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Lazarina M, Michailidou DE, Tsianou M, Kallimanis AS. How Biodiversity, Climate and Landscape Drive Functional Redundancy of British Butterflies. INSECTS 2023; 14:722. [PMID: 37754690 PMCID: PMC10531656 DOI: 10.3390/insects14090722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
Biodiversity promotes the functioning of ecosystems, and functional redundancy safeguards this functioning against environmental changes. However, what drives functional redundancy remains unclear. We analyzed taxonomic diversity, functional diversity (richness and β-diversity) and functional redundancy patterns of British butterflies. We explored the effect of temperature and landscape-related variables on richness and redundancy using generalized additive models, and on β-diversity using generalized dissimilarity models. The species richness-functional richness relationship was saturating, indicating functional redundancy in species-rich communities. Assemblages did not deviate from random expectations regarding functional richness. Temperature exerted a significant effect on all diversity aspects and on redundancy, with the latter relationship being unimodal. Landscape-related variables played a role in driving observed patterns. Although taxonomic and functional β-diversity were highly congruent, the model of taxonomic β-diversity explained more deviance than the model of functional β-diversity did. Species-rich butterfly assemblages exhibited functional redundancy. Climate- and landscape-related variables emerged as significant drivers of diversity and redundancy. Τaxonomic β-diversity was more strongly associated with the environmental gradient, while functional β-diversity was driven more strongly by stochasticity. Temperature promoted species richness and β-diversity, but warmer areas exhibited lower levels of functional redundancy. This might be related to the land uses prevailing in warmer areas (e.g., agricultural intensification).
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Lazarina
- Department of Ecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (D.-E.M.); (A.S.K.)
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Téllez-Hernández E, Domínguez-Vega H, Zuria I, Marín-Togo MC, Gómez-Ortiz Y. Functional and ecological diversity of urban birds: Conservation and redesign of biocultural landscapes. J Nat Conserv 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2023.126395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
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3
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Brandl SJ, Lefcheck JS, Bates AE, Rasher DB, Norin T. Can metabolic traits explain animal community assembly and functioning? Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:1-18. [PMID: 36054431 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
All animals on Earth compete for free energy, which is acquired, assimilated, and ultimately allocated to growth and reproduction. Competition is strongest within communities of sympatric, ecologically similar animals of roughly equal size (i.e. horizontal communities), which are often the focus of traditional community ecology. The replacement of taxonomic identities with functional traits has improved our ability to decipher the ecological dynamics that govern the assembly and functioning of animal communities. Yet, the use of low-resolution and taxonomically idiosyncratic traits in animals may have hampered progress to date. An animal's metabolic rate (MR) determines the costs of basic organismal processes and activities, thus linking major aspects of the multifaceted constructs of ecological niches (where, when, and how energy is obtained) and ecological fitness (how much energy is accumulated and passed on to future generations). We review evidence from organismal physiology to large-scale analyses across the tree of life to propose that MR gives rise to a group of meaningful functional traits - resting metabolic rate (RMR), maximum metabolic rate (MMR), and aerobic scope (AS) - that may permit an improved quantification of the energetic basis of species coexistence and, ultimately, the assembly and functioning of animal communities. Specifically, metabolic traits integrate across a variety of typical trait proxies for energy acquisition and allocation in animals (e.g. body size, diet, mobility, life history, habitat use), to yield a smaller suite of continuous quantities that: (1) can be precisely measured for individuals in a standardized fashion; and (2) apply to all animals regardless of their body plan, habitat, or taxonomic affiliation. While integrating metabolic traits into animal community ecology is neither a panacea to disentangling the nuanced effects of biological differences on animal community structure and functioning, nor without challenges, a small number of studies across different taxa suggest that MR may serve as a useful proxy for the energetic basis of competition in animals. Thus, the application of MR traits for animal communities can lead to a more general understanding of community assembly and functioning, enhance our ability to trace eco-evolutionary dynamics from genotypes to phenotypes (and vice versa), and help predict the responses of animal communities to environmental change. While trait-based ecology has improved our knowledge of animal communities to date, a more explicit energetic lens via the integration of metabolic traits may further strengthen the existing framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon J Brandl
- Department of Marine Science, The University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, TX, 78373, USA
| | - Jonathan S Lefcheck
- Tennenbaum Marine Observatories Network and MarineGEO Program, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD, 21037, USA
| | - Amanda E Bates
- Biology Department, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, BC, V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Douglas B Rasher
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME, 04544, USA
| | - Tommy Norin
- DTU Aqua: National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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4
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Melo MA, Piratelli AJ. Increase in size and shrub cover improves bird functional diversity in Neotropical urban green spaces. AUSTRAL ECOL 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.13279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Antônio Melo
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais Universidade Federal de São Carlos, UFSCar Campus São Carlos São Carlos Brazil
| | - Augusto João Piratelli
- Departamento de Ciências Ambientais CCTS Universidade Federal de São Carlos Sorocaba Brazil
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Lee DY, Lee DS, Park YS. Taxonomic and Functional Diversity of Benthic Macroinvertebrate Assemblages in Reservoirs of South Korea. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 20:673. [PMID: 36612995 PMCID: PMC9819676 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Numerous community indices have been developed to quantify the various aspects of communities. However, indices including functional aspects have been less focused on. Here, we examined how community composition varies in response to the environment and discovered the relationship between taxonomic diversity and functional diversity while considering the environment. Macroinvertebrate communities were collected from 20 reservoirs in South Korea. To characterize functional diversity, functional traits in four categories were considered: generation per year, adult lifespan, adult size, and functional feeding groups. Based on their community composition, we classified the reservoirs using hierarchical cluster analysis. Physicochemical and land use variables varied considerably between clusters. Non-metric multidimensional scaling indicated differences between reservoirs and clusters in terms of structure, functional diversity, and environmental variables. A self-organizing map was used to categorize functional traits, and network association analysis was used to unravel relationships between functional traits. Our results support the characteristics of species' survival strategies such as r- and K-selection. Functional richness exhibited a relationship with taxonomic diversity. Our findings suggest that different types of diversity could play complementary roles in identifying biodiversity. Our findings should prove useful in developing new criteria for assessing freshwater ecosystem health, as well as in evaluating and predicting future alteration of benthic macroinvertebrate communities facing anthropogenic disturbances.
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Suárez‐Castro AF, Maron M, Mitchell MGE, Rhodes JR. Disentangling direct and indirect effects of landscape structure on urban bird richness and functional diversity. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 32:e2713. [PMID: 36196040 PMCID: PMC10077913 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
As fragmented landscapes become increasingly common around the world, managing the spatial arrangement of landscape elements (i.e., landscape configuration) may help to promote the conservation of biodiversity. However, the relative effects of landscape configuration on different dimensions of biodiversity across species assemblages are largely unknown. Thus, a key challenge consists in understanding when it is necessary to focus on landscape configuration, in addition to landscape composition, to achieve multifunctional landscapes. We tested the effects of landscape composition (the percentage of tree cover and built infrastructure) and landscape configuration (degree of fragmentation) on landscape-level species richness and different metrics of functional diversity of urban birds. We collected data on different bird guilds (nectarivores/frugivores, insectivores) from Brisbane, Australia. Using structural equation models, we found that landscape structure (landscape composition and configuration) affected functional diversity via two main pathways: (1) through effects of landscape composition, mediated by landscape configuration (indirect effects), and (2) through direct ("independent") effects of landscape composition and configuration, filtering species with extreme trait values. Our results show that landscape-level species richness declined with the extent of built infrastructure, but patterns of trait diversity did not necessarily correlate with this variable. Landscape configuration had a stronger mediating effect on some metrics of the functional diversity of insectivores than on the functional diversity of frugivores/nectarivores. In addition, fragmentation increased the effects of built infrastructure for some traits (body size and dispersal capacity), but not for others (habitat plasticity and foraging behavior). These results suggest that differential approaches to managing landscape structure are needed depending on whether the focus is on protecting functional diversity or species richness and what the target guild is. Managing landscape fragmentation in areas with high levels of built infrastructure is important if the objective is to protect insectivore species with uncommon traits, even if it is not possible to preserve high levels of species richness. However, if the target is to enhance both functional diversity and species richness of multiple guilds, the focus should be on improving composition through the reduction of negative effects of built infrastructure, rather than promoting specific landscape configurations in growing cities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Felipe Suárez‐Castro
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation ScienceThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
- Australian Rivers InstituteUniversity of GriffithNathanAustralia
| | - Martine Maron
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation ScienceThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
- School of Earth and Environmental SciencesThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
| | - Matthew G. E. Mitchell
- Institute for Resources, Environment and SustainabilityUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Jonathan R. Rhodes
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation ScienceThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
- School of Earth and Environmental SciencesThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
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Variations in Avian Species and Functional Diversity in Different Habitat Types in a Vulnerable Savannah Ecosystem in Ghana. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1155/2022/4923892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Most research on avian functional diversity in the tropics is focused on forest and agroecosystems, leaving a gap in knowledge about the effects of habitat types on functional diversity in savannah landscapes. Savanna ecosystems are fragile and are under threat of anthropogenic destruction, particularly in developing Sub-Saharan Africa and could be eliminated in the face of the ever-increasing human population exacerbated by the changing climate. This study investigated the influence of the three major habitat types (grassland, riparian forest, woodland) on bird species and functional diversity in the Mole National Park (MNP) in Ghana. We used the line transect method to survey birds along 39 transects, each 1 km in length, and collected data on environmental variables along the same transects. Data from these surveys was used to estimate species and functional diversity indicators. We found significant variations in species and functional diversity measures between the three habitat types in the MNP. These variations were significantly influenced by species abundance and environmental covariates. Diversity measures were particularly higher in the riparian forest habitats compared to the woodland and grassland, with the latter being the least diverse habitat both functionally and species wise. The results of this study suggest that the avifauna assemblages in MNP are largely influenced by the riparian forest and are important for ecosystem function and stability. We recommend management efforts to intensify the protection of such vital habitats of the Mole National Park from illegal human activities, especially the rising removal and export of rosewoods (Dalbergia nigra) around the park. Further research on the avian community composition and structure in the MNP is recommended.
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Vaccaro AS, Filloy J. Factors underlying bird community assembly in anthropogenic habitats depend on the biome. Sci Rep 2022; 12:19804. [PMID: 36396682 PMCID: PMC9672092 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24238-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Production activities drive the replacement of original habitats with artificial ones, leading to new bird assemblages. In this study, we assessed if anthropogenic habitats acted as environmental filters causing functional redundancy or as promoters of functional divergence, depending on the biome. We also investigated if functional patterns derived from phylogenetic convergence or clustering. For this purpose, we computed the standardized effect sizes (SES) for avian functional and phylogenetic diversity using null models and compared the SES values among tree plantations, urban settlements (US), cattle pastures (CP), crop fields (CF) and natural habitats from two biomes: grassland and forest. We used generalized least squares models to test if functional and phylogenetic SES indicated functional redundancy or divergence, and phylogenetic convergence or clustering. We found functional redundancy in grassland and functional divergence in forest associated with environmental filtering and competitive exclusion, respectively. In grassland, functional structure was not associated with a clear phylogenetic pattern, while in forest functional divergence was caused by evolutionary convergence in CF and CP and conservation in US. The prevalences of functional redundancy and functional divergence patterns and their associated predominant mechanism of community assembly were found to depend on the biome and the regional species pool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anahí S. Vaccaro
- grid.7345.50000 0001 0056 1981Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, IEGEBA (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, Piso 4, C1428EGA CA Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Julieta Filloy
- grid.7345.50000 0001 0056 1981Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, IEGEBA (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2, Piso 4, C1428EGA CA Buenos Aires, Argentina
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9
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Lisón F, Matus-Olivares C, Troncoso E, Catalán G, Jiménez-Franco MV. Effect of forest landscapes composition and configuration on bird community and its functional traits in a hotspot of biodiversity of Chile. J Nat Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2022.126227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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10
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Effects of Meteorological Factors on Waterbird Functional Diversity and Community Composition in Liaohe Estuary, China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19095392. [PMID: 35564785 PMCID: PMC9104863 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19095392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Functional trait diversity represents ecological differences among species, and the structure of waterbird communities is an important aspect of biodiversity. To understand the effect of meteorological changes on the waterbird functional diversity and provide suggestions for management and conservation, we selected a study area (726 km2) in Liaohe Estuary, located in northeast China. We explored the trends of the waterbird functional diversity changes in response to meteorological factors using fourth corner analysis. Our study demonstrated that temperature was a key factor that impacted waterbird functional diversity in spring, while precipitation had a greater impact in autumn. The population size of goose and duck was positively associated with temperature and negatively with precipitation, while that of the waders (Charadriiformes) showed opposite association trends. Herbivores and species nesting on the bare ground exhibited responses to meteorological factors similar to those of geese and ducks, while benthivores and waterbirds nesting under grass/shrubs exhibited trends similar to those of waterbirds. Waterbirds with smaller bodies, shorter feathers, and lower reproductive rates preferred higher temperatures and less precipitation than other waterbirds. In addition, we observed seasonal variations in waterbird functional diversity. In spring, we should pay attention to waders, herbivores, and waterbirds nesting on the bare ground when the temperature is low. In autumn, waders, benthivores, and omnivores need more attention under extreme precipitation. As the global climate warms in this study area, waterbird functional diversity is expected to decline, and community composition would become simpler, with overlapping niches. Biodiversity management should involve protecting intertidal habitats, supporting benthic macrofaunal communities, preparing bare breeding fields for waterbirds favoring high temperatures to meet their requirements for population increase, and preventing the population decline of geese and ducks, herbivores, and species nesting under grass/shrubs. The findings of our study can aid in developing accurate guidelines for waterbird biodiversity management and conservation.
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Sarmiento-Garavito LP, García-Monroy JS, Carvajal-Cogollo JE. Taxonomic and functional diversity of birds in a rural landscape of high Andean forest, Colombia. NEOTROPICAL BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION 2022. [DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.17.e66096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
We evaluated the taxonomic and functional diversity of birds in a rural landscape in the north-eastern Andes of Colombia. We carried out seven field trips and used transects of 300 m, separated from each other by 500 m in the dominant plant cover of the rural landscape. We measured alpha (α) and beta (β) diversity at both the taxonomic and functional levels. We registered 10 orders, 21 families, 56 genera and 63 species of birds. In wooded pasture, we recorded 55 species and a relative abundance of 66% and 44 and 34% for an Andean forest fragment. The species that contributed the most to the dissimilarity between the covers were Zonotrichia capensis, Turdus fuscater, Mecocerculus leucophrys, Atlapetes latinuchus and Crotophaga ani. We identified nine functional types, where G1 was made up of small species with anissodactyl and pamprodactyl legs that were insectivorous, frugivorous and nectarivorous as the best represented. The FEve and FDiv were 0.51 and 0.74, respectively in the Andean forest fragment plant cover and, for the wooded pasture, the FEve was 0.45 and the FDiv was 0.81. Both cover types contributed to the diversity of the rural landscape and the dynamics that existed between them formed a complementary factor that favoured the taxonomic and functional richness of the characterised rural landscape.
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12
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Bowd E, Blanchard W, McBurney L, Lindenmayer D. Direct and indirect disturbance impacts on forest biodiversity. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Elle Bowd
- Fenner School of Environment and Society The Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory 2601 Australia
| | - Wade Blanchard
- Fenner School of Environment and Society The Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory 2601 Australia
| | - Lachlan McBurney
- Fenner School of Environment and Society The Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory 2601 Australia
| | - David Lindenmayer
- Fenner School of Environment and Society The Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory 2601 Australia
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13
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Vázquez-Reyes LD, Paz-Hernández H, Godínez-Álvarez HO, Arizmendi MDC, Navarro-Sigüenza AG. Trait shifts in bird communities from primary forest to human settlements in Mexican seasonal forests. Are there ruderal birds? Perspect Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pecon.2021.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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García‐Navas V, Sattler T, Schmid H, Ozgul A. Bird species co‐occurrence patterns in an alpine environment supports the stress‐gradient hypothesis. OIKOS 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vicente García‐Navas
- Dept of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, Univ. of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
- Dept of Integrative Ecology, Doñana Biological Station CSIC Seville Spain
| | | | - Hans Schmid
- Swiss Ornithological Inst. Sempach Switzerland
| | - Arpat Ozgul
- Dept of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, Univ. of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
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Bird Functional Diversity in Agroecosystems and Secondary Forests of the Tropical Andes. DIVERSITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/d13100493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Agricultural systems have increased in extension and intensity worldwide, altering vertebrate functional diversity, ecosystem functioning, and ecosystemic services. However, the effects of open monoculture crops on bird functional diversity remain little explored, particularly in highly biodiverse regions such as the tropical Andes. We aim to assess the functional diversity differences of bird guilds between monoculture crops (coffee, cocoa, and citrus) and secondary forests. We use four functional diversity indices (Rao Q, Functional Richness, Functional Evenness, and Functional Divergence) related to relevant morphological, life history, and behavioral traits. We find significant differences in functional diversity between agroecosystem and forest habitats. Particularly, bird functional diversity is quite homogeneous among crop types. Functional traits related to locomotion (body weight, wing-chord length, and tail length), nest type (closed), and foraging strata (canopy and understory) are dominant at the agroecosystems. The bird assemblages found at the agroecosystems are more homogeneous in terms of functional diversity than those found at the secondary forests, as a result of crop structure and management. We recommend promoting more diverse agroecosystems to enhance bird functional diversity and reduce their effects on biodiversity.
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Melo MA, Sanches PM, Silva Filho DF, Piratelli AJ. Influence of habitat type and distance from source area on bird taxonomic and functional diversity in a Neotropical megacity. Urban Ecosyst 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-021-01169-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Benedetti Y, Kapsalis E, Morelli F, Kati V. Sacred oak woods increase bird diversity and specialization: Links with the European Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 294:112982. [PMID: 34116304 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Sacred groves in Greece are usually forest remnants with large trees around chapels, protected through centuries by Orthodox religion. We examined the comparative ecological value of 20 oak-dominated sacred groves vs managed oakwoods, in terms of their habitat characteristics and avian communities (passerines and woodpeckers). Sacred groves have maintained a more pronounced old-growth character than managed oakwoods in terms of average Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) and tree height. Besides holding significantly greater bird species richness and abundance, they supported greater functional richness, phylogenetic diversity, and phylogenetic bird species variability. Bird communities in sacred groves were more heterogeneous and showed greater avian specialization levels than in managed woods. Generalized Linear Models showed that the main factor positively affecting all aspects of bird diversity was DBH, while the abundance of dead trees increased bird abundance. Our results underline the importance of maintaining large-sized trees in forest management practices to support bird diversity and decrease biotic homogenization. Since the new European Biodiversity Strategy explicitly requires all remaining European primary and old-growth forests to be strictly protected by 2030, we argue that sacred groves, despite their small size, meet the criteria to be considered in the strict protection and restoration targets of the strategy, as primary old growth woods of high biodiversity value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanina Benedetti
- Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Kamýcká 129, CZ-165 00, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Eleftherios Kapsalis
- Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Federico Morelli
- Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Kamýcká 129, CZ-165 00, Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Vassiliki Kati
- Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece.
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18
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Banaszak-Cibicka W, Dylewski Ł. Species and functional diversity - A better understanding of the impact of urbanization on bee communities. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 774:145729. [PMID: 33611011 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
We examined site patterns in bee species for diversity and functional diversity in urban, suburban and rural areas. We sampled bees from all three habitat types and compiled a database of functional traits for each species. While species diversity decreased with urbanization, as expected, components of functional diversity showed differences between urban and suburban habitats. Functional dispersion (FDis) increased significantly in suburban areas as compared to urban sites, while functional divergence (FDiv) and functional redundancy (Fred) were higher in urban areas. Functional richness (FRic) and evenness (FEven) were not affected by urbanization. Moreover, assemblages in highly urbanized environments have a substantially different functional composition. Solitary species, cleptoparasites, soil nesters, bees with trophic specialization, and those with a short flight period turned out to be more sensitive to urbanization changes. This study highlights the importance of examining functional diversity in assessing human-induced biodiversity loss and its impacts on ecosystem functioning in urbanized areas. These results have significant implications for improving our understanding of the mechanisms of suburban community ecology and conserving bees in urban habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weronika Banaszak-Cibicka
- Department of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71C, 60-625 Poznań, Poland.
| | - Łukasz Dylewski
- Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Parkowa 5, 62-035 Kórnik, Poland.
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19
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Wayman JP, Sadler JP, Pugh TAM, Martin TE, Tobias JA, Matthews TJ. Identifying the Drivers of Spatial Taxonomic and Functional Beta-Diversity of British Breeding Birds. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.620062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spatial variation in community composition may be driven by a variety of processes, including environmental filtering and dispersal limitation. While work has been conducted on the relative importance of these processes on various taxa and at varying resolutions, tests using high-resolution empirical data across large spatial extents are sparse. Here, we use a dataset on the presence/absence of breeding bird species collected at the 10 km × 10 km scale across the whole of Britain. Pairwise spatial taxonomic and functional beta diversity, and the constituent components of each (turnover and nestedness/richness loss or gain), were calculated alongside two other measures of functional change (mean nearest taxon distance and mean pairwise distance). Predictor variables included climate and land use measures, as well as a measure of elevation, human influence, and habitat diversity. Generalized dissimilarity modeling was used to analyze the contribution of each predictor variable to variation in the different beta diversity metrics. Overall, we found that there was a moderate and unique proportion of the variance explained by geographical distance per se, which could highlight the role of dispersal limitation in community dissimilarity. Climate, land use, and human influence all also contributed to the observed patterns, but a large proportion of the explained variance in beta diversity was shared between these variables and geographical distance. However, both taxonomic nestedness and functional nestedness were uniquely predicted by a combination of land use, human influence, elevation, and climate variables, indicating a key role for environmental filtering. These findings may have important conservation implications in the face of a warming climate and future land use change.
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Edwards FA, Massam MR, Cosset CCP, Cannon PG, Haugaasen T, Gilroy JJ, Edwards DP. Sparing land for secondary forest regeneration protects more tropical biodiversity than land sharing in cattle farming landscapes. Curr Biol 2021; 31:1284-1293.e4. [PMID: 33482111 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.12.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Effectively managing farming to meet food demand is vital for the future of biodiversity.1,2 Increasing yields on existing farmland can allow the abandonment (sparing) of low-yielding areas that subsequently recover as secondary forest.2-5 A key question is whether such "secondary sparing" conserves biodiversity more effectively than retaining wildlife-friendly habitat within farmland ("land sharing"). Focusing on the Colombian Choco-Andes, a global hotspot of threatened biodiversity,6 and on cattle farming, we examined the outcomes of secondary sparing and land sharing via simulated scenarios that maintained constant landscape-wide production and equal within-pasture yield: (1) for species and functional diversity of dung beetles and birds; (2) for avian phylogenetic diversity; and (3) across different stages of secondary forest regeneration, relative to spared primary forests. Sparing older secondary forests (15-30 years recovery) promotes substantial species, functional, and phylogenetic (birds only) diversity benefits for birds and dung beetles compared to land sharing. Species of conservation concern had higher occupancy estimates under land-sparing compared to land-sharing scenarios. Spared secondary forests accumulated equivalent diversity to primary forests for dung beetles within 15 years and within 15-30 years for birds, highlighting the need for longer term protection to maximize the biodiversity gains of secondary sparing. Promoting the recovery and protection of large expanses of secondary forests under the land-sparing model provides a critical mechanism for protecting tropical biodiversity, with important implications for concurrently assisting in the delivery of global targets to restore 350 million hectares of forested landscapes.7,8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felicity A Edwards
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.
| | - Mike R Massam
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Cindy C P Cosset
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Patrick G Cannon
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Torbjørn Haugaasen
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - James J Gilroy
- School of Environmental Science, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - David P Edwards
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.
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21
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Meng X, Cooper KM, Liu Z, Li Z, Chen J, Jiang X, Ge Y, Xie Z. Integration of α, β and γ components of macroinvertebrate taxonomic and functional diversity to measure of impacts of commercial sand dredging. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 269:116059. [PMID: 33307396 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Effects of commercial sand mining on aquatic diversity are of increasing global concern, especially in parts of some developing countries. However, understanding of this activity on the diversity of macroinvertebrates remains focused on the α component of species diversity, rather than community functioning. Thus, there remains much uncertainty regarding how each component of taxonomic (TD) and functional (FD) diversity respond to the activity both in freshwater and marine environments. Here, we assessed the effect of sand dredging on α, β and γ components of TD and FD during different dredging periods based on the response of macroinvertebrate communities over 4 years in the second largest freshwater lake in China. After three years of active dredging, substantial reductions in each component (α, β and γ) of TD and FD were observed within the dredged area. Moreover, after one year of natural recovery, a distinct restoration was observed with an obvious return in multiple facets of TD and FD indices. No such changes were observed within the adjacent and reference areas. Decreases in the multiple components of TD and FD within the dredged area were most likely associated with the direct extraction of substrate and associated benthic fauna and indirect variations of the water and sediment environment (e.g., increases in water depth and decreases in %Clay). Furthermore, dispersal processes and mass effects mainly contributed to the maintenance of TD and FD during the dredged and recovery stages. In addition, the fast recovery of TD and FD was also related to the simple taxonomic structure and highly connected nature of the study area. Our results suggest that a more precise experimental design (BACI) should be pursued to avoid potentially confounding effects (e.g., natural disturbance) because the sensitivity of diversity indices depends upon different experimental designs. Moreover, measurement of the impacts of sand dredging on macroinvertebrate diversity can be undertaken within a rigorous framework for better understanding the patterns and processes of each component of TD and FD under the sand dredging disturbance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingliang Meng
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hubei, 430072, China
| | - Keith M Cooper
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft, NR330HT, United Kingdom
| | - Zhenyuan Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hubei, 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zhengfei Li
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hubei, 430072, China
| | - Juanjuan Chen
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hubei, 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xuankong Jiang
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hubei, 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yihao Ge
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hubei, 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zhicai Xie
- The Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hubei, 430072, China.
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22
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Otieno NE, Mutati A. Bird alpha, beta and functional diversities across three peri-urban woodland stands along an anthropogenic disturbance gradient: is formal protection a guarantee for ecological integrity? Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
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23
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Betancurt‐Grisales JF, Vargas‐Daza AM, Castaño‐Villa GJ, Ospina‐Bautista F. Bird functional diversity in restored and secondary forests of the Colombian Andes. Restor Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Juan F. Betancurt‐Grisales
- Grupo de Investigación en Ecosistemas Tropicales, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales Universidad de Caldas Calle 65 #26‐10, Caldas Manizales 170004 Colombia
| | - Angela M. Vargas‐Daza
- Grupo de Investigación en Ecosistemas Tropicales, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales Universidad de Caldas Calle 65 #26‐10, Caldas Manizales 170004 Colombia
| | - Gabriel J. Castaño‐Villa
- Grupo de Investigación en Ecosistemas Tropicales, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales Universidad de Caldas Calle 65 #26‐10, Caldas Manizales 170004 Colombia
- Departamento de Desarrollo Rural y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias Universidad de Caldas Calle 65 #26‐10, Caldas Manizales 170004 Colombia
| | - Fabiola Ospina‐Bautista
- Grupo de Investigación en Ecosistemas Tropicales, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales Universidad de Caldas Calle 65 #26‐10, Caldas Manizales 170004 Colombia
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales Universidad de Caldas Calle 65 #26‐10, Caldas Manizales 170004 Colombia
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24
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Altamirano TA, de Zwaan DR, Ibarra JT, Wilson S, Martin K. Treeline ecotones shape the distribution of avian species richness and functional diversity in south temperate mountains. Sci Rep 2020; 10:18428. [PMID: 33116173 PMCID: PMC7595238 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75470-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Mountains produce distinct environmental gradients that may constrain or facilitate both the presence of avian species and/or specific combinations of functional traits. We addressed species richness and functional diversity to understand the relative importance of habitat structure and elevation in shaping avian diversity patterns in the south temperate Andes, Chile. During 2010–2018, we conducted 2202 point-counts in four mountain habitats (successional montane forest, old-growth montane forest, subalpine, and alpine) from 211 to 1,768 m in elevation and assembled trait data associated with resource use for each species to estimate species richness and functional diversity and turnover. We detected 74 species. Alpine specialists included 16 species (22%) occurring only above treeline with a mean elevational range of 298 m, while bird communities below treeline (78%) occupied a mean elevational range of 1,081 m. Treeline was an inflection line, above which species composition changed by 91% and there was a greater turnover in functional traits (2–3 times greater than communities below treeline). Alpine birds were almost exclusively migratory, inhabiting a restricted elevational range, and breeding in rock cavities. We conclude that elevation and habitat heterogeneity structure avian trait distributions and community composition, with a diverse ecotonal sub-alpine and a distinct alpine community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomás A Altamirano
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
| | - Devin R de Zwaan
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - José Tomás Ibarra
- ECOS (Ecosystem-Complexity-Society) Laboratory, Center for Local Development, Education and Interculturality, Villarrica Campus, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Villarrica, La Araucanía Region, Chile.,Millennium Nucleus Center for the Socioeconomic Impact of Environmental Policies (CESIEP) & Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Scott Wilson
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Environment and Climate Change Canada, Pacific Wildlife Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel by Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Kathy Martin
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Environment and Climate Change Canada, Pacific Wildlife Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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25
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Zhang Y, Tan W, Zeng Q, Tian H, Jia Y, Lei G, Wen L. Lake productivity and waterbird functional diversity across geographic and environmental gradients in temperate China. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:11237-11250. [PMID: 33144961 PMCID: PMC7593163 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Geographical gradients in species diversity have long fascinated biogeographers and ecologists. However, the extent and generality of the effects of the important factors governing functional diversity (FD) patterns are still debated, especially for the freshwater domain. We examined the relationship between lake productivity and functional diversity of waterbirds sampled from 35 lakes and reservoirs in northern China with a geographic coverage of over 5 million km2. We used structural equation modeling (SEM) to explore the causal relationships between geographic position, climate, lake productivity, and waterbird FD. We found unambiguous altitudinal and longitudinal gradients in lake productivity and waterbird FD, which were strongly mediated by local environmental factors. Specifically, we found (a) lake productivity increased northeast and decreased with altitude. The observed geographic and altitudinal gradients were driven by climatic conditions and nutrient availability, which collectively explained 93% of the variations in lake productivity; (b) waterbird FD showed similar geographic and altitudinal gradients; the environmental factors which had direct and/or indirect effects on these gradients included climate and lake area, which collectively explained more than 39% of the variation in waterbird FD; and 3) a significant (p = .029) causality between lake productivity and waterbird FD was confirmed. Nevertheless, the causality link was relatively weak in comparison with climate and lake area (the standardized path coefficient was 0.55, 0.23, and 0.03 for climate, lake area, and productivity, respectively). Our study demonstrates how the application of multivariate technique (e.g., SEM) enables the illustration of complex causal paths in ecosystems, enhancing mechanistic explanations that underlie the observed broadscale biodiversity gradients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yamian Zhang
- School of Ecology and Nature ConservationBeijing Forestry UniversityBeijingChina
- College of the Environment & EcologyXiamen UniversityXiamenChina
| | - Wenzhuo Tan
- School of Ecology and Nature ConservationBeijing Forestry UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Qing Zeng
- School of Ecology and Nature ConservationBeijing Forestry UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Haitao Tian
- School of Ecology and Nature ConservationBeijing Forestry UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Yifei Jia
- School of Ecology and Nature ConservationBeijing Forestry UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Guangchun Lei
- School of Ecology and Nature ConservationBeijing Forestry UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Li Wen
- Science, Economics and Insights DivisionDepartment of Planning, Industry and EnvironmentLidcombeNSWAustralia
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26
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Nicacio G, Cunha EJ, Hamada N, Juen L. How Habitat Filtering Can Affect Taxonomic and Functional Composition of Aquatic Insect Communities in Small Amazonian Streams. NEOTROPICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2020; 49:652-661. [PMID: 32440832 DOI: 10.1007/s13744-020-00780-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Responses in taxonomic and functional composition of communities were analysed in small Amazonian streams at the small and large scale (habitat patches, river segment scale, and catchment scale). We hypothesised that similar responses in community structure to local environmental factors were a correlation between taxonomic and functional composition. To evaluate the response of taxonomic composition to environmental variables, redundancy analysis (RDA) and RLQ analysis were performed to investigate the response of community abundance (L) as a function of the environment (R) and traits (Q). The fourth-corner analysis was applied to summarize specific interactions between environmental variables and traits. Then, community taxonomic composition was associated with models at multiple scales of habitat (i.e. riparian/channel, substrates, and water variables). Likewise, the fourth-corner tests and RLQ axes showed associations between trait composition and environmental variables related to variables, such as riparian cover and channel morphology followed by variation in substrate size and composition. Unexpectedly, these results did not show specific associations between unique environmental variables and traits. At last, results showed that local conditions of stream habitat regulated community structure and functional composition of aquatic insects. Thus, these findings indicate that the local environmental filtering appears to be strongly associated with selected species traits adapted to occur in a range of habitat conditions. Despite the low number of analysed streams, these results provide important information for understanding the simultaneous variation in functional trait composition and community composition of aquatic insect assemblages.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Nicacio
- Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Univ Federal do Pará, Rua Augusto Correia, Bairro Guamá, Belém, Pará, Brasil.
| | - E J Cunha
- Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Univ Federal do Pará, Rua Augusto Correia, Bairro Guamá, Belém, Pará, Brasil
| | - N Hamada
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Entomologia, Coordenação de Biodiversidade, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia - INPA, Manaus, AM, Brasil
| | - L Juen
- Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Univ Federal do Pará, Rua Augusto Correia, Bairro Guamá, Belém, Pará, Brasil
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Univ Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, Brasil
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27
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Ramírez‐Mejía AF, Urbina‐Cardona JN, Sánchez F. Functional diversity of phyllostomid bats in an urban–rural landscape: A scale‐dependent analysis. Biotropica 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrés F. Ramírez‐Mejía
- Facultad de Estudios Ambientales y Rurales Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Bogotá Colombia
- ECOTONOS (Research group) Universidad de los Llanos Villavicencio Colombia
| | | | - Francisco Sánchez
- ECOTONOS (Research group) Universidad de los Llanos Villavicencio Colombia
- Museo de Historia Natural‐Unillanos Programa de Biología Facultad de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería Universidad de los Llanos Villavicencio Colombia
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28
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29
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Morelli F, Benedetti Y, Callaghan CT. Ecological specialization and population trends in European breeding birds. Glob Ecol Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e00996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
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30
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Docherty TDS, Hethcoat MG, MacTavish LM, MacTavish D, Dell S, Stephens PA, Willis SG. Burning savanna for avian species richness and functional diversity. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2020; 30:e02091. [PMID: 32043665 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Revised: 11/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Prescribed fire is used throughout fire-prone landscapes to conserve biodiversity. Current best practice in managing savanna systems advocates methods based on the assumption that increased fire-mediated landscape heterogeneity (pyrodiversity) will promote biodiversity. However, considerable knowledge gaps remain in our understanding of how savanna wildlife responds to the composition and configuration of pyrodiverse landscapes. The effects of pyrodiversity on functional diversity have rarely been quantified and assessing this relationship at a landscape scale that is commensurate with fire management is important for understanding mechanisms underlying ecosystem resilience. Here, we assess the impact of spatiotemporal variation in a long-term fire regime on avian diversity in North West Province, South Africa. We examined the relationship between (1) species richness, (2) three indices of functional diversity (i.e., functional richness, functional evenness, and functional dispersion) and four measures of pyrodiversity, the spatial extents of fire age classes, and habitat type at the landscape scale. We then used null models to assess differences between observed and expected functional diversity. We found that the proportion of newly burned (<1-yr post-fire), old, unburned (≥10 yr post-fire), and woodland habitat on the landscape predicted species and functional richness. Species richness also increased with the degree of edge contrast between patches of varying fire age, while functional dispersion increased with the degree of patch shape complexity. Lower than expected levels of functional richness suggest that habitat filtering is occurring, resulting in functional redundancy across our study sites. We demonstrate that evaluating functional diversity and redundancy is an important component of conservation planning as they may contribute to previously reported fire resilience. Our findings suggest that it is the type and configuration, rather than the diversity, of fire patches on the landscape that promote avian diversity and conserve ecological functions. A management approach is needed that includes significant coverage of adjacent newly burned and older, unburned savanna habitat; the latter, in particular, is inadequately represented under current burning practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teegan D S Docherty
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew G Hethcoat
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Sheffield, Hounsfield Rd, Sheffield, S3 7RH, United Kingdom
| | - Lynne M MacTavish
- Mankwe Wildlife Reserve, P.O. Box 20784 Protea Park 0305, Mogwase, Northwest Province, South Africa
| | - Dougal MacTavish
- Mankwe Wildlife Reserve, P.O. Box 20784 Protea Park 0305, Mogwase, Northwest Province, South Africa
| | - Stephen Dell
- Pilanesberg National Park, North West Parks Board, Mogwase, South Africa
| | - Philip A Stephens
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen G Willis
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
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31
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Jacoboski LI, Hartz SM. Using functional diversity and taxonomic diversity to assess effects of afforestation of grassland on bird communities. Perspect Ecol Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pecon.2020.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
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32
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Ikin K, Barton PS, Blanchard W, Crane M, Stein J, Lindenmayer DB. Avian functional responses to landscape recovery. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 286:20190114. [PMID: 30991926 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.0114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Restoring native vegetation in agricultural landscapes can reverse biodiversity declines via species gains. Depending on whether the traits of colonizers are complementary or redundant to the assemblage, species gains can increase the efficiency or stability of ecological functions, yet detecting these processes is not straightforward. We propose a new conceptual model to identify potential changes to complementarity and redundancy in response to landscape change via relative changes in taxonomic and functional richness. We applied our model to a 14-year study of birds across an extensive agricultural region. We found compelling evidence that high levels of landscape-scale tree cover and patch-scale restoration were significant determinants of functional change in the overall bird assemblage. This was true for every one of the six traits investigated individually, indicating increased trait-specific functional complementarity and redundancy in the assemblage. Applying our conceptual model to species diversity data provided new insights into how the return of vertebrates to restored landscapes may affect ecological function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Ikin
- 1 Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University , Frank Fenner Building 141, Linnaeus Way, Acton ACT 2601 , Australia.,2 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, The Australian National University , Frank Fenner Building 141, Linnaeus Way, Acton ACT 2601 , Australia
| | - Philip S Barton
- 1 Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University , Frank Fenner Building 141, Linnaeus Way, Acton ACT 2601 , Australia
| | - Wade Blanchard
- 1 Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University , Frank Fenner Building 141, Linnaeus Way, Acton ACT 2601 , Australia
| | - Mason Crane
- 1 Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University , Frank Fenner Building 141, Linnaeus Way, Acton ACT 2601 , Australia.,3 Sustainable Farms, The Australian National University , Frank Fenner Building 141, Linnaeus Way, Acton ACT 2601 , Australia
| | - John Stein
- 1 Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University , Frank Fenner Building 141, Linnaeus Way, Acton ACT 2601 , Australia
| | - David B Lindenmayer
- 1 Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University , Frank Fenner Building 141, Linnaeus Way, Acton ACT 2601 , Australia.,2 ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, The Australian National University , Frank Fenner Building 141, Linnaeus Way, Acton ACT 2601 , Australia.,3 Sustainable Farms, The Australian National University , Frank Fenner Building 141, Linnaeus Way, Acton ACT 2601 , Australia.,4 National Environmental Science Program Threatened Species Hub, The Australian National University , Frank Fenner Building 141, Linnaeus Way, Acton ACT 2601 , Australia
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33
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Lee M, Gates BJ, Cooper RJ, Carroll JP. Avian taxonomic and functional diversity in early stage of longleaf pine (
Pinus palustris
) stands restored at agricultural lands: variations in scale dependency. Restor Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Myung‐Bok Lee
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, No.105 Xingang West Road Guangzhou 510260 China
| | - Brian J. Gates
- Daniel B. Warnell School of Forest and Natural ResourcesUniversity of Georgia Athens GA 30602 USA
| | - Robert J. Cooper
- Daniel B. Warnell School of Forest and Natural ResourcesUniversity of Georgia Athens GA 30602 USA
| | - John P. Carroll
- School of Natural ResourcesUniversity of Nebraska‐Lincoln Lincoln NE 68583 USA
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34
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Doohan B, Kemp J, Fuller S. Diversity favours the old: Metrics of avian diversity increase in aging regrowth Acacia woodlands of semi-arid eastern Australia. Glob Ecol Conserv 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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35
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Barros FM, Martello F, Peres CA, Pizo MA, Ribeiro MC. Matrix type and landscape attributes modulate avian taxonomic and functional spillover across habitat boundaries in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. OIKOS 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.05910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Fabio M. Barros
- Dept of Ecology, São Paulo State Univ. (UNESP) Rio Claro Brazil
| | - Felipe Martello
- Dept of Environmental Sciences, São Carlos Federal Univ. (UFSCAR) São Carlos Brazil
| | - Carlos A. Peres
- School of Environmental Sciences, Univ. of East Anglia (UEA) Norwich UK
| | - Marco A. Pizo
- Dept of Zoology, São Paulo State Univ. (UNESP) Rio Claro Brazil
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36
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Morelli F, Benedetti Y, Møller AP, Fuller RA. Measuring avian specialization. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:8378-8386. [PMID: 31380096 PMCID: PMC6662403 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Revised: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Measuring the extent to which a species is specialized is a major challenge in ecology, with important repercussions for fundamental research as well as for applied ecology and conservation. Here, we develop a multidimensional index of specialization based on five sets of ecological characteristics of breeding bird species. We used two recent databases of species traits of European birds based on foraging ecology, habitat, and breeding characteristics. The indices of specialization were calculated by applying the Gini coefficient, an index of inequality. The Gini coefficient is a measure of statistical dispersion on a scale between 0 and 1, reflecting a gradient from low to high specialization, respectively. Finally, we tested the strength of the phylogenetic signal of each specialization index to understand how the variance of such indices is shared throughout the phylogeny. The methods for constructing and evaluating a multidimensional index of bird specialization could also be applied to other taxa and regions, offering a simple but useful tool, particularly suited for global or biogeographic studies, as a contribution to comparative estimates of the degree of specialization of species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Morelli
- Department of Applied Geoinformatics and Spatial Planning, Faculty of Environmental SciencesCzech University of Life Sciences PraguePragueCzech Republic
- Faculty of Biological SciencesUniversity of Zielona GóraZielona GóraPoland
| | - Yanina Benedetti
- Department of Applied Geoinformatics and Spatial Planning, Faculty of Environmental SciencesCzech University of Life Sciences PraguePragueCzech Republic
| | - Anders Pape Møller
- Ecologie Systématique EvolutionUniversité Paris‐Sud, CNRS, AgroParisTechUniversité SaclayOrsay CedexFrance
| | - Richard A. Fuller
- School of Biological SciencesThe University of QueenslandSt LuciaQueenslandAustralia
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Cooke RSC, Eigenbrod F, Bates AE. Projected losses of global mammal and bird ecological strategies. Nat Commun 2019; 10:2279. [PMID: 31123264 PMCID: PMC6533255 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10284-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Species, and their ecological strategies, are disappearing. Here we use species traits to quantify the current and projected future ecological strategy diversity for 15,484 land mammals and birds. We reveal an ecological strategy surface, structured by life-history (fast-slow) and body mass (small-large) as one major axis, and diet (invertivore-herbivore) and habitat breadth (generalist-specialist) as the other. We also find that of all possible trait combinations, only 9% are currently realized. Based on species' extinction probabilities, we predict this limited set of viable strategies will shrink further over the next 100 years, shifting the mammal and bird species pool towards small, fast-lived, highly fecund, insect-eating, generalists. In fact, our results show that this projected decline in ecological strategy diversity is much greater than if species were simply lost at random. Thus, halting the disproportionate loss of ecological strategies associated with highly threatened animals represents a key challenge for conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert S C Cooke
- Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK.
- Geography and Environment, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK.
- Marwell Wildlife, Thompson's Lane, Colden Common, Winchester, SO21 1JH, UK.
| | - Felix Eigenbrod
- Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
- Geography and Environment, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Amanda E Bates
- Department of Ocean Sciences, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, A1C 5S7, Canada
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
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Cannon PG, Gilroy JJ, Tobias JA, Anderson A, Haugaasen T, Edwards DP. Land-sparing agriculture sustains higher levels of avian functional diversity than land sharing. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2019; 25:1576-1590. [PMID: 30793430 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2018] [Revised: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The ecological impacts of meeting rising demands for food production can potentially be mitigated by two competing land-use strategies: off-setting natural habitats through intensification of existing farmland (land sparing), or elevating biodiversity within the agricultural matrix via the integration of "wildlife-friendly" habitat features (land sharing). However, a key unanswered question is whether sparing or sharing farming would best conserve functional diversity, which can promote ecosystem stability and resilience to future land-use change. Focusing on bird communities in tropical cloud forests of the Colombian Andes, we test the performance of each strategy in conserving functional diversity. We show that multiple components of avian functional diversity in farmland are positively related to the proximity and extent of natural forest. Using landscape and community simulations, we also show that land-sparing agriculture conserves greater functional diversity and predicts higher abundance of species supplying key ecological functions than land sharing, with sharing becoming progressively inferior with increasing isolation from remnant forest. These results suggest low-intensity agriculture is likely to conserve little functional diversity unless large blocks of adjacent natural habitat are protected, consistent with land sparing. To ensure the retention of functionally diverse ecosystems, we urgently need to implement mechanisms for increasing farmland productivity whilst protecting spared land.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick G Cannon
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - James J Gilroy
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, UK
| | - Joseph A Tobias
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Ascot, UK
| | - Alex Anderson
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management (MINA), Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Ås, Norway
| | - Torbjørn Haugaasen
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management (MINA), Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Ås, Norway
| | - David P Edwards
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
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39
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Li C, Zhang Y, Zha D, Yang S, Huang ZYX, Boer WF. Assembly processes of waterbird communities across subsidence wetlands in China: A functional and phylogenetic approach. DIVERS DISTRIB 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Chunlin Li
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering Anhui University Hefei China
- Institute of Physical Science and Information Technology Anhui University Hefei China
| | - Yong Zhang
- College of Biology and the Environment Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing China
| | - Daode Zha
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering Anhui University Hefei China
| | - Sen Yang
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering Anhui University Hefei China
| | | | - Willem F. Boer
- Resource Ecology Group Wageningen University Wageningen The Netherlands
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40
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de Arruda Almeida B, Sebastián‐González E, dos Anjos L, Green AJ, Botella F. A functional perspective for breeding and wintering waterbird communities: temporal trends in species and trait diversity. OIKOS 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.05903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bia de Arruda Almeida
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação e Ecologia de Ambientes Aquáticos Continentais, Univ. Estadual de Maringá, Av. Colombo 5790 Bloco G‐90, 87020900 Maringá Paraná Brazil
| | | | - Luiz dos Anjos
- Depto de Biologia Animal e Vegetal, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Univ. Estadual de Londrina, Londrina Paraná Brazil
| | - Andy J. Green
- Dept of Wetland Ecology, Doñana Biological Station EBD‐CSIC Sevilla Spain
| | - Francisco Botella
- Depto de Biología Aplicada, Univ. Miguel Hernández, Elche Alicante Spain
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41
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Palacio FX, Ibañez LM, Maragliano RE, Montalti D. Urbanization as a driver of taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity losses in bird communities. CAN J ZOOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2018-0008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Urbanization is one of the most important threats to biodiversity worldwide, as it drives declines in species diversity, functional diversity, and phylogenetic diversity and increases functional redundancy among species. We estimated taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversities, as well as the abundance of several functional groups, in bird communities from a town in east-central Argentina in 1985–1986 and 30 years after (2015–2016). In 1985–1986, we found that taxonomic diversity (abundance, species richness, and alpha diversity), functional richness, and basal phylogenetic diversity were negatively related to building cover, whereas terminal phylogenetic diversity showed a positive relationship with building cover. Moreover, the abundance of specialized functional groups (ground, aerial, and foliage insectivores; nectarivores/insectivores; ground/canopy and ground granivores) decreased with increased building cover, whereas the reverse pattern for the abundance of generalists (medium-sized/large and small omnivores) was found. In 2015–2016, by contrast, taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversities were not related to building cover. Our results not only support the hypothesis that urbanization affects the potential number of ecosystem functions, but also that this relationship may change through time. Given the accelerated rate of urbanization worldwide, an integrative approach between different facets of biodiversity is promoted to gain insight into the response of bird communities in urban environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Facundo X. Palacio
- Sección Ornitología, División Zoología Vertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, CONICET, Paseo del Bosque s/n, B1900FWA, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucía M. Ibañez
- Sección Ornitología, División Zoología Vertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, CONICET, Paseo del Bosque s/n, B1900FWA, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - René E. Maragliano
- Instituto de Formación Docente y Técnica N° 35, Amat 279, B1842, Monte Grande, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Diego Montalti
- Sección Ornitología, División Zoología Vertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, CONICET, Paseo del Bosque s/n, B1900FWA, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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42
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Morelli F, Benedetti Y, Mousseau TA, Møller AP. Ionizing radiation and taxonomic, functional and evolutionary diversity of bird communities. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2018; 220:183-190. [PMID: 29778954 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.05.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2018] [Revised: 04/16/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Ionizing radiation from nuclear accidents at Chernobyl, Fukushima and elsewhere has reduced the abundance, species richness and diversity of ecosystems. Here we analyzed the taxonomic, functional and evolutionary diversity of bird communities in forested areas around Chernobyl. Species richness decreased with increasing radiation, mainly in 2007. Functional richness, but not functional evenness and divergence, decreased with increasing level of ionizing radiation. Evolutionary distinctiveness of bird communities was higher in areas with higher levels of ionizing radiation. Regression tree models revealed that species richness was higher in bird communities in areas with radiation levels lower than 0.7 μSv/h. In contrast, when radiation levels were higher than 16.67 μSv/h, bird species richness reached a minimum. Functional richness was affected by two variables: Forest cover and radiation level. Higher functional richness was found in bird communities in areas with forest cover lower than 50%. In the areas with forest cover higher than 50%, the functional richness was lower when radiation level was higher than 0.91 μSv/h. Finally, the average evolutionary distinctiveness of bird communities was higher in areas with forest cover exceeding 50%. These findings imply that level of ionizing radiation interacted with forest cover to affect species richness and its component parts, i.e. taxonomic, functional, and evolutionary diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Morelli
- Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Department of Applied Geoinformatics and Spatial Planning, Kamýcká 129, 165 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic.
| | - Yanina Benedetti
- Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Department of Applied Geoinformatics and Spatial Planning, Kamýcká 129, 165 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Timothy A Mousseau
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Anders Pape Møller
- Ecologie Systématique Evolution, Université Paris-Sud, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91405 Orsay Cedex, France
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43
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White HJ, Montgomery WI, Storchová L, Hořák D, Lennon JJ. Does functional homogenization accompany taxonomic homogenization of British birds and how do biotic factors and climate affect these processes? Ecol Evol 2018; 8:7365-7377. [PMID: 30151156 PMCID: PMC6106174 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Revised: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental change has reshuffled communities often causing taxonomic homogenization rather than differentiation. Some studies suggest that this increasing similarity of species composition between communities is accompanied by an increase in similarity of trait composition-functional homogenization-although different methodologies have failed to come to any consistent conclusions. Functional homogenization could have a large effect on ecosystem functioning and stability. Here, we use the general definition of homogenization as "reduced spatial turnover over time" to compare changes in Simpson's beta diversity (taxonomic turnover) with changes in Rao's quadratic entropy beta diversity (functional turnover) in British breeding birds at three spatial scales. Using biotic and climatic variables, we identify which factors may predispose a site to homogenization. The change in turnover measures between two time periods, 20 years apart, was calculated. A null model approach was taken to identify occurrences of functional homogenization and differentiation independent of changes in taxonomic turnover. We used conditional autoregressive models fitted using integrated nested Laplace approximations to determine how environmental drivers and factors relating to species distributions affect changes in spatial turnover of species and functional diversity. The measurement of functional homogenization affects the chance of rejection of the null models, with many sites showing taxonomic homogenization unaccompanied by functional homogenization, although occurrence varies with spatial scale. At the smallest scale, while temperature-related variables drive changes in taxonomic turnover, changes in functional turnover are associated with variation in growing degree days; however, changes in functional turnover become more difficult to predict at larger spatial scales. Our results highlight the multifactorial processes underlying taxonomic and functional homogenization and that redundancy in species traits may allow ecosystem functioning to be maintained in some areas despite changes in species composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah J. White
- School of Biological SciencesQueen's University BelfastBelfastUK
- School of Biology and Environmental ScienceEarth InstituteUniversity College DublinDublinIreland
| | - W. Ian Montgomery
- School of Biological SciencesQueen's University BelfastBelfastUK
- Institute of Global Food Security (IGFS)Queen's University BelfastBelfastUK
| | | | - David Hořák
- Department of EcologyCharles UniversityPragueCzech Republic
| | - Jack J. Lennon
- School of Biological SciencesQueen's University BelfastBelfastUK
- Institute of Global Food Security (IGFS)Queen's University BelfastBelfastUK
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44
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Comparing species richness, functional diversity and functional composition of waterbird communities along environmental gradients in the neotropics. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0200959. [PMID: 30028866 PMCID: PMC6054399 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 07/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Waterbirds have a major functional role in wetlands, and understanding how functional traits of waterbirds depend on environmental characteristics can facilitate management of ecosystems and their services. We investigate how the waterbird community in a Neotropical river-floodplain system responds to environmental gradients, identifying how they affect waterbird species richness, functional diversity (measured as functional dispersion) and functional composition (specific functional traits). We sampled 22 lakes in the Upper Paraná floodplain system in southern Brazil, and modelled avian functional diversity and species richness as a function of environmental variables. Then we used a unified RLQ and fourth-corner analysis to evaluate environment-trait relationships. Waterbird species richness and functional diversity varied according to different environmental variables. Lake area and diversity of aquatic vegetation were associated with avian species richness, while relative abundance of grass and emergent macrophytes and mean and variation of depth were related to functional diversity. Furthermore, changes in functional diversity seemed to be mainly driven by presence of species that depend on perches for foraging (e.g. kingfishers, cormorants, and kites), whose presence was mainly associated with deep water and emergent macrophytes. Nevertheless, changes in functional diversity and functional composition did not depend on exactly the same set of environmental variables, suggesting that trait combinations (e.g. below surface feeders who feed on fish), not only specific traits, are important drivers of the variation in functional diversity between lakes. Given the observed differences in responses of species richness and functional diversity, both these diversity metrics should be used as complementary tools in ecosystem management. Furthermore, our results show that functional diversity and composition are partially coupled, suggesting that although functional diversity is influenced by the environmental filtering of particular traits, it also reflects other ecological mechanisms (e.g. competitive interactions among species).
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45
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Jarzyna MA, Jetz W. Taxonomic and functional diversity change is scale dependent. Nat Commun 2018; 9:2565. [PMID: 29967400 PMCID: PMC6028399 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04889-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Estimates of recent biodiversity change remain inconsistent, debated, and infrequently assessed for their functional implications. Here, we report that spatial scale and type of biodiversity measurement influence evidence of temporal biodiversity change. We show a pervasive scale dependence of temporal trends in taxonomic (TD) and functional (FD) diversity for an ~50-year record of avian assemblages from North American Breeding Bird Survey and a record of global extinctions. Average TD and FD increased at all but the global scale. Change in TD exceeded change in FD toward large scales, signaling functional resilience. Assemblage temporal dissimilarity and turnover (replacement of species or functions) declined, while nestedness (tendency of assemblages to be subsets of one another) increased with scale. Patterns of FD change varied strongly among diet and foraging guilds. We suggest that monitoring, policy, and conservation require a scale-explicit framework to account for the pervasive effect that scale has on perceived biodiversity change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta A Jarzyna
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
| | - Walter Jetz
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.,Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, Berks, SL5 7PY, UK
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46
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Lee M, Carroll JP. Effects of patch size and basal area on avian taxonomic and functional diversity in pine forests: Implication for the influence of habitat quality on the species-area relationship. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:6909-6920. [PMID: 30073055 PMCID: PMC6065337 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2017] [Revised: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Relationships between avian diversity and habitat area are assumed to be positive; however, often little attention has given to how these relationships can be influenced by the habitat structure or quality. In addition, other components of biodiversity, such as functional diversity, are often overlooked in assessing habitat patch value. In the Sandhills Ecoregion of Georgia, USA, we investigated the relationship between avian species richness and functional diversity, forest basal area, and patch size in pine forests using basal area as a surrogate for overstory structure which in turn impacts vegetation structure and determines habitat quality within a patch. We conducted bird surveys in planted mature pine stands, during breeding season of 2011. We used three classes of stand basal area (BA): OS, overstocked (BA ≥ 23 m2/ha); FS, fully/densely stocked (13.8 m2/ha ≤ BA < 23 m2/ha); and MS, moderately stocked (2.3 m2/ha ≤ BA < 13.8 m2/ha). MS patches showed more structural diversity due to higher herbaceous vegetation cover than other two pine stocking classes of patches. Total species richness and functional richness increased with the size of MS patches, whereas functional divergence decreased with the size of OS patches (p < 0.05). Functional richness tended to be lower than expected as the size of OS patches increased. Greater richness of pine-grassland species was also found at MS patches. Percent cover of MS patches within a landscape influenced positively the richness of pine-grassland species (p < 0.05). Our results suggest that (a) avian species-habitat area relationship can be affected by habitat quality (structural diversity) and varies depending on diversity indices considered, and (b) it is important to maintain moderate or low levels of pine basal area and to preserve large-sized patches of the level of basal area to enhance both taxonomic and functional diversity in managed pine forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myung‐Bok Lee
- Daniel B. Warnell School of Forest and Natural ResourcesUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgia
| | - John P. Carroll
- School of Natural ResourcesUniversity of Nebraska‐LincolnLincolnNebraska
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47
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Belskii EA, Mikryukov VS. Bird diversity and dissimilarity show contrasting patterns along heavy metal pollution gradients in the Urals, Russia. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 25:19530-19545. [PMID: 29732508 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-2153-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Accepted: 04/26/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The effects of industrial pollution on bird diversity have been widely studied using traditional diversity measures, which assume all species to be equivalent. We compared species richness and Shannon index with distance-based measures of taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity (the abundance-weighted mean nearest taxon distances), which describe within-community dissimilarity at terminal branches. Analysis of dissimilarity can shed light on the processes underlying community assembly, i.e., environmental filtering decreases dissimilarity whereas competitive exclusion increases it. In the 2-year study near Karabash and Revda copper smelters in Russia, point counts of nesting birds and habitat descriptions were taken at 10 sites (40 plots) along each pollution gradient. The abundance and diversity of birds showed good repeatability in both regions. The total density of birds, number of species per plot, and Shannon diversity decreased at high toxic load in both regions. The taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic nearest taxon distances showed the same pattern within regions. Species dissimilarity within communities increased with pollution in Karabash (due to loss of functionally similar species), but did not change in Revda (due to mass replacement of forest species by species of open habitats). Pollution-induced changes in bird communities near Karabash were greater due to the stronger deterioration of the forest ecosystems and less favorable natural conditions (more arid climate, lower diversity and vitality of the tree stand and understorey) compared to Revda. This study emphasizes the need for a multi-level approach to the analysis of bird communities using traditional indices of diversity, functional, taxonomic, or phylogenetic distances between species and environmental variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugen A Belskii
- Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 8th Marta Str. 202, Yekaterinburg, Russia, 620144.
| | - Vladimir S Mikryukov
- Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 8th Marta Str. 202, Yekaterinburg, Russia, 620144
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48
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Carturan BS, Parrott L, Pither J. A modified trait‐based framework for assessing the resilience of ecosystem services provided by coral reef communities. Ecosphere 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Bruno S. Carturan
- Department of Biology University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, 1177 Research Road Kelowna British Columbia V1V 1V7 Canada
- Institute for Biodiversity, Resilience, and Ecosystem Services University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, 1177 Research Road Kelowna British Columbia V1V 1V7 Canada
| | - Lael Parrott
- Department of Biology University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, 1177 Research Road Kelowna British Columbia V1V 1V7 Canada
- Institute for Biodiversity, Resilience, and Ecosystem Services University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, 1177 Research Road Kelowna British Columbia V1V 1V7 Canada
- Department of Earth, Environmental and Geographic Sciences University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, 1177 Research Road Kelowna British Columbia V1V 1V7 Canada
| | - Jason Pither
- Department of Biology University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, 1177 Research Road Kelowna British Columbia V1V 1V7 Canada
- Institute for Biodiversity, Resilience, and Ecosystem Services University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, 1177 Research Road Kelowna British Columbia V1V 1V7 Canada
- Department of Earth, Environmental and Geographic Sciences University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, 1177 Research Road Kelowna British Columbia V1V 1V7 Canada
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49
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Middleton‐Welling J, Wade RA, Dennis RLH, Dapporto L, Shreeve TG. Optimising trait and source selection for explaining occurrence and abundance changes: A case study using British butterflies. Funct Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joe Middleton‐Welling
- Centre for Ecology, Environment and ConservationFaculty of Health and Life SciencesOxford Brookes University Headington, Oxford UK
| | - Rachel A. Wade
- Centre for Ecology, Environment and ConservationFaculty of Health and Life SciencesOxford Brookes University Headington, Oxford UK
| | - Roger L. H. Dennis
- Centre for Ecology, Environment and ConservationFaculty of Health and Life SciencesOxford Brookes University Headington, Oxford UK
- School of Life Sciences and EducationScience CentreStaffordshire University Stoke‐on‐Trent UK
| | | | - Tim G. Shreeve
- Centre for Ecology, Environment and ConservationFaculty of Health and Life SciencesOxford Brookes University Headington, Oxford UK
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50
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He X, Luo K, Brown C, Lin L. A taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic perspective on the community assembly of passerine birds along an elevational gradient in southwest China. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:2712-2720. [PMID: 29531688 PMCID: PMC5838049 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Revised: 12/28/2017] [Accepted: 01/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Integrating multiple facets of biodiversity to describe spatial and temporal distribution patterns is one way of revealing the mechanisms driving community assembly. We assessed the species, functional, and phylogenetic composition and structure of passerine bird communities along an elevational gradient both in wintering and breeding seasons in the Ailao Mountains, southwest China, in order to identify the dominant ecological processes structuring the communities and how these processes change with elevation and season. Our research confirms that the highest taxonomic diversity, and distinct community composition, was found in the moist evergreen broadleaf forest at high elevation in both seasons. Environmental filtering was the dominant force at high elevations with relatively cold and wet climatic conditions, while the observed value of mean pairwise functional and phylogenetic distances of low elevation was constantly higher than expectation in two seasons, suggested interspecific competition could play the key role at low elevations, perhaps because of relative rich resource result from complex vegetation structure and human-induced disturbance. Across all elevations, there was a trend of decreasing intensity of environmental filtering whereas increasing interspecific competition from wintering season to breeding season. This was likely due to the increased resource availability but reproduction-associated competition in the summer months. In general, there is a clear justification for conservation efforts to protect entire elevational gradients in the Ailao Mountains, given the distinct taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic compositions and also elevational migration pattern in passerine bird communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuelian He
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden Chinese Academy of Sciences Kunming China
| | - Kang Luo
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden Chinese Academy of Sciences Kunming China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Calum Brown
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research Atmospheric Environmental Research (IMK-IFU) Garmisch-Partenkirchen Germany
| | - Luxiang Lin
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden Chinese Academy of Sciences Kunming China
- Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute Chinese Academy of Sciences Yunnan China
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