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Rolls RJ, Deane DC, Johnson SE, Heino J, Anderson MJ, Ellingsen KE. Biotic homogenisation and differentiation as directional change in beta diversity: synthesising driver-response relationships to develop conceptual models across ecosystems. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:1388-1423. [PMID: 37072381 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
Biotic homogenisation is defined as decreasing dissimilarity among ecological assemblages sampled within a given spatial area over time. Biotic differentiation, in turn, is defined as increasing dissimilarity over time. Overall, changes in the spatial dissimilarities among assemblages (termed 'beta diversity') is an increasingly recognised feature of broader biodiversity change in the Anthropocene. Empirical evidence of biotic homogenisation and biotic differentiation remains scattered across different ecosystems. Most meta-analyses quantify the prevalence and direction of change in beta diversity, rather than attempting to identify underlying ecological drivers of such changes. By conceptualising the mechanisms that contribute to decreasing or increasing dissimilarity in the composition of ecological assemblages across space, environmental managers and conservation practitioners can make informed decisions about what interventions may be required to sustain biodiversity and can predict potential biodiversity outcomes of future disturbances. We systematically reviewed and synthesised published empirical evidence for ecological drivers of biotic homogenisation and differentiation across terrestrial, marine, and freshwater realms to derive conceptual models that explain changes in spatial beta diversity. We pursued five key themes in our review: (i) temporal environmental change; (ii) disturbance regime; (iii) connectivity alteration and species redistribution; (iv) habitat change; and (v) biotic and trophic interactions. Our first conceptual model highlights how biotic homogenisation and differentiation can occur as a function of changes in local (alpha) diversity or regional (gamma) diversity, independently of species invasions and losses due to changes in species occurrence among assemblages. Second, the direction and magnitude of change in beta diversity depends on the interaction between spatial variation (patchiness) and temporal variation (synchronicity) of disturbance events. Third, in the context of connectivity and species redistribution, divergent beta diversity outcomes occur as different species have different dispersal characteristics, and the magnitude of beta diversity change associated with species invasions also depends strongly on alpha and gamma diversity prior to species invasion. Fourth, beta diversity is positively linked with spatial environmental variability, such that biotic homogenisation and differentiation occur when environmental heterogeneity decreases or increases, respectively. Fifth, species interactions can influence beta diversity via habitat modification, disease, consumption (trophic dynamics), competition, and by altering ecosystem productivity. Our synthesis highlights the multitude of mechanisms that cause assemblages to be more or less spatially similar in composition (taxonomically, functionally, phylogenetically) through time. We consider that future studies should aim to enhance our collective understanding of ecological systems by clarifying the underlying mechanisms driving homogenisation or differentiation, rather than focusing only on reporting the prevalence and direction of change in beta diversity, per se.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Rolls
- School of Environmental and Rural Sciences, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, 2351, Australia
| | - David C Deane
- School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3086, Australia
| | - Sarah E Johnson
- Natural Resources Department, Northland College, Ashland, WI, 54891, USA
| | - Jani Heino
- Geography Research Unit, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 8000, Oulu, FI-90014, Finland
| | - Marti J Anderson
- New Zealand Institute for Advanced Study (NZIAS), Massey University, Albany Campus, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Kari E Ellingsen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Fram Centre, P.O. Box 6606 Langnes, Tromsø, 9296, Norway
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Daru BH, Davies TJ, Willis CG, Meineke EK, Ronk A, Zobel M, Pärtel M, Antonelli A, Davis CC. Widespread homogenization of plant communities in the Anthropocene. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6983. [PMID: 34873159 PMCID: PMC8648934 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27186-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Native biodiversity decline and non-native species spread are major features of the Anthropocene. Both processes can drive biotic homogenization by reducing trait and phylogenetic differences in species assemblages between regions, thus diminishing the regional distinctiveness of biotas and likely have negative impacts on key ecosystem functions. However, a global assessment of this phenomenon is lacking. Here, using a dataset of >200,000 plant species, we demonstrate widespread and temporal decreases in species and phylogenetic turnover across grain sizes and spatial extents. The extent of homogenization within major biomes is pronounced and is overwhelmingly explained by non-native species naturalizations. Asia and North America are major sources of non-native species; however, the species they export tend to be phylogenetically close to recipient floras. Australia, the Pacific and Europe, in contrast, contribute fewer species to the global pool of non-natives, but represent a disproportionate amount of phylogenetic diversity. The timeline of most naturalisations coincides with widespread human migration within the last ~500 years, and demonstrates the profound influence humans exert on regional biotas beyond changes in species richness. Human-driven movements and extinctions of species have made plant communities across biomes more homogenous. Here the authors quantify plant vascular species and phylogenetic homogenization across the globe, finding that non-native species naturalisations have been a major driver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barnabas H Daru
- Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX, 78412, USA. .,Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
| | - T Jonathan Davies
- Departments of Botany, and Forest & Conservation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
| | - Charles G Willis
- Department of Biology Teaching and Learning, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Emily K Meineke
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Argo Ronk
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Martin Zobel
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Lai 40, EE-51005, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Meelis Pärtel
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Lai 40, EE-51005, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Alexandre Antonelli
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.,University of Gothenburg and Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Carl Skottsbergs gata 22B, SE 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RB, UK.,Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AE, UK
| | - Charles C Davis
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
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Wang L, Gao Y, Han BP, Fan H, Yang H. The impacts of agriculture on macroinvertebrate communities: From structural changes to functional changes in Asia's cold region streams. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 676:155-164. [PMID: 31035084 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Revised: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The species composition of macroinvertebrate communities is sensitive to environmental changes. However, the influence of human activity over seasons on the functional characteristics of macroinvertebrate communities is poorly understood. To elucidate the effects of agriculture-induced environmental changes on stream ecosystems in cold regions, we conducted a comparative study of an agricultural stream and a forest stream in the Changbai Mountains in northeast China in the summer, autumn, and winter of 2016. Our results showed that agriculture had significant effects on the species and functional composition. Although some sensitive species with "Swimmer" and "Shredder" traits disappeared, there was a significant increase in species with resilience and resistance traits such as "Bi- or multivoltine" in the agricultural stream. This result was attributed to the effects of agricultural practices on habitat stability, heterogeneity of habitats, water quality, and material cycling of the stream ecosystems. Furthermore, functional richness and functional divergence decreased in the agricultural stream, reflecting the strong effects of agricultural disturbance on the resource-use efficiency and functional diversification of communities. In particular, community stability also showed significant decrease in the agricultural stream in the summer, implying a stronger disturbance during this season. Generally, the functional traits and biodiversity of both streams had significant seasonal dynamics. The decrease in biodiversity in the winter indicated that low temperature and freezing are additional critical factors affecting the stability of stream ecosystems in cold regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Yingzhi Gao
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China.
| | - Bo-Ping Han
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Haijuan Fan
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Haijun Yang
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China; School of Biology and Geography Science, Yili Normal University, Yining 835000, China.
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Zettlemoyer MA, McKenna DD, Lau JA. Species characteristics affect local extinctions. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2019; 106:547-559. [PMID: 30958894 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.1266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE OF THE STUDY Human activities threaten thousands of species with extinction. However, it remains difficult to predict extinction risk for many vulnerable species. Species traits, species characteristics such as rarity or habitat use, and phylogenetic patterns are associated with responses to anthropogenic environmental change and may help predict likelihood of extinction. METHODS We used historical botanical data from Kalamazoo County, Michigan, USA, to examine whether species traits (growth form, life history, nitrogen-fixation, photosynthetic pathway), species characteristics (community association, species origin, range edge, habitat specialization, rarity), or phylogenetic relatedness explain local species loss at the county level. KEY RESULTS Across Kalamazoo County, prairie species, species at the edge of their native range, regionally rare species, and habitat specialists were most likely to become locally extinct. Prairie species experienced the highest local extinction rates of any habitat type, and among prairie species, regionally rare and specialist species were most vulnerable to loss. We found no evidence for a phylogenetic pattern in plant extinctions. CONCLUSIONS Our study illustrates the value of historical datasets for understanding and potentially predicting biodiversity loss. Not surprisingly, rare, specialist species occupying threatened habitats are most at risk of local extinction. As a result, identifying mechanisms to conserve or restore rare or declining species and preventing further habitat destruction may be the most effective strategies for reducing future extinction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith A Zettlemoyer
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824-6406, USA
- Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University, Hickory Corners, Michigan, 49060-9505, USA
| | - Duane D McKenna
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee, 38152-3560, USA
| | - Jennifer A Lau
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824-6406, USA
- Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University, Hickory Corners, Michigan, 49060-9505, USA
- Department of Biology, Indiana University-Bloomington, Bloomington, Indiana, 47405-7005, USA
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