Measuring biodiversity in the Anthropocene: a simple guide to helpful methods

Quantifying biodiversity patterns in the context of human-caused environmental degradation is a fundamental task to improve conservation strategies; yet, it can be difficult given the rapid increase of available analytical methods. To guide studies on the topic, in this brief essay we present four a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biodiversity and conservation 2017-11, Vol.26 (12), p.2993-2998
Main Authors: Moreno, Claudia E., Calderón-Patrón, Jaime M., Arroyo-Rodríguez, Víctor, Barragán, Felipe, Escobar, Federico, Gómez-Ortiz, Yuriana, Martín-Regalado, Natalia, Martínez-Falcón, Ana P., Martínez-Morales, Miguel Ángel, Mendoza, Eduardo, Ortega-Martínez, Ilse J., Pérez-Hernández, Cisteil X., Pineda, Eduardo, Pineda-López, Rubén, Rios-Díaz, C. Lucero, Rodríguez, Pilar, Rosas, Fernando, Schondube, Jorge E., Zuria, Iriana
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abundance
analytical methods
Anthropocene
Anthropocene epoch
Biodegradation
Biodiversity
Biological diversity
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Climate Change/Climate Change Impacts
Commentary
Conservation
Conservation biology
Conservation Biology/Ecology
Ecology
Empirical analysis
Environmental degradation
functional diversity
Graphs
Human influences
Life Sciences
Measurement
Methods
nestedness
Phylogeny
species diversity
Wildlife conservation
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Summary:Quantifying biodiversity patterns in the context of human-caused environmental degradation is a fundamental task to improve conservation strategies; yet, it can be difficult given the rapid increase of available analytical methods. To guide studies on the topic, in this brief essay we present four approaches, accompanied by empirical examples, that can be used to accurately assess the impact of human activities on different facets of biological diversity. Such approaches include: (1) measurement of alpha diversity by incorporating interpolation-extrapolation techniques, Hill numbers and rank-abundance graphs; (2) beta diversity and its components of turnover and richness differences due to nestedness; (3) functional diversity, and (4) phylogenetic diversity. We highlight that a critical assessment, understanding and appropriate application of these and other emerging concepts and methods to assess biodiversity is needed to support both theoretical and applied studies, especially in biological conservation.
ISSN:0960-3115
1572-9710
DOI:10.1007/s10531-017-1401-1