Functional Diversity

Question 1

What is the problem with species richness?

Answer 1

Hides a lot

No identity of species

So community has no composition

Ecosystem function is driven by characteristics of the species (traits) so identity of a species really matters

Question 2

What is the Grime’s Mass Ratio Hypothesis?

Answer 2

Species identity matters because traits drive ecosystem function

Traits are real measurable characteristics of the plant/species

Controls on ecoystem function are in proportion to biomass or productivity of that species

Richness of subordinate or transient species has little influence

AKA

traits of most common species define functioning the most because the contribute the most

Question 3

What communities leech more?

Answer 3

Legume communities but there is a negative relationship with plant species and functional group richness

Question 4

Why is functional diversity hard?

Answer 4

Determining the function of an organism is hard as they cant tell us

Have to make sensible assumptions but we may have missed something

Question 5

What can functional diversity change?

Answer 5

Doesnt show same hotspots as traditional species/functional group richness e.g. coral triangle one of the least functionally diverse places on the planet for fish despite harbouring so many species

Question 6

What does dominance do to functional diversity?

Answer 6

Reduces it