scholarly journals Treeline ecotones shape the distribution of avian species richness and functional diversity in south temperate mountains

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomás A. Altamirano ◽  
Devin R. de Zwaan ◽  
José Tomás Ibarra ◽  
Scott Wilson ◽  
Kathy Martin
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Habitat Structure ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Montane Forest ◽  
Avian Species ◽  
Point Counts ◽  
Mountain Habitats ◽  
Elevational Range

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.

scholarly journals Treeline ecotones shape the distribution of avian species richness and functional diversity in south temperate mountains

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomás A. Altamirano ◽  
Devin R. de Zwaan ◽  
José Tomás Ibarra ◽  
Scott Wilson ◽  
Kathy Martin
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Habitat Structure ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Montane Forest ◽  
Avian Species ◽  
Point Counts ◽  
Mountain Habitats ◽  
Elevational Range

AbstractMountains 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 2,202 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.

scholarly journals Effect of Flood Pulse on the Functional Diversity and Traits Composition of Birds With Different Degrees of Wetland Dependence in the Brazilian Pantanal

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angélica Vilas Boas da Frota ◽  
Breno Dias Vitorino ◽  
Sara Miranda Almeida ◽  
Josué Ribeiro da Silva Nunes ◽  
Carolina Joana Da Silva
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Hydrological Cycle ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Hydrological Regime ◽  
Functional Trait ◽  
Flood Pulse ◽  
Wetland Birds ◽  
Paraguay River

Abstract Hydrological dynamics of the Pantanal wetland drive the availability of resources and niche for aquatic and terrestrial fauna. We consider that changes in the hydrological regime of this floodplain can affect species richness, abundance and functional structure of waterbirds, wetland birds and non-wetland birds. Our study aimed to assess whether the degree of wetland dependence influences the response of bird groups to the flood pulse. We conducted the bird survey in the Paraguay River floodplain system, in five sampling sites, covering the periods of drought, flooding, full flood and ebb of the 2017–2018 hydrological cycle. Species richness and abundance were higher for non-wetland birds than waterbirds and wetland birds. On the other hand, we found that the higher the degree of wetland dependence by birds, the higher the differences in the functional-trait values. Species richness, abundance and all metrics of functional diversity varied significantly when there was an interaction between the degree of wetland dependence and the hydrological period. In all hydrological periods, bird groups occupied distinct niches. Traits such as foraging around or below the water surface were among the dominant functional traits in all hydrological periods. We emphasize the need to consider the functional traits of species in ecological studies of wetlands since measuring only species richness may not reflect the characteristics inherent to this type of ecosystem. In addition, the conservation of wetlands directly implies the maintenance of various niches throughout the hydrological periods, either for dependent or non-dependent bird species in wetlands.

scholarly journals Burning savanna for avian species richness and functional diversity

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Teegan D. S. Docherty ◽  
Matthew G. Hethcoat ◽  
Lynne M. MacTavish ◽  
Dougal MacTavish ◽  
Stephen Dell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Avian Species

scholarly journals Multitrophic functional diversity predicts ecosystem functioning in experimental assemblages of estuarine consumers

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan S Lefcheck ◽  
J. Emmett Duffy
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Food Web ◽  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Ecosystem Functioning ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Experimental Investigations

The use of functional traits to explain biodiversity effects on ecosystem functioning has attracted intense recent interest, yet very few a priori manipulations of functional diversity have been attempted to date, especially from a food web perspective. Here, we simultaneously manipulated multiple functional traits of estuarine grazers and predators within multiple levels of species richness to test whether species richness or functional diversity is a better predictor of ecosystem functioning in multitrophic estuarine food webs. Community functional diversity better predicted the majority of ecosystem responses based on results from generalized linear mixed effects models. Structural equation modeling revealed that this outcome was independently attributable to functional diversity of both trophic levels, with stronger effects observed for predators. Functional complementarity was also important, as species with different combinations of traits influenced different ecosystem functions. Our study is the first to extend experimental investigations of functional diversity to a multilevel food web, and demonstrates that functional diversity is more effective than species richness in predicting ecosystem functioning in a food web context.

scholarly journals Local Factors Rather than the Landscape Context Explain Species Richness and Functional Trait Diversity and Responses of Plant Assemblages of Mediterranean Cereal Field Margins

Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 778
Author(s):  
Yesica Pallavicini ◽  
Fernando Bastida ◽  
Eva Hernández-Plaza ◽  
Sandrine Petit ◽  
Jordi Izquierdo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Functional Trait ◽  
Field Margins ◽  
Landscape Variables ◽  
Margin Width ◽  
Plant Assemblages ◽  
Cereal Fields

Arable field margins are valuable habitats providing a wide range of ecosystem services in rural landscapes. Agricultural intensification in recent decades has been a major cause of decline in plant diversity in these habitats. However, the concomitant effects on plant functional diversity are less documented, particularly in Mediterranean areas. In this paper, we analyzed the effect of margin width and surrounding landscape (cover and diversity of land use and field size), used as proxies for management intensity at local and landscape scales, on plant species richness, functional diversity and functional trait values in margins of winter cereal fields in southern Spain. Five functional traits were selected: life form, growth form, seed mass, seed dispersal mode and pollination type. RLQ and fourth-corner analyses were used to link functional traits and landscape variables. A total of 306 plant species were recorded. Species richness and functional diversity were positively related to margin width but showed no response to landscape variables. Functional trait values were affected neither by the local nor landscape variables. Our results suggest that increasing the margin width of conventionally managed cereal fields would enhance both taxonomic and functional diversity of margin plant assemblages, and thus the services they provide to the agro-ecosystem.

scholarly journals Exploring Multiple Aspects of Taxonomic and Functional Diversity in Microphytobenthic Communities: Effects of Environmental Gradients and Temporal Changes

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anette Teittinen ◽  
Leena Virta
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
The Face ◽  
Functional Dispersion ◽  
Pool System ◽  
Microbial Groups

Biodiversity has traditionally been quantified using taxonomic information but the importance of also considering its functional characteristics has recently gained an increasing attention among microorganisms. However, studies exploring multiple aspects of taxonomic and functional diversity and their temporal variations are scarce for diatoms, which is one of the most important microbial groups in aquatic ecosystems. Here, our aim was to examine the taxonomic and functional alpha and beta diversities of diatoms in a coastal rock pool system characterized by a naturally high environmental heterogeneity. We also investigated the temporal differences in the diversity patterns and drivers. The relationship between the species richness and functional dispersion was temporally coherent, such that species-poor communities tended to be functionally clustered. The trend between the species richness and taxonomic uniqueness of community composition was temporally inconsistent, changing from negative to non-significant over time. Conductivity or distance to the sea or both were key determinants of species richness, functional dispersion, and uniqueness of community composition. The increase of community dissimilarity with an increasing environmental distance was stronger for the taxonomic than the functional composition. Our results suggest that even minor decreases in the species richness may result in a lowered functional diversity and decreased ecosystem functioning. Species-poor ecosystems may, however, have unique species compositions and high contributions to regional biodiversity. Despite changing the species compositions along the environmental gradients, communities may remain to have a high functional similarity and robustness in the face of environmental changes. Our results highlight the advantage of considering multiple biodiversity metrics and incorporating a temporal component for a deeper understanding of the effects of environmental changes on microbial biodiversity.

scholarly journals The limitations of diversity metrics in directing global marine conservation

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
James PW Robinson ◽  
Easton R White ◽  
Logan D Wiwchar ◽  
Danielle C Claar ◽  
Justin P Suraci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Marine Conservation ◽  
Conservation Priorities ◽  
Biodiversity Hotspots ◽  
Marine Systems ◽  
Cast Doubt ◽  
Diversity Metrics

Biodiversity hotspots have been used extensively in setting conservation priorities for reef ecosystems. A recent Nature publication claims to have uncovered new hotspots based on global comparisons of functional diversity. Simulation models show that the purported novel evenness pattern is a mathematical inevitability of differences in species richness, as well as an artefact of differences in detectability between vastly different marine ecosystems. Constraints on evenness, along with disparity among communities in possible functional traits, cast doubt on the utility of global functional diversity comparisons for management of marine systems.

scholarly journals Social-ecological filters drive the functional diversity of beetles in homegardens of campesinos and migrants in the southern Andes

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
José Tomás Ibarra ◽  
Julián Caviedes ◽  
Tomás A. Altamirano ◽  
Romina Urra ◽  
Antonia Barreau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Structural Complexity ◽  
Beetle Species ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
Functional Richness ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
Ecological Filters

AbstractHomegardens are coupled social-ecological systems that act as biodiversity reservoirs while contributing to local food sovereignty. These systems are characterized by their structural complexity, while involving management practices according to gardener’s cultural origin. Social–ecological processes in homegardens may act as filters of species’ functional traits, and thus influence the species richness-functional diversity relationship of critical agroecosystem components like beetles (Coleoptera). We tested the species richness-functional diversity relationship of beetle communities and examined whether habitat structure across different levels, sociodemographic profiles, and management practices act as filters in homegardens in a Global Biodiversity Hotspot, Chile. For 100 homegardens (50 campesino and 50 migrant), we sampled beetles and habitat attributes, and surveyed gardeners’ sociodemographic profiles and management practices. We recorded 85 beetle species and found a positive relationship between species richness and functional richness that saturated when functionally similar species co-occur more often than expected by chance, indicating functional redundancy in species-rich homegardens. Gardener origin (campesino/migrant), homegarden area (m2), structural complexity (index), and pest control strategy (natural, chemical, or none) were the most influential social–ecological filters that selectively remove beetle species according to their functional traits. We discuss opportunities in homegarden management for strengthening local functional diversity and resilience under social-environmental changes.

scholarly journals The limitations of diversity metrics in directing global marine conservation

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
James PW Robinson ◽  
Easton R White ◽  
Logan D Wiwchar ◽  
Danielle C Claar ◽  
Justin P Suraci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Marine Conservation ◽  
Conservation Priorities ◽  
Biodiversity Hotspots ◽  
Marine Systems ◽  
Cast Doubt ◽  
Diversity Metrics

Biodiversity hotspots have been used extensively in setting conservation priorities for reef ecosystems. A recent Nature publication claims to have uncovered new hotspots based on global comparisons of functional diversity. Simulation models show that the purported novel evenness pattern is a mathematical inevitability of differences in species richness, as well as an artefact of differences in detectability between vastly different marine ecosystems. Constraints on evenness, along with disparity among communities in possible functional traits, cast doubt on the utility of global functional diversity comparisons for management of marine systems.

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