Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Anderson, Marti J.
• Crist, Thomas O.
• Chase, Jonathan M.
• Vellend, Mark
• Inouye, Brian D.
• Freestone, Amy L.
• Sanders, Nathan J.
• Cornell, Howard V.
• Comita, Liza S.
• Davies, Kendi F.
• Harrison, Susan P.
• Kraft, Nathan J. B.
• Stegen, James C.
• Swenson, Nathan G.

Titel

Navigating the multiple meanings of β diversity: a roadmap for the practicing ecologist

Ist Teil von

• Ecology letters, 2011-01, Vol.14 (1), p.19-28

Ort / Verlag

Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Erscheinungsjahr

2011

Link zum Volltext

Quelle

Wiley-Blackwell Journals

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Ecology Letters (2011) 14: 19–28 A recent increase in studies of β diversity has yielded a confusing array of concepts, measures and methods. Here, we provide a roadmap of the most widely used and ecologically relevant approaches for analysis through a series of mission statements. We distinguish two types of β diversity: directional turnover along a gradient vs. non‐directional variation. Different measures emphasize different properties of ecological data. Such properties include the degree of emphasis on presence/absence vs. relative abundance information and the inclusion vs. exclusion of joint absences. Judicious use of multiple measures in concert can uncover the underlying nature of patterns in β diversity for a given dataset. A case study of Indonesian coral assemblages shows the utility of a multi‐faceted approach. We advocate careful consideration of relevant questions, matched by appropriate analyses. The rigorous application of null models will also help to reveal potential processes driving observed patterns in β diversity.