Fig. 2
Final structural equation model and predicted richness for three biotic groups. a Final structural equation model (CFI = 0.996, χ2 = 45.018, df = 35, P = 0.1196) with standardized path coefficients (all paths significant, see the Mplus code in Supplementary Data 4). “S” represents the richness (and composition) of multicellular taxon and microbial assemblages. “Space” represents environmentally independent spatial variables. Cyanobacterial richness was positively correlated with elevation, distance to the coast, and the wetness index; negatively correlated with aspect (degrees from north) and slope; and strongly related to spatial covariates. Fungal richness was positively correlated with distance from the coast, soil water content, and cyanobacteria richness; negatively correlated with pH and temperature; and strongly related to spatial covariates. Richness of multicellular taxa was positively correlated with cyanobacterial richness, fungal richness, soil nitrogen, distance to the coast, and elevation; negatively correlated with aspect; and less strongly related to spatial covariates. Higher surface temperatures were associated with lower soil water content; and b–d predictions of cyanobacterial, fungal, and multicellular taxon richness, respectively, across the landscape
