Functional diversity
From IAI CRN 2015
Overview
In its broadest sense, functional diversity is the distribution of biological traits of organisms within an ecological community. Because it takes into account variation in biological traits between species, functional diversity makes for more robust links between shifts in biodiversity and ecosystem level properties. In DiverSus, we explore these links and assess how the affect ecosystem services.
Definition
Functional diversity is the distribution of trait values in a community. In DiverSus, we will apply this definition to plant traits only.
The distribution of trait values can be characterized through the average trait value (see community weighted mean), the variance in trait values or the range in trait values of a particular community. Various indices have also been developed, such as the divergence index (Lepš et al., 2006).
In the DiverSus network, our approach to functional diversity focuses on vegetation and plant traits.
References
- Interesting thoughts, figures and graphs can be found in Díaz et al. (2006).
- Lepš, J., De Bello, F., Lavorel, S., & Berman, S. (2006): Quantifying and interpreting functional diversity of natural communities: practical considerations matter. Preslia, 78, 481-501.
