Linking functional diversity and ecosystem processes: A framework for using functional diversity metrics to predict the ecosystem impact of functionally unique species

Abstract:Termite species and functional groups differ among regions globally (the functional-diversity anomaly). Here we investigate whether similar differences in biomass and abundance of termites occur among continents. Biomass and abundance data were collected with standardized sampling in Cameroon, Malaysia and Peru. Data from Peru were original to this study, while data from Cameroon and Malaysia were compiled from other sources. Species density data were sampled using a standardized belt transect (100 × 2 m) while the biomass and abundance measurements were sampled using a standardized protocol based on 2 × 2-m quadrats. Biomass and abundance data confirmed patterns found for species density and thus the existence of the functional diversity anomaly: highest estimates for biomass and abundance were found in Cameroon (14.5 ± 7.90 g m−2 and 1234 ± 437 ind m−2) followed by Malaysia (0.719 ± 0.193 g m−2 and 327 ± 72 ind m−2) and then Peru (0.345 ± 0.103 g m−2 and 130 ± 39 ind m−2). The biomass and abundance for each functional group were significantly different across sites for most termite functional groups. Biogeographical distribution of lineages was the primary cause for the functional diversity anomaly with true soil-feeding termites dominating in Cameroon and the absence of fungus-growing termites from Peru. These findings are important as the biomass and abundance of functional groups may be linked to ecosystem processes. Although this study allowed for comparisons between data from different regions further comparable data are needed to enhance the understanding of the role of termites in ecosystem processes on a global scale.

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Decision letter for "Functional diversity metrics using kernel density n ‐dimensional hypervolumes"

10.1111/2041-210x.13424/v2/decision1 ◽

2020 ◽

Keyword(s):

Functional Diversity ◽

Kernel Density ◽

Diversity Metrics

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Functional diversity metrics using kernel density n ‐dimensional hypervolumes

Methods in Ecology and Evolution ◽

10.1111/2041-210x.13424 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 986-995 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Stefano Mammola ◽

Pedro Cardoso

Keyword(s):

Functional Diversity ◽

Kernel Density ◽

Diversity Metrics

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Sensitivity of functional diversity metrics to sampling intensity

Methods in Ecology and Evolution ◽

10.1111/2041-210x.12728 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 8 (9) ◽

pp. 1072-1080 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Fons Plas ◽

Roel Klink ◽

Pete Manning ◽

Han Olff ◽

Markus Fischer

Keyword(s):

Functional Diversity ◽

Sampling Intensity ◽

Diversity Metrics

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Assessing Functional Diversity-Productivity Relationships in Temperate Forests in Northern Mexico

10.21203/rs.3.rs-42734/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Benedicto Vargas-Larreta ◽

Jorge O. López-Martínez ◽

Jose Javier Corral-Rivas ◽

Francisco Javier Hernández

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Functional Diversity ◽

Biomass Production ◽

Temperate Forests ◽

Taxonomic Diversity ◽

Mass Ratio ◽

Above Ground Biomass ◽

Northern Mexico ◽

Ground Biomass ◽

Diversity Metrics

Abstract Background: Studies on the relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem productivity have suggested that species richness and functional diversity are the main drivers of ecosystem processes. There is no general pattern regarding the relationship found in various studies, and positive, unimodal, negative, and neutral relationships keep the issue controversial. In this study, taxonomic diversity vs functional diversity as drivers of above-ground biomass were compared, and the mechanisms that influence biomass production were investigated by testing the complementarity and the mass-ratio hypoteses.Methods: Using data from 414 permanent sampling plots, covering 23% of temperate forests in the Sierra Madre Occiental (Mexico), we estimated the above-ground biomass (AGB) for trees ≥7.5 cm d.b.h. in managed and unmanaged stands. We evaluated AGB-diversity relationships (species richness, Shannon-Wiener and Simpson indices), AGB-weighted mean community values (CWM) of tree species functional traits (maximum height, leaf size, and wood density) and five measures of functional diversity (functional dispersion, functional richness, functional uniformity, functional diversity, and RaoQ index).Results: We reveal a consistent hump-shaped relationship between aboveground biomass and species richness in managen and unmanaged forest. CWM_Hmax was the most important predictor of AGB in both managed and unmanaged stands, which suggests that the mechanism that explains the above-ground biomass in these ecosystems is dominated by certain highly productive species in accordance of the mass-ratio hypothesis. There were no significant relationships between taxonomic diversity metrics (Shannon-Wiener and Simpson indices) or measures of functional diversity with AGB. The results support the mass-ratio hypothesis to explain the AGB variations.Conclusions: We concluded that diversity does not influence biomass production in the temperate mixed-species and uneven-aged forests of northern Mexico. These forests showed the classic hump-shaped productivity-species richness relationship, with biomass accumulation increasing at low to intermediate levels of species plant diversity and decreasing at high species richness. Functional diversity explains better forest productivity than classical diversity metrics.

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To dendrogram or not? Consensus methods show that is the question needed to move functional diversity metrics forward

Ideas in Ecology and Evolution ◽

10.4033/iee.2015.8.12.n ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Mark Poesch

Keyword(s):

Functional Diversity ◽

Consensus Methods ◽

Diversity Metrics

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Linking functional diversity to ecological indicators: A tool to predict the anthropogenic effects on ecosystem functioning

Environmental Reviews ◽

10.1139/er-2021-0093 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Leticia Bonilla-Valencia ◽

Silvia Castillo-Argüero ◽

José Alejandro Zavala-Hurtado ◽

Francisco Javier Espinosa-García ◽

Roberto Lindig-Cisneros ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Diversity ◽

Plant Traits ◽

Functional Divergence ◽

Seed Mass ◽

Ecosystem Processes ◽

Ecological Indicators ◽

Ecological Indicator ◽

Dry Matter Content ◽

Weed Species ◽

Functional Richness

Functional diversity is related to the maintenance of processes and functions in ecosystems. However, there is a lack of a conceptual framework that highlights the application of functional diversity as an ecological indicator. Therefore, we present a new initiative for motivating the development of ecological indicators based on functional diversity. We are interested in showing the challenges and solutions associated with these indicators. We integrated species assemblage theories and literature reviews. We considered plant traits related to ecosystem processes and functions (specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, wood density, phenology, and seed mass) to show the application of a selection of functional diversity metrics that can be used as ecological indicators (i.e., Community Weighted-Mean, Functional Divergence, Functional Richness and Functional Evenness). We caution that functional diversity as an ecological indicator can be misinterpreted if species composition is unknown. Functional diversity values can be overrepresented by weed species (species established in disturbed sites) and do not maintain original processes and functions in ecosystems. Therefore, we searched for evidence to demonstrate that weed species are ecological indicators of functional diversity changes. We found support for two hypotheses that explain the effect of weed species on ecosystem function: functional homogenization and functional transformation. Likewise, we showed the application of some tools that can help study the anthropogenic effect on functional indicators. This review shows that the paradigm of addressing the effects of disturbances on ecosystem processes by using functional diversity as an ecological indicator can improve environmental evaluation, particularly in areas affected by human activities.

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