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Phylogenetic beta diversity: linking ecological and evolutionary processes across space in time
Author(s) -
Graham Catherine H.,
Fine Paul V. A.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
ecology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.852
H-Index - 265
eISSN - 1461-0248
pISSN - 1461-023X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2008.01256.x
Subject(s) - phylogenetic diversity , phylogenetic tree , beta diversity , ecology , niche , evolutionary ecology , biology , macroecology , trait , biodiversity , ecological niche , alpha diversity , phylogenetics , ecosystem diversity , diversity (politics) , gamma diversity , evolutionary biology , habitat , computer science , biochemistry , sociology , gene , anthropology , programming language , host (biology)
A key challenge in ecological research is to integrate data from different scales to evaluate the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms that influence current patterns of biological diversity. We build on recent attempts to incorporate phylogenetic information into traditional diversity analyses and on existing research on beta diversity and phylogenetic community ecology. Phylogenetic beta diversity (phylobetadiversity) measures the phylogenetic distance among communities and as such allows us to connect local processes, such as biotic interactions and environmental filtering, with more regional processes including trait evolution and speciation. When combined with traditional measures of beta diversity, environmental gradient analyses or ecological niche modelling, phylobetadiversity can provide significant and novel insights into the mechanisms underlying current patterns of biological diversity.