Functional Diversity of Arctic Macrozoobenthos
Renate Degen
ISTAS Conference, Plouzané, Oct. 22 – 25, 2014
ECOSYSTEM
Taxonomic Diversity
Environment Input
ECOSYSTEM
Taxonomic Diversity
Functional Diversity
Environment Input
What are functional traits?
How we assess functional diversity?
Explain patterns along gradients?
Can we use it to assess effects of climate change?
Taxonomy Production
Traits &
fuzzy coding
sessile 3 1 motile 0 1 semi-motile 0 3
Mobility
„Fuzzy Coding“
Taxonomy Production
Co-Inertia
Traits/Region nMDS
Traits &
fuzzy coding
Study Area
Secondary Production
Lomonosov Ridge Amundsen Basin Nansen Basin
Barents Sea
2012
1991
Number of species & traits / Region
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Barents Sea
Nansen Basin
Amundsen Basin
Lomonosov Ridge Species
Number of species & traits / Region
44 40 40 41
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Barents Sea
Nansen Basin
Amundsen Basin
Lomonosov Ridge Species
Traits
Co-inertia Analysis
Barents Sea Amundsen Basin
nMDS
1991 vs 2012: Species numbers
14 16 13
32
40
1991
2012
1991 vs 2012: nMDS
1991 vs 2012: Sea Ice
1991
2012
1991 vs 2012: Co-inertia
Amundsen 2012 Amundsen 1991
Conclusion
• Decrease of taxa ≠ decrease of function
“Generalist” traits in the Arctic deep-sea
• BTA useful tool to study effects of climate change in Arctic regions
Reference stations necessary!
