The results reveal that: (1) the influence of edge metrics on beta diversity varies according to vegetation types and spatial scales, notably, edge effects were more prominent in forests and grasslands at larger scale, with spatial distance between plots significantly impacting plant diversity for all vegetation types; (2) edge metrics exerted a significant influence on both plant functional trait diversity and species beta diversity; (3) at the 4 km and 6 km scales, a significant positive correlation was observed between species beta diversity and diversity in 18 functional traits across all vegetation types, although such a relationship was less stable at the 2 km scale. This study enhances our understanding of the mechanisms governing the spatial distribution of plant diversity and provides a valuable foundation for edge management, vegetation restoration, and biodiversity conservation in the context of global landscape fragmentation.