1. The preservation of ecosystem processes under ongoing biotic erosion requires that some species within affected communities perform similar functions, a property that is usually defined as functional redundancy. Although functional redundancy has recently become a relevant part of ecological research, so far there is no agreement on itsmeasurement. 2. The scope of this work is thus to propose a consistent framework based on functional dissimilarities among species for summarizing different facets of functional redundancy. The behaviour of the proposed measures is illustrated with one small artificial data set, together with actual examples on the species functional turnover along successional gradients. 3. We believe this new framework provides an important contribution for the clarification and quantification of key metrics of community redundancy and vulnerability. The method, for which we provide a simple R function called ‘uniqueness’, further allows summarizing the functional contribution of single species to the overall redundancy of any type of biological community.

Measuring the functional redundancy of biological communities. A quantitative guide / Ricotta, Carlo; de Bello, Francesco; Moretti, Marco; Caccianiga, Marco; Cerabolini, Bruno; Pavoine, Sandrine. - In: METHODS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION. - ISSN 2041-210X. - ELETTRONICO. - 7:(2016), pp. 1386-1395. [10.1111/2041-210X.12604]

Measuring the functional redundancy of biological communities. A quantitative guide

RICOTTA, Carlo
;
2016

Abstract

1. The preservation of ecosystem processes under ongoing biotic erosion requires that some species within affected communities perform similar functions, a property that is usually defined as functional redundancy. Although functional redundancy has recently become a relevant part of ecological research, so far there is no agreement on itsmeasurement. 2. The scope of this work is thus to propose a consistent framework based on functional dissimilarities among species for summarizing different facets of functional redundancy. The behaviour of the proposed measures is illustrated with one small artificial data set, together with actual examples on the species functional turnover along successional gradients. 3. We believe this new framework provides an important contribution for the clarification and quantification of key metrics of community redundancy and vulnerability. The method, for which we provide a simple R function called ‘uniqueness’, further allows summarizing the functional contribution of single species to the overall redundancy of any type of biological community.
2016
absolute vs. relative measures; community structure; functional uniqueness; functional vulnerability; Rao's quadratic diversity; ecology, evolution, behavior and systematics; ecological modeling
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Measuring the functional redundancy of biological communities. A quantitative guide / Ricotta, Carlo; de Bello, Francesco; Moretti, Marco; Caccianiga, Marco; Cerabolini, Bruno; Pavoine, Sandrine. - In: METHODS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION. - ISSN 2041-210X. - ELETTRONICO. - 7:(2016), pp. 1386-1395. [10.1111/2041-210X.12604]
File allegati a questo prodotto
File Dimensione Formato  
Ricotta_Measuring-the-functional_2016.pdf

solo gestori archivio

Tipologia: Versione editoriale (versione pubblicata con il layout dell'editore)
Licenza: Tutti i diritti riservati (All rights reserved)
Dimensione 415.36 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
415.36 kB Adobe PDF   Contatta l'autore

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/924988
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 183
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 179
social impact