High nature value farmland increases taxonomic diversity, functional richness and evolutionary uniqueness of bird communities

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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Seasonal Analysis of Taxonomic and Functional Diversity of Poneromorph Ant Assemblages in the Amazon Forest

Sociobiology ◽

10.13102/sociobiology.v63i3.1053 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 63 (3) ◽

pp. 941 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Luana Priscila de Carvalho Pereira ◽

Fábio Souto Almeida ◽

André Barbosa Vargas ◽

Marcel Santos de Araújo ◽

Antônio José Mayhé-Nunes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Groups ◽

Functional Diversity ◽

Taxonomic Diversity ◽

Native Forest ◽

Amazon Forest ◽

Functional Richness ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Seasonal Analysis ◽

Ant Diversity ◽

Dry And Rainy Seasons

The present study aimed at assessing the effects of climate seasonality on poneromorph ants in the Brazilian Amazon, by studying variations in composition, richness, and taxonomic and functional diversity. The study was carried out in the Tapirapé-Aquiri National Forest, southeastern Pará State. We collected poneromorph ants in three areas of native forest with pitfall traps and sardine baits on the ground and vegetation, in two dry and rainy seasons. We collected 46 species of poneromorph ants, which belong to two subfamilies and eleven genera. The species composition, richness and taxonomic diversity did not vary significantly between seasons. There was no significant difference in the frequency of species of functional groups between dry and rainy seasons. There was no significant difference in the average richness and average diversity of functional groups between the dry and rainy seasons. In our study we found no seasonal differences in composition, taxonomic and functional richness and diversity of poneromorph ants in the Amazon, which is useful for future studies that aim at using those ants as bioindicators. In addition, the identification of the species made in the present study has special relevance as it contributes to advance the knowledge of poneromorph ant diversity in the Amazon.

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The cryptic impacts of invasion: Functional homogenization of tropical ant communities by invasive fire ants

10.1101/611749 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Mark K. L. Wong ◽

Benoit Guénard ◽

Owen T. Lewis

Keyword(s):

Functional Diversity ◽

Taxonomic Diversity ◽

Individual Species ◽

Ecological Communities ◽

Ant Communities ◽

Invasive Insects ◽

Tropical Grasslands ◽

Functional Richness ◽

Functional Identities ◽

Functional Homogenization

AbstractInvasive insects represent major threats to ecosystems worldwide. Yet their effects on the functional dimension of biodiversity, measured as the diversity and distribution of traits, are overlooked. Such measures often determine the resilience of ecological communities and the ecosystem processes they modulate. The fire ant Solenopsis invicta is a highly problematic invasive species occurring on five continents. Its impacts on the taxonomic diversity of native ant communities have been studied but its impacts on their functional diversity are unknown. Comparing invaded and uninvaded plots in tropical grasslands of Hong Kong, we investigated how the presence of S. invicta affects the diversity and distribution of ant species and traits within and across communities, the functional identities of communities, and functionally unique species. We calculated the functional diversity of individual species, including the trait variation from intraspecific polymorphisms, and scaled up these values to calculate functional diversity at the community level. Invasion had only limited effects on species richness and functional richness, which were 13% and 8.5% lower in invaded communities respectively. In contrast, invasion had pronounced effects on taxonomic and functional composition due to turnover in species and trait values. Furthermore, invaded communities were functionally more homogeneous, displaying 23% less turnover and 56% more redundancy than uninvaded communities, as well as greater clustering and lower divergence in trait values. Invaded communities had fewer functionally-unique individuals and were characterized by ant species with narrower heads and bodies and shorter mandibles. Our results suggest that studies based only on taxonomic measures of diversity or indices describing trait variety risk underestimating the full ramifications of invasions. Investigating the diversity and distributions of traits at species, community and landscape levels can reveal the cryptic impacts of alien species which, despite causing little taxonomic change, may substantially modify the structure and functioning of ecological communities.

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The costs of ignoring species detectability on functional diversity estimation

The Auk ◽

10.1093/auk/ukaa057 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 137 (4) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Facundo Xavier Palacio ◽

René E Maragliano ◽

Diego Montalti

Keyword(s):

Functional Diversity ◽

Functional Divergence ◽

Habitat Type ◽

Species Traits ◽

Bird Communities ◽

Imperfect Detection ◽

East Central ◽

Functional Types ◽

Functional Richness ◽

Species Occupancy

Abstract Functional diversity (FD) approaches have been increasingly used to understand ecosystem functioning in bird communities. These approaches typically rely on the assumption that species are perfectly detected in the field, despite the fact that imperfect detection represents a ubiquitous source of bias in biodiversity studies. This may be notably important in FD studies, because detection may depend on the functional traits used to compute FD metrics. However, little effort has been devoted to account for imperfect detection in FD studies, and therefore the degree to which species traits and detectability affects FD remains poorly understood. We predict that observed FD metrics may either underestimate or overestimate detection-corrected FD, because FD has multiple independent dimensions with different data properties. We assessed whether detection was related to bird traits (body mass, diet, and foraging stratum), accounting for habitat type, season, and phylogeny. We then used a multi-species occupancy model to obtain detection-corrected FD metrics (functional richness [FRic], functional evenness [FEve], and functional divergence [FDiv]), and compared observed and detection-corrected FD estimates in bird communities from east-central Argentina. Some functional types of birds (raptors and insectivores) were more easily overlooked, whereas others (seed and leaf eaters) were more easily detected. Some observed FD metrics underestimated detection-corrected FD (FRic and FDiv), whereas some others (FEve) overestimated detection-corrected FD. Both observed and detection-corrected FRic revealed differences between seasons, but not between habitat types. However, detection-corrected FEve and FDiv showed differences between seasons, contrary to observed estimates. Our results indicate that failure to account for unequal ease of detecting species can lead to erroneous estimates of FD because some functional types of birds are more easily overlooked. We outline some guidelines to help ornithologists identifying under which circumstances detection may be a concern and warn against the indiscriminate use of FD metrics without accounting for species detection.

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Influences of the area, shape and connectivity of coastal lakes on the taxonomic and functional diversity of fish communities in Southern Brazil

Zoologia (Curitiba) ◽

10.3897/zoologia.36.e23539 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 36 ◽

pp. 1-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sandra Maria Hartz ◽

Elise Amador Rocha ◽

Fernanda Thiesen Brum ◽

André Luís Luza ◽

Taís de Fátima Ramos Guimarães ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Diversity ◽

Fish Communities ◽

Taxonomic Diversity ◽

Analytical Framework ◽

Freshwater Species ◽

Coastal Lakes ◽

Causal Connections ◽

Functional Richness ◽

Dispersal Abilities ◽

Functional Evenness

In this study we investigated the influence of landscape variables on the alpha taxonomic and functional diversity of fish communities in coastal lakes. We built an analytical framework that included possible causal connections among variables, which we analyzed using path analysis. We obtained landscape metrics for the area, shape and connectivity (estuary connectivity and primary connectivity to neighboring lakes) of 37 coastal lakes in the Tramandaí River Basin. We collected fish data from 49 species using standardized sampling with gillnets and obtained a set of traits related to dispersal abilities and food acquisition. The model that best explained the taxonomic diversity and functional richness took into account the shape of the lakes. Functional richness was also explained by estuary connectivity. Functional evenness and dispersion were not predicted by area or connectivity, but they were influenced by the abundant freshwater species. This indicates that all lakes support most of the regional functional diversity. The results highlight the importance of the dispersal process in this lake system and allow the conclusion that considering multiple diversity dimensions can aid the conservation of local and regional fish communities.

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Contrasting spatial patterns of taxonomic and functional richness offer insights into potential loss of ecosystem services

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rstb.2008.0317 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 364 (1524) ◽

pp. 1683-1692 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

Graeme S. Cumming ◽

Matthew F. Child

Keyword(s):

South African ◽

Functional Groups ◽

A Priori ◽

Bird Species ◽

Taxonomic Diversity ◽

Taxonomic Richness ◽

Response Diversity ◽

Novel Approach ◽

Functional Richness ◽

Species Area

Functional and trophic perspectives on patterns of species occurrences have the potential to offer new and interesting insights into a range of spatially explicit problems in ecology and conservation. We present the function–area relationship (FAR) and explore linkages between functional and taxonomic species richness for South African birds. We first used beak morphology to classify a subset of 151 South African bird species into 18 functional groups and calculated both the species–area relationship and the FAR at quarter-degree resolution for South Africa. The relationship between functional and taxonomic richness by cell was quadratic rather than linear, with considerable scatter around the curve. We next looked at the spatial relationships between taxonomic diversity and response diversity (i.e. diversity within functional groups) using an a priori categorization of nearly all South African birds into nine functional groups. The spatial distribution of response richness also showed considerable variation in relation to taxonomic richness. Our results demonstrate a novel approach to linking taxonomic, functional and trophic patterns in space and suggest a way in which conservation planning, which has traditionally had a taxonomic focus, could formally incorporate a more functional and food-web-based approach.

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Functional Richness and Relative Resilience of Bird Communities in Regions with Different Land Use Intensities

Ecosystems ◽

10.1007/s10021-007-9071-6 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 964-974 ◽

Cited By ~ 51

Author(s):

J. Fischer ◽

D. B. Lindenmayer ◽

S. P. Blomberg ◽

R. Montague-Drake ◽

A. Felton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Bird Communities ◽

Functional Richness

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Understory species and functional diversity in a chronosequence of jack pine and red pine stands in the south-central boreal forest

Botany ◽

10.1139/cjb-2015-0159 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 94 (3) ◽

pp. 185-200 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Andrew Park ◽

Corey Carpenter

Keyword(s):

Functional Diversity ◽

Taxonomic Diversity ◽

Jack Pine ◽

Red Pine ◽

Percent Cover ◽

Understory Species ◽

South Central ◽

Litter Cover ◽

Functional Richness ◽

Pine Stands

Dominant tree species and anthropogenic disturbances influence understory taxonomic diversity (TD) and species traits (functional diversity, FD) in managed forests. We compared understory TD and FD in managed jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) stands and red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) plantations. Understory herbs, grasses, shrubs, and nonvascular species were assessed in 1 m2 quadrats on two perpendicular line transects. Data were analyzed using generalised least squares regression, and multivariate fourth corner and RLQ analyses. Although there were few differences in understory species communities, red pine plantations appeared to impose weak environmental filters on TD in ways that were absent from the jack pine stands. Taxonomic diversity declined with age in red pine but not in jack pine, and may have been affected by the accumulation of litter cover in red pine stands. Although vegetation cover was lower in red pine than in jack pine, species richness on a percent cover basis was greater, and saturated at high cover levels in jack pine. Functional richness and evenness were unaffected by overstory species, but high litter cover favoured higher values of functional divergence. These results imply that there was a high level of functional redundancy among species for the suite of traits that we analyzed.

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Structural and Functional Variations of the Macrobenthic Community of the Adige Basin along the River Continuum

Water ◽

10.3390/w13040451 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 451

Author(s):

Mattias Gaglio ◽

Vassilis Aschonitis ◽

Alexandra Nicoleta Muresan ◽

Fabio Vincenzi ◽

Giuseppe Castaldelli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Gradients ◽

Environmental Parameters ◽

Taxonomic Diversity ◽

Macrobenthic Community ◽

River Continuum ◽

Local Conditions ◽

General Validity ◽

Functional Richness ◽

Functional Features ◽

Community Complexity

Since the publication of the River Continuum Concept (RCC), the capacity of the longitudinal dimension to predict the distribution of species and ecological functions in river networks was discussed by different river theories. The taxonomic structures and functional attributes of macrobenthic communities were investigated along the river continuum in the river Adige network (Northern Italy), with the aim to test the reliability of RCC theory and clarify the relation between structural and functional features in lotic systems. Distance from the spring was found to be most representative proxy among environmental parameters. The analysis highlighted the decrease of biodiversity levels along the river continuum. The decrease of taxonomic diversity corresponded to the loss in functional richness. The abundances of predator and walker taxa, as well as semelparous organisms, declined along the longitudinal gradient, suggesting variations in community complexity and granulometry. Regression models also depicted the presence of disturbed communities in the central section of the basin, where intensive agricultural activities occur, that affected environmental gradients. Overall, results offered evidences that the river continuum may predict macrobenthic community structures in terms of taxonomic diversity, thus confirming the general validity of RCC. Nonetheless, the functional analysis did not provide equally clear evidences to support the theory. After four decades from its postulation, the RCC is still a reliable model to predict the general macroinvertebrates distribution. However, community functions may respond to a number of local factors not considered in RCC, which could find a declination in other theories. The relations between structural and functional features confirmed to be complex and sensitive to disturbances and local conditions.

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The effects of oil palm plantations on the functional diversity of Amazonian birds

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467416000377 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 32 (6) ◽

pp. 510-525 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Sara M. Almeida ◽

Larissa C. Silva ◽

Maíra R. Cardoso ◽

Pablo V. Cerqueira ◽

Leandro Juen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Diversity ◽

Oil Palm ◽

Riparian Forest ◽

Null Model ◽

Bird Communities ◽

Riparian Forests ◽

Great Loss ◽

Point Counts ◽

Functional Richness ◽

Forested Areas

Abstract:Oil palm plantations are rapidly expanding in tropical areas, although the nature of the impacts on the functional roles of the different species in the ecosystem is poorly understood. The present study is the first assessment of how oil palm affects the functional diversity of birds in the Brazilian Amazon and tests the hypothesis that converting forest to oil palm decreases functional diversity of bird communities, selecting species more tolerant to environmental disturbances. We conducted point counts to survey bird communities in 16 plots in the eastern Amazon. We sampled 32 points in riparian forest, 128 in oil palm and 160 in forested habitats. To test whether the conversion of forest into oil palm plantations affects functional diversity of birds we calculated the FD (Functional Diversity) and FRic (Functional Richness) indices. To examine whether oil palm plantations select species functionally more similar than expected by chance we used a null model (SES.FD). FD was significantly higher in the forest plots in comparison with riparian forests and oil palm, and lower in oil palm when compared with riparian forests. FRic, in turn, was greater in forest plots than in oil palm and in riparian forest. These results show that the conversion of forested areas to oil palm represents a great loss of functional strategies. The SES values indicate that in forested habitats bird communities tend to be functionally clustered while in the oil palm they are functionally overdispersed. The functional traits most affected by oil palm were those associated with diet and foraging stratum. In short, oil palm plantations reduced functional diversity of birds, although the presence of riparian forests within the plantations and the fragments of forest adjacent are extremely important for the maintenance of ecosystem services.

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