Pla L., Casanoves F., Di Rienzo J. Quantifying Functional Biodiversity

Springer, 2012. - 109 p.
This book synthesizes current methods used to quantify functional diversity, providing step-by-step examples for defining functional groups and estimating functional indices. The authors show how to compare communities, and how to analyze changes of diversity along environmental gradients, using real-life examples throughout. One section of the book demonstrates the selection of traits, and the standardization and characterization of ecosystem data. Another section presents methods used to quantify functional diversity, shows how to relate functional diversity with environmental variables and how to connect these to ecosystem services. The concluding section introduces FDiversity, a free program developed by the authors. The reader is guided through every step from software installation and basic functions, to sample and database design, to graphical projection methods, employing case study data to illustrate key concepts.Contents
Introduction
Functional Diversity Approach To Quantify the Biodiversity
Functional Diversity Assessment
Classification of Ecosystem Services
Selection of Traits According to Ecosystem Service
Functional Diversity Quantification
Functional Groups
Selecting Trait and Its Relation With Ecosystem Services
A Guide For Data Arrangement
Statistical Procedures To Define Functional Groups
Functional Characterization of Coastal Sandy Plain Vegetation in Southeast Brazil
Functional Groups For Bird Species in Nicaragua
Functional Diversity Indices
About Functional Diversity Indices and Measures
Species Diversity Indices
Single-trait Metrics and Indices: Properties and Estimation
Multi-trait Indices: Properties and Estimation
Ability of Indices to Detect Some Ecological Processes
How To Estimate Functional Diversity Indices
The FDiversity Software: Capabilities and Data Management
Case study: Changes in Functional Diversity in an Altitudinal Gradient
Case study: Changes in Functional Diversity in a Chronosequence
Multivariate Graphical Projection Methods