Does functional homogenization accompany taxonomic homogenization of British birds and how do biotic factors and climate affect these processes?

ABSTRACT: Environmental change has reshuffled communities often causing taxonomic homogenization rather than differentiation. Some studies suggest that this increasing similarity of species composition between communities is accompanied by an increase in similarity of trait composition-functional homogenization-although different methodologies have failed to come to any consistent conclusions. Functional homogenization could have a large effect on ecosystem functioning and stability. Here, we use the general definition of homogenization as "reduced spatial turnover over time" to compare changes in Simpson's beta diversity (taxonomic turnover) with changes in Rao's quadratic entropy beta diversity (functional turnover) in British breeding birds at three spatial scales. Using biotic and climatic varia

SUBMITTER: White HJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6106174 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature