Dataset Information

Asynchrony of taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity in birds.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

We assessed the temporal trends of taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversities in the French avifauna over the last two decades. Additionally, we investigated whether and how this multifaceted approach to biodiversity dynamics can reveal an increasing similarity of local assemblages in terms of species, traits and/or lineages.

Location

France.

Methods

We analysed a large-scale dataset that recorded annual changes in the abundance of 116 breeding birds in France between 1989 and 2012. We decomposed and analysed the spatio-temporal dynamics of taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional diversities and each of their α-, β- and γ-components. We also calculated the trend in the mean specialization of bird communities to track the relative success of specialist versus generalist species within communities during the same period.

Results

We found large variation within and among the temporal trends of each biodiversity facet. On average, we found a marked increase in species and phylogenetic diversity over the period considered, but no particular trend was found for functional diversity. Conversely, changes in β-diversities for the three facets were characterized by independent and nonlinear trends. We also found a general increase in the local occurrence and abundance of generalist species within local communities.

Main conclusions

These results highlight a relative asynchrony of the different biodiversity facets occurring at large spatial scales. We show why a multifaceted approach to biodiversity dynamics is needed to better describe and understand changes in community composition in macroecology and conservation biogeography.

SUBMITTER: Monnet AC

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4110699 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Asynchrony of taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity in birds.

Monnet Anne-Christine AC Jiguet Frédéric F Meynard Christine N CN Mouillot David D Mouquet Nicolas N Thuiller Wilfried W Devictor Vincent V

Global ecology and biogeography : a journal of macroecology 20140701 7

<h4>Aim</h4>We assessed the temporal trends of taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversities in the French avifauna over the last two decades. Additionally, we investigated whether and how this multifaceted approach to biodiversity dynamics can reveal an increasing similarity of local assemblages in terms of species, traits and/or lineages.<h4>Location</h4>France.<h4>Methods</h4>We analysed a large-scale dataset that recorded annual changes in the abundance of 116 breeding birds in France b ...[more]

PMID: 25067904

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Dataset Information

Asynchrony of taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity in birds.

Aim

Location

Methods

Results

Main conclusions

Publications

Asynchrony of taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity in birds.

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