Multiple dimensions of functional diversity affect stream fish β-diversity
Freshwater Biology
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Abstract
- When investigating metacommunity dynamics, functional differences among species are often assumed to be as important as environmental differences between sites in determining β-diversity. However, few studies have examined the influence of functional diversity on β-diversity. We examine the relative importance of regional functional diversity partitioned by niche dimensions and environmental variation in structuring taxonomic β-diversity of stream fishes using a large dataset of stream fish assemblages (hereafter, simply β-diversity). We predicted that both functional diversity and environmental variation play a role in determining β-diversity.
- We tested this prediction by modelling the patterns of stream fish β-diversity as a function of environmental variation, functional diversity and γ-richness across 10,220 sites for 329 fish species using a series of conceptual path models.
- Environmental variation consistently affected β-diversity across all models, whereas functional diversity and γ-richness influenced β-diversity only in some models. We show that including relevant trait differences among species in path models can improve their ability to explain β-diversity, suggesting that functional traits influence β-diversity.
- The ability of path models to explain β-diversity varied depending on the trait grouping included in the model, demonstrating that specific path models representing different niche dimensions can improve the ability of a model to explain β-diversity. In addition, parsing traits into different niche dimensions revealed alternative patterns of functional diversity–β-diversity relationships that otherwise would have been missed.
- The selection of relevant traits and linked niche dimensions is critical for detecting relationships between functional diversity and β-diversity. Using traits associated with different niche dimensions allows for the identification of niche dimensions most strongly associated with species sorting and the detection of patterns missed by focusing on a single niche dimension. Determining the niche dimensions that influence β-diversity could provide insights into the processes driving biodiversity and metacommunity dynamics, improving our ability to conserve or restore aquatic communities.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Multiple dimensions of functional diversity affect stream fish β-diversity |
| Series title | Freshwater Biology |
| DOI | 10.1111/fwb.14036 |
| Volume | 68 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Year Published | 2023 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Wiley |
| Contributing office(s) | Coop Res Unit Atlanta |
| Description | 15 p. |
| First page | 437 |
| Last page | 451 |
| Country | United States |
| Other Geospatial | Eastern United States |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |