scholarly journals Functional diversity of plant communities at edge and interior of a submontane Atlantic Forest: greater functional than compositional stability

Rodriguésia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Paula Lima do Couto-Santos ◽  
Lia D’Afonsêca Pedreira de Miranda ◽  
Davi Rodrigo Rossatto ◽  
Ligia Silveira Funch
Keyword(s):  
Functional Groups ◽  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Shannon Index ◽  
Plant Functional Groups ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
Compositional Stability ◽  
Functional Richness ◽  
Interior Environments

Abstract We compared the functional diversity of community at edge and interior areas of an Atlantic forest fragment to test the hypothesis that higher functional diversity exists along edges - in consonance with their higher abundance and floristic diversity as compared to the interior of the forest. By considering a set of vegetative, reproductive and phenological traits and ecosystem service aspects of edge and interior environments, we defined plant functional groups using Cluster Analysis, followed by a silhouette width analysis, together with functional diversity indices of richness, divergence, evenness and dispersion. The main functional groups formed were similar between the edges and interior. Functional richness was the only index that demonstrated differences between edge and the interior. Alterations were perceived in relation to species richness and the Shannon index. Edge effects were not significant in the formation of functional groups. In contrast to our original hypothesis, similar groups were formed both along the edge in the interior - indicating that species played similar ecological roles in both environments, with similar responses to different environmental factors - so that forest edges were colonized by a series of different species that maintained diversity patterns similar to those found in the forest interior.

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

Sociobiology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 941 ◽  
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.

Spider assemblage structure and functional diversity patterns in clear-cut, logged, and undisturbed areas in a large Atlantic Forest remnant

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (7) ◽  
pp. 608-614
Author(s):  
Ronei Baldissera ◽  
Suiane Oliveira de Quadros ◽  
Gabriela Galeti ◽  
Everton Nei Lopes Rodrigues ◽  
Luan M.V. Lazzarotto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Selective Logging ◽  
Canopy Openness ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Clear Cutting ◽  
Functional Richness ◽  
Forest Remnant

Habitat loss is one of the main consequences of landscape transformation by humans. Monitoring biodiversity changes in areas under different management strategies is fundamental for species conservation. Our study is the first to assess the role of forest disturbance history on spider (Araneae) biodiversity in the westernmost portion of the Atlantic Forest. We analyzed taxonomic and functional aspects of spider assemblages in understories in a large forest fragment in southwestern Brazil. Spiders were sampled in five 30 m × 5 m plots over three seasons in three areas with different management histories: clear-cutting, selective logging, or native plots. We also characterized tree basal area, tree density, and canopy openness. The clear-cut plots showed more canopy openness and low habitat heterogeneity due to the high density of one pioneer native tree species. Forest structure in selective logging and native plots was similar. Spider richness, abundance, and functional richness were affected only by the season. Species composition also differed among the areas depending on the season. The abundance of web-building species was mainly associated with clear-cut areas in winter and spring. These results highlight the importance of natural regeneration in the Atlantic Forest after disturbance for the conservation of regional spider biodiversity.

scholarly journals Characterization of the Multidimensional Functional Space of the Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Assemblages in a Biosphere Reserve (Central México)

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 546
Author(s):  
Alexis Joseph Rodríguez-Romero ◽  
Axel Eduardo Rico-Sánchez ◽  
Jacinto Elías Sedeño-Díaz ◽  
Eugenia López-López
Keyword(s):  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽  
Functional Space ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Environmental Indices ◽  
Macroinvertebrate Assemblages ◽  
Functional Richness ◽  
Functional Diversity Indices

The analysis of functional diversity has shown to be more sensitive to the effects of natural and anthropogenic disturbances on the assemblages of aquatic macroinvertebrates than the classical analyses of structural ecology. However, this ecological analysis perspective has not been fully explored in tropical environments of America. Protected Natural Areas (PNAs) such as biosphere reserves can be a benchmark regarding structural and functional distribution patterns worldwide, so the characterization of the functional space of biological assemblages in these sites is necessary to promote biodiversity conservation efforts. Our work characterized the multidimensional functional space of the macroinvertebrate assemblages from an ecosystemic approach by main currents, involving a total of 15 study sites encompassing different impact and human influence scenarios, which were monitored in two contrasting seasons. We calculated functional diversity indices (dispersion, richness, divergence, evenness, specialization, and originality) from biological and ecological traits of the macroinvertebrate assemblages and related these indices to the physicochemical characteristics of water and four environmental indices (Water Quality Index, habitat quality, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, and vegetation cover and land use). Our results show that the indices of functional richness, evenness, and functional specialization were sensitive to disturbance caused by salinization, concentration of nutrients and organic matter, and even to the occurrence of a forest fire in the reserve during one of the sampling seasons. These findings support the conclusion that the changes and relationships between the functional diversity indices and the physicochemical parameters and environmental indices considered were suitable for evaluating the ecological conditions within the reserve.

scholarly journals Floodplain land cover affects biomass distribution of fish functional diversity in the Amazon River

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline C. Arantes ◽  
Kirk O. Winemiller ◽  
Alex Asher ◽  
Leandro Castello ◽  
Laura L. Hess ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Cover ◽  
Functional Groups ◽  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Amazon River ◽  
Fish Biomass ◽  
Biomass Distribution ◽  
River Floodplain ◽  
Functional Richness ◽  
Distribution Of Fish

Abstract Land-cover change often shifts the distribution of biomass in animal communities. However, the effects of land-cover changes on functional diversity remain poorly understood for many organisms and ecosystems, particularly, for floodplains. We hypothesize that the biomass distribution of fish functional diversity in floodplains is associated with land cover, which would imply that fish traits affect behavioral and/or demographic responses to gradients of land cover. Using data from surveys of 462 habitats covering a range of land-cover conditions in the Amazon River floodplain, we fitted statistical models to explain landscape-scale variation in functional diversity and biomass of all fish species as well as subsets of species possessing different functional traits. Forest cover was positively associated with fish biomass and the strength of this relationship varied according to functional groups defined by life history, trophic, migration, and swimming-performance/microhabitat-use traits. Forty-two percent of the functional groups, including those inferred to have enhanced feeding opportunities, growth, and/or reproductive success within forested habitats, had greater biomass where forest cover was greater. Conversely, the biomass of other functional groups, including habitat generalists and those that directly exploit autochthonous food resources, did not vary significantly in relation to forest cover. The niche space occupied by local assemblages (functional richness) and dispersion in trait abundances (functional dispersion) tended to increase with forest cover. Our study supports the expectation that deforestation in the Amazon River floodplain affects not only fish biomass but also functional diversity, with some functional groups being particularly vulnerable.

scholarly journals Bird Functional Diversity in Agroecosystems and Secondary Forests of the Tropical Andes

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 493
Author(s):  
Vanessa Velásquez-Trujillo ◽  
Juan F. Betancurt-Grisales ◽  
Angela M. Vargas-Daza ◽  
Carlos E. Lara ◽  
Fredy A. Rivera-Páez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Functional Divergence ◽  
Tail Length ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Secondary Forests ◽  
Tropical Andes ◽  
Behavioral Traits ◽  
Functional Richness ◽  
Wing Chord ◽  
Functional Diversity Indices

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.

scholarly journals A decrease in taxonomic and functional diversity of dung beetles impacts the ecosystem function of manure removal in altered subtropical habitats

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. e0244783
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Sarmiento-Garcés ◽  
Malva Isabel Medina Hernández
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Functional Groups ◽  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Removal Rate ◽  
Significant Loss ◽  
Dung Beetles ◽  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Functional Richness ◽  
Soil Temperatures

The loss of biodiversity—caused mainly by habitat destruction—is one of the environmental problems with major repercussions on ecosystem functioning. Nevertheless, our understanding of the functional consequences of habitat changes on the communities and ecosystems remains limited to a small number of case studies. We evaluated the change in taxonomic and functional diversity of copro-necrophagous beetles (Scarabaeinae) and their relationship with the varying environmental factors present in four habitats with different degrees of disturbance. Furthermore, we evaluated how changes in taxonomic and functional diversity affect the rates of excrement removal. The collections were carried out at four locations in the state of Santa Catarina, Southern Brazil, on natural systems with different degrees of disturbances (forests in advanced and initial succession) and agroecosystems (silviculture and pastures dedicated to livestock). We collected a total of 1266 dung beetles distributed in 35 species and classified into 11 functional groups. The taxonomic and functional diversity analyses showed that habitats that still maintain an arboreal stratum do not present differences between them, in contrast to habitats dedicated to livestock where there was a significant loss of species and functional groups. The distance between the trees, as well as the air and soil temperatures were determining factors in the selection of species and functional groups. Some of these environmental factors explain the differences in functional traits, represented as varying abundances of the species found. The rates of manure removal from the ecosystem were positively correlated to taxonomic and functional richness as well as biomass of beetles. Thus, we can conclude that habitats with tree strata have the capacity to preserve a larger proportion of the regional set of species as well as the important ones, while preserving the taxonomic and functional diversity and the ecosystem functions, such as the excrement removal rate.

scholarly journals Patterns and Predictors of Small Mammal Phylogenetic and Functional Diversity in Contrasting Elevational Gradients in Kenya

2022 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth Otieno Onditi ◽  
Wen-Yu Song ◽  
Xue-You Li ◽  
Zhong-Zheng Chen ◽  
Quan Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Annual Precipitation ◽  
Windward Side ◽  
Leeward Side ◽  
Elevational Gradients ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Functional Richness ◽  
Temperature Seasonality

Mountains of the Afrotropics are global biodiversity hotspots and centers of speciation and endemism; however, very few studies have focused on the phylogenetic and functional dimensions of Afromontane small mammals. We investigated the patterns and mechanisms of small mammal phylogenetic and functional diversity and assembly along elevational gradients in Mount Kenya, the second highest mountain in Africa, and a contrasting low mountain range, Chyulu Hills. We sampled 24 200-m interval transects in both sites; 18 in Mt. Kenya (9 each in the windward side, Chogoria, and the leeward side, Sirimon) and 6 in Chyulu. We extracted the mitochondrial Cytochrome b gene to reconstruct a time-calibrated species tree for estimating phylogenetic diversity indices [phylogenetic richness (PD), mean nearest taxon distance (PDMNTD), and nearest taxon index (PDNTI)]. A functional trait data set was compiled from the field-recorded measurements and published data sets for estimating functional diversity indices [functional richness (FD), mean nearest taxon distance (FDMNTD), and nearest taxon index (FDNTI)]. Several environmental variables representing water-energy availability, primary habitat productivity, and topographic heterogeneity were used to estimate the predictive power of abiotic conditions on diversity variances using generalized linear and generalized additive regression models. The PD and FD peaked around mid-elevations in Mt. Kenya, unimodally increased or decreased in Chogoria and Sirimon, and monotonically increased in Chyulu. The divergence and community structure indices—PDMNTD, FDMNTD, and PDNTI and FDNTI—were relatively weakly associated with elevation. Overall, the tendency of assemblages to be phylogenetically and functionally closely related than expected by chance decreased with elevation in Mt. Kenya but increased in Chyulu. Across the indices, the annual precipitation and topographic ruggedness were the strongest predictors in Mt. Kenya, evapotranspiration and temperature seasonality were the strongest predictors in Chyulu, while temperature seasonality and terrain ruggedness overlapped as the strongest predictors in Chogoria and Sirimon in addition to annual precipitation in the latter and normalized difference vegetation index in the former. The observed contrasting trends in diversity distribution and the strongest predictors between elevational gradients are integral to the sustainable management of the high faunal biodiversity in tropical Afromontane ecosystems.

scholarly journals Common latitudinal gradients in functional richness and functional evenness across marine and terrestrial systems

2019 ◽  
Vol 286 (1908) ◽  
pp. 20190745 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Schumm ◽  
S. M. Edie ◽  
K. S. Collins ◽  
V. Gómez-Bahamón ◽  
K. Supriya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Functional Groups ◽  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Skewed Distribution ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Latitudinal Gradients ◽  
Ecological Specialization ◽  
Functional Richness ◽  
The Tropics ◽  
Functional Evenness

Functional diversity is an important aspect of biodiversity, but its relationship to species diversity in time and space is poorly understood. Here we compare spatial patterns of functional and taxonomic diversity across marine and terrestrial systems to identify commonalities in their respective ecological and evolutionary drivers. We placed species-level ecological traits into comparable multi-dimensional frameworks for two model systems, marine bivalves and terrestrial birds, and used global species-occurrence data to examine the distribution of functional diversity with latitude and longitude. In both systems, tropical faunas show high total functional richness (FR) but low functional evenness (FE) (i.e. the tropics contain a highly skewed distribution of species among functional groups). Functional groups that persist toward the poles become more uniform in species richness, such that FR declines and FE rises with latitude in both systems. Temperate assemblages are more functionally even than tropical assemblages subsampled to temperate levels of species richness, suggesting that high species richness in the tropics reflects a high degree of ecological specialization within a few functional groups and/or factors that favour high recent speciation or reduced extinction rates in those groups.

scholarly journals Pattern of functional diversity along the elevation gradient in the dry evergreen Afromontane forest of Hararghe Highland, Southeast Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 257-264
Author(s):  
M. Teshome ◽  
Z. Asfaw ◽  
M. Mohammed
Keyword(s):  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Elevation Gradient ◽  
Environmental Filtering ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Mixed Effect ◽  
Diversity Pattern ◽  
Afromontane Forest ◽  
Functional Richness ◽  
Functional Diversity Indices

Understanding plant species distribution patterns along environmental gradients is fundamental to managing ecosystems, particularly when habitats are fragmented due to intensive human land use pressure. The variation pattern of functional diversity of plant communities along the elevation gradient in the Dindin dry evergreen Afromontane forest was tested. Fifty four plots of 20 x 20 m (400 m2) were established at 200 m intervals starting 2,300–2,900 m a. s. l. and woody species composition, and environmental variables were recorded. Nine functional diversity indices based on functional distances were employed to esimate functional diversity. The mixed effect model was used to determine the effect of elevation, aspect and slope on functional diversity indices. The results showed that functional diversity in communities varied greatly; functional diversity revealed a decrease with increasing elevation and a‘‘humped’’ pattern, with peak diversity appearing at middle elevation. Functional diversity was significantly correlated with elevation, slope, and aspect. Functional diversity was significantly correlated with species richness and evenness. Environmental filtering was important to the functional diversity pattern; the nine indices were all successful in the analysis of functional diversity in the plant community with different effectiveness, and modified functional attribute diversity, plot-based functional diversity, community based functional diversity, functional richness, and community weight mean of woody density performed better than the other four indices in this study.

scholarly journals Functional diversity of reproductive traits increases across succession in the Atlantic forest

Rodriguésia ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 321-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bianca Warring ◽  
Fernanda Cristina Gil Cardoso ◽  
Marcia C.M. Marques ◽  
Isabela Galarda Varassin
Keyword(s):  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Forest Succession ◽  
Biotic Interactions ◽  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
Limiting Similarity ◽  
Trait Distribution ◽  
Functional Richness ◽  
Functional Dispersion

Abstract Niche and neutral processes shape community assembly with a possible shift of niche and neutral importance in communities undergoing temporal changes during succession. Functional diversity helps to discriminate assembly processes since trait distribution is dependent on those processes. We evaluated the changes in reproductive traits related to pollination and seed dispersal in a successional gradient in an Atlantic Forest area, Southern Brazil. We surveyed forests undergoing regeneration varying in age from 2 to 80 years after pasture abandonment. We expected an increase in functional diversity of reproductive traits and a greater role of limiting similarity across succession. Abiotic and mixed pollination systems, dioecious sexual system, biotic dispersed, many-seeded and small-seeded species decreased as the forest got older. Conversely, bee-pollinated, bell-shaped, small and androgynous flowers increased across forest succession as well biotic dispersed and large-seeded species. Functional richness and functional dispersion were higher in older forests. Changes in functional diversity were positively related to species richness, indicating that species enrichment in older forests added new sets of reproductive traits. These changes in trait distribution and functional diversity across succession in the Atlantic Forest suggest an increased role of biotic interactions and limiting similarity process structuring plant assemblages of second-growth tropical forests.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document