Over the years, multiple studies have tried to explain the patterns of species richness and distribution along different gradients through various hypotheses, all of which have equal support and criticism from different quarters. A consistent trend however observed across all these studies shows that most of these questions/hypotheses were studied at a narrow taxonomic level ie: for trees, ants or butterflies etc. but not for multi-taxa communities which coexist and share resources in the ecosystem. While many studies show patterns of different single-taxa communities varying or not varying across different gradients, very few explore this at a multi-taxa community level.
In this proposed study, we try to understand patterns of community structure using a multi-taxa approach along different anthropogenic and natural gradients, trying to understand whether a multi-taxa approach can provide better support to either of the many hypotheses trying to explain patterns along gradients and whether predictors of these patterns change from single-taxa to multi-taxa.