Biodiversity Loss Threatens the Current Functional Similarity of Beta Diversity in Benthic Diatom Communities.

ABSTRACT: The global biodiversity loss has increased the need to understand the effects of decreasing diversity, but our knowledge on how species loss will affect the functioning of communities and ecosystems is still very limited. Here, the levels of taxonomic and functional beta diversity and the effect of species loss on functional beta diversity were investigated in an estuary that provides a naturally steep environmental gradient. The study was conducted using diatoms that are among the most important microorganisms in all aquatic ecosystems and globally account for 40% of marine primary production. Along the estuary, the taxonomic beta diversity of diatom communities was high (Bray-Curtis taxonomic similarity 0.044) and strongly controlled by the environment, particularly wind exposure, salini

SUBMITTER: Virta L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7835312 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature