Lost, gained, and regained functional and phylogenetic diversity of European mammals since 8000 years ago.

ABSTRACT: Mammals have experienced high levels of human-mediated extirpations but have also been widely introduced to new locations, and some have recovered from historic persecution. Both of these processes-losses and gains-have resulted in concern about functional losses and changes in ecological communities as new ecological states develop. The question of whether species turnover inevitably leads to declines in functional and phylogenetic diversity depends, however, on the traits and phylogenetic distinctiveness of the species that are lost, gained, or regained. Comparing ~8000 years ago with the last century, we show that extirpations and range retractions have indeed reduced the functional and phylogenetic diversity of mammals in most European regions (countries and island groups), but species

SUBMITTER: Hatfield JH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9540530 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature