Long-term Dynamics of Small Mammal Communities in the Period of Reduction of Copper Smelter Emissions: 2. β-Diversity

Abstract—The long-term dynamics of β-diversity of small mammal (SM) communities in the vicinity of a large copper smelter has been analyzed during the periods of high (1990–1997), reduced (1998–2009), and almost terminated emissions (2010–2020). The results show that the β-diversity of communities increases as the smelter is approached, with the level of pollution playing a key role in the formation of community structure (up to 25%). Throughout the 30-year observation period, the background communities have been less variable than the buffer and impact communities; i.e., the more unstable the environment, the higher the community variability. Structural rearrangements in the impact and buffer communities in the period of emission reduction have resulted in the progressive divergence between the communities of background and polluted areas.