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Land‐use intensification reduces functional redundancy and response diversity in plant communities
Author(s) -
Laliberté Etienne,
Wells Jessie A.,
DeClerck Fabrice,
Metcalfe Daniel J.,
Catterall Carla P.,
Queiroz Cibele,
Aubin Isabelle,
Bonser Stephen P.,
Ding Yi,
Fraterrigo Jennifer M.,
McNamara Sean,
Morgan John W.,
Merlos Dalia Sánchez,
Vesk Peter A.,
Mayfield Margaret M.
Publication year - 2010
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.1461-0248.2009.01403.x
Subject(s) - ecosystem , biome , ecology , species richness , redundancy (engineering) , trait , biology , species diversity , multivariate statistics , land use , disturbance (geology) , functional response , environmental resource management , environmental science , computer science , paleontology , predator , predation , programming language , operating system , machine learning
Ecosystem resilience depends on functional redundancy (the number of species contributing similarly to an ecosystem function) and response diversity (how functionally similar species respond differently to disturbance). Here, we explore how land‐use change impacts these attributes in plant communities, using data from 18 land‐use intensity gradients that represent five biomes and > 2800 species. We identify functional groups using multivariate analysis of plant traits which influence ecosystem processes. Functional redundancy is calculated as the species richness within each group, and response diversity as the multivariate within‐group dispersion in response trait space, using traits that influence responses to disturbances. Meta‐analysis across all datasets showed that land‐use intensification significantly reduced both functional redundancy and response diversity, although specific relationships varied considerably among the different land‐use gradients. These results indicate that intensified management of ecosystems for resource extraction can increase their vulnerability to future disturbances. Ecology Letters (2010) 13: 76–86