D'Agata S., Mouillot D., Kulbicki Michel, Andréfouët Serge, Bellwood D. R., Cinner J. E., Cowman P. F., Kronen M., Pinca S., Vigliola Laurent. (2014). Human-mediated loss of phylogenetic and functional diversity in coral reef fishes. Current Biology, 24 (5), p. 555-560. ISSN 0960-9822.
Titre du document
Human-mediated loss of phylogenetic and functional diversity in coral reef fishes
Année de publication
2014
Auteurs
D'Agata S., Mouillot D., Kulbicki Michel, Andréfouët Serge, Bellwood D. R., Cinner J. E., Cowman P. F., Kronen M., Pinca S., Vigliola Laurent
Source
Current Biology, 2014,
24 (5), p. 555-560 ISSN 0960-9822
Beyond the loss of species richness [1-3], human activities may also deplete the breadth of evolutionary history (phylogenetic diversity) and the diversity of roles (functional diversity) carried out by species within communities, two overlooked components of biodiversity. Both are, however, essential to sustain ecosystem functioning and the associated provision of ecosystem services, particularly under fluctuating environmental conditions [1-7]. We quantified the effect of human activities on the taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional diversity of fish communities in coral reefs, while teasing apart the influence of biogeography and habitat along a gradient of human pressure across the Pacific Ocean. We detected nonlinear relationships with significant breaking points in the impact of human population density on phylogenetic and functional diversity of parrot-fishes, at 25 and 15 inhabitants/km(2), respectively, while parrot-fish species richness decreased linearly along the same population gradient. Over the whole range, species richness decreased by 11.7%, while phylogenetic and functional diversity dropped by 35.8% and 46.6%, respectively. Our results call for caution when using species richness as a benchmark for measuring the status of ecosystems since it appears to be less responsive to variation in human population densities than its phylogenetic and functional counterparts, potentially imperiling the functioning of coral reef ecosystems.
Plan de classement
Ecologie, systèmes aquatiques [036]
;
Ressources halieutiques [040]
Description Géographique
PACIFIQUE
Localisation
Fonds IRD [F B010061627]
Identifiant IRD
fdi:010061627
