Spatial mismatch and congruence between taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional diversity: the need for integrative conservation strategies in a changing world

Abstract

Functional and phylogenetic diversity are increasingly quantified in various fields of ecology and conservation biology. The need to maintain diversity turnover among sites, so-called beta-diversity, has also been raised in theoretical and applied ecology. In this study, we propose the first comprehensive framework for the large-scale mapping of taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional diversity and of their respective turnover. Using high-resolution data on the spatial distribution and abundance of birds at a country scale, we disentangled areas of mismatches and congruencies between biodiversity components. We further revealed unequal representation of each component in protected areas: functional diversity was significantly under-represented whereas taxonomic diversity was significantly over-represented in protected areas. Our results challenge the use of any one diversity component as a surrogate for other components and stress the need to adopt an integrative approach to biodiversity conservation.

Spatial variation of mammal richness, functional and phylogenetic diversity in the Mexican transition zone

“…The comparison between geographic regions clearly shows that biodiversity dimensions are not interchangeable measures, but complementary surrogates of biodiversity (Devictor et al 2010, Safi et al 2011. The endemism and richness in the ecoregions have been also suggested as useful surrogates for conservation (Orme et al 2005).…”

Phylogenetic diversity as a window into the evolutionary and biogeographic histories of present-day richness gradients for mammals

“…These spatial mismatches in patterns of species, functional and phylogenetic diversity are increasingly being documented (e.g. [105]). While theories for spatial scaling of species diversity are well established, analogous theory for PD is just emerging [106].…”

Phylogenetic constraints on ecosystem functioning

“…In fact, even when measures of functional diversity are available, PD can outperform functional diversity in predicting EF 17 . This approach is important as PD could then serve as an integrative measure to help conservation of particular ecosystem properties [18][19][20][21] .…”