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

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.

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

Diversity ◽

10.3390/d13100493 ◽

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.

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

Biosystems Diversity ◽

10.15421/012034 ◽

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.

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How Do Biological and Functional Diversity Change in Invaded Tropical Marine Rocky Reef Communities?

Diversity ◽

10.3390/d13080353 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 353

Author(s):

Larissa M. Pires-Teixeira ◽

Vinicius Neres-Lima ◽

Joel C. Creed

Keyword(s):

Functional Diversity ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Species Abundance ◽

Functional Space ◽

Taxonomic Diversity ◽

Diversity Indices ◽

Rocky Reef ◽

Rocky Shores ◽

Distribution Models ◽

Functional Diversity Indices

Evidence so far shows that most alien species (AS) have negative impacts on native biodiversity and are changing biodiversity in almost all environments. Here, we study eight rocky shores at four sites containing reefs with invaded communities and other not-invaded (control) communities, to evaluate the effects of four marine invasive species on biological and functional diversity. We used the adjustment and selection approach of species abundance distribution models (SAD), taxonomic diversity indices and functional diversity indices based on hierarchical grouping matrices (FD—Functional Diversity). In addition to comparing invaded and not-invaded communities, we also performed the same analysis, but removed the invaders (AS removed) from the matrices. The geometric-series model was best adjusted to the majority of communities. The diversity indices suggest that the taxonomic diversity is lower in invaded communities, while the functional diversity indices suggest a change in the functional space of invaded and not-invaded communities, with a greater amount of functional space filled by species in the not-invaded communities. Taxonomic and functional diversity indices were successful in identifying processes that determine the biological diversity of invaded communities, as they seem to obey a pattern that reflects the reduced diversity of invaded communities.

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FUNCTIONAL DIVERSITY AND ITS ATTRIBUTE FACTORS IN THE YUNMENG MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST PARK IN BEIJING, CHINA

CERNE ◽

10.1590/01047760201723012264 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 75-84

Author(s):

Jin-Tun Zhang ◽

Xiaohang Bai ◽

Dan Shao

Keyword(s):

Functional Diversity ◽

Altitudinal Gradient ◽

Soil Depth ◽

Functional Divergence ◽

Diversity Indices ◽

Slope Position ◽

National Forest ◽

Forest Communities ◽

Forest Park ◽

Functional Diversity Indices

ABSTRACT The interaction of diversity with environmental gradients is an important topic in ecology. This study investigated the pattern of change in functional diversity in forest communities along an altitudinal gradient in Yunmeng Mountain National Forest Park, China. Forty-two quadrats measuring 10 x 10 m in the forest communities were set up along this altitudinal gradient; plant species, traits and environmental variables were measured and recorded. Six functional diversity indices, namely, Modified functional attribute diversity (MFAD), Functional diversity plot-based dendrogram index (FDp), Functional diversity community-based dendrogram index (FDc), Functional evenness (FEve), Functional divergence (FDiv) and Functional dispersion (FDis), were used to calculate functional diversity. The results showed that functional diversity varied greatly in forest communities in the Yunmeng Mountain Forest Park. Functional diversity was significantly correlated with elevation and slope position and somewhat correlated with soil depth. Functional diversity increased with an increase in the elevation and decreased as the slope position changed from valley bottom to hill ridge. Functional diversity was closely related to species richness. The six functional diversity indices were all applicable to functional diversity studies of forest communities.

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NEW MULTIDIMENSIONAL FUNCTIONAL DIVERSITY INDICES FOR A MULTIFACETED FRAMEWORK IN FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY

Ecology ◽

10.1890/07-1206.1 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 89 (8) ◽

pp. 2290-2301 ◽

Cited By ~ 1277

Author(s):

Sébastien Villéger ◽

Norman W. H. Mason ◽

David Mouillot

Keyword(s):

Functional Diversity ◽

Diversity Indices ◽

Functional Ecology ◽

Functional Diversity Indices

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A remote sensing-based dataset to characterize the ecosystem functioning and functional diversity of a Biosphere Reserve: Sierra Nevada (SE Spain)

10.5194/essd-2019-198 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Beatriz P. Cazorla ◽

Javier Cabello ◽

Andrés Reyes ◽

Emilio Guirado ◽

Julio Peñas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Diversity ◽

Sierra Nevada ◽

Ecosystem Functioning ◽

Vegetation Index ◽

Management Practices ◽

Environmental Gradients ◽

Environmental Data ◽

Data Availability ◽

Ecological Processes

Abstract. Conservation Biology faces the challenge of safeguarding the ecological processes that sustain biodiversity. Characterization and evaluation of these processes can be carried out through attributes or functional traits related to the exchanges of matter and energy between vegetation and the atmosphere. Nowadays, the use of satellite imagery provides useful methods to produce a spatially continuous characterization of ecosystem functioning and processes at regional scales. Our dataset characterizes the patterns of ecosystem functioning in Sierra Nevada (Spain) from the vegetation greenness dynamics captured through the spectral vegetation index EVI (Enhanced Vegetation Index) since 2001 to 2018 (product MOD13Q1.006 from MODIS sensor). First, we provided three Ecosystem Functional Attributes (EFAs) (i.e., descriptors of annual primary production, seasonality, and phenology of carbon gains), as well as their integration into a synthetic mapping of Ecosystem Functional Types (EFTs). Second, we provided two measures of functional diversity: EFT richness and EFT rarity. Finally, in addition to the yearly maps, we calculated interannual summaries, i.e., means and inter-annual variabilities. Examples of research and management applications of these data sets are also included to highlight the value of EFAs and EFTs to improve the understanding and monitoring ecosystem processes across environmental gradients. The datasets are available in two open-source sites (PANGAEA: https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.904575 (Cazorla et al. 2019) and http://obsnev.es/apps/efts_SN.html), and bring to scientists, managers and the general public valuable information on the first characterization of the functional diversity at ecosystem level developed in a Mediterranean hotspot. Sierra Nevada represents an exceptional ecology laboratory of field conditions, where a long-term monitoring (LTER) program was established 10 years ago. The data availability on biodiversity, climate, ecosystem services, hydrology, land-use changes and management practices from Sierra Nevada, will allow to explore the relationships between these other environmental data and ecosystem functional data that we provide in this work.

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Functional Diversity in Ferns Is Driven by Species Richness Rather Than by Environmental Constraints

Frontiers in Plant Science ◽

10.3389/fpls.2020.615723 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Daniela Aros-Mualin ◽

Sarah Noben ◽

Dirk N. Karger ◽

César I. Carvajal-Hernández ◽

Laura Salazar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Functional Diversity ◽

Environmental Conditions ◽

Linear Models ◽

Environmental Filtering ◽

Diversity Indices ◽

Resource Acquisition ◽

Climate Data ◽

Acquisition Strategies ◽

Functional Diversity Indices

Functional traits determine how species interact with their abiotic and biotic environment. In turn, functional diversity describes how assemblages of species as a whole are adapted to their environment, which also determines how they might react to changing conditions. To fully understand functional diversity, it is fundamental to (a) disentangle the influences of environmental filtering and species richness from each other, (b) assess if the trait space saturates at high levels of species richness, and (c) understand how changes in species numbers affect the relative importance of the trait niche expansion and packing. In the present study, we determined functional diversity of fern assemblages by describing morphological traits related to resource acquisition along four tropical elevational transects with different environmental conditions and species richness. We used several functional diversity indices and their standardized effect size to consider different aspects of functional diversity. We contrasted these aspects of functional diversity with climate data and species richness using linear models and linear mixed models. Our results show that functional morphological trait diversity was primarily driven by species richness and only marginally by environmental conditions. Moreover, increasing species richness contributed progressively to packing of the morphological niche space, while at the same time decreasing morphological expansion until a saturation point was reached. Overall, our findings suggest that the density of co-occurring species is the fundamental driving force of morphological niche structure, and environmental conditions have only an indirect influence on fern resource acquisition strategies.

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Applying Remote Sensing Technologies in Urban Landscapes of the Mediterranean

AgriEngineering ◽

10.3390/agriengineering2010002 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 27-36

Author(s):

Celestina M. G. Pedras ◽

Helena Maria Fernandez ◽

Rui Lança ◽

Fernando Granja-Martins

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Climate ◽

Vegetation Index ◽

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽

Urban Landscape ◽

Urban Landscapes ◽

Climate Data ◽

Water Requirements ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Almost All

There has been increasing pressure on water resources in cities due to the proliferation of urban green areas. In the Mediterranean climate, only a small part of the plants’ water needs is supplied by rainfall during the winter months. Thus, in Algarve (Portugal) irrigation of the urban landscapes is required almost all year round. The aims of this study were to evaluate the maintenance of the urban landscapes of São Brás de Alportel (Algarve) during a year, based on the characterization of the vegetation of the urban gardens, the climate data, the analysis of the irrigation systems, the calculation of the plants water requirements and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). By crossing all this information, it was possible to understand if the current maintenance level is the most suitable for sustainable irrigated urban landscapes. In most of the gardens, it was possible to establish a relationship between the gross irrigation water requirements and NDVI. In general, the NDVI allowed us to study the urban landscape, through the monthly observation of the differences in the appearance and development of the vegetation.

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