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Functional and Taxonomic Perspectives of Marine Biodiversity

Functional Diversity and Ecosystem Processes

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Marine Hard Bottom Communities

Part of the book series: Ecological Studies ((ECOLSTUD,volume 206))

Abstract

The importance of biological diversity for the functioning of ecosystems has become the focus of a substantial body of literature, drawing on research in a wide variety of ecosystems. As discussed by Gamfeldt and Bracken (Chap. 26), much debate stillsurrounds the topic, yet some general conclusions are emerging. Here, we turn our attention to how this relationship changes given classifications of diversity based on functional differences, rather than only taxonomic differences. Little empirical research on this topic has been done in marine hard bottom communities relative to terrestrial communities, especially grasslands (Emmerson and Huxham 2002; Hooper et al. 2005; Stachowicz et al. 2007). This is perhaps surprising, given the history of influential ecological research on marine hard substrata (Connell 1974; Paine 1977). It is even more surprising when one considers the remarkable functional and phylogenetic diversity of organisms occurring on hard substrata in marine environments. Although terrestrial ecosystems often have larger numbers of species (particularly arthropods, especially beetles), marine systems have far higher diversity at higher taxonomic levels (May 1994; Vincent and Clarke 1995; Ormond 1996). In particular, 28 phyla of animals occur in the sea, 13 exclusively so, compared to only 11 that occur on land, only one exclusively so (Ray and Grassle 1991). This makes marine hard substrata of potentially great utility in addressing an outstanding and emerging issue in the biodiversity-ecosystem function (BEF) debate: the relative utility of taxonomic versus trait-based (i.e. ‘functional’) classifications of biodiversity. In this chapter, we will explore the complexities of defining these different types of biological diversity, and go on to discuss the relative utility and relationships between them, focusing on examples from marine hard substrata.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, 4, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland

    Tasman P. Crowe

  2. CIESIN, The Earth Institute, Columbia University, 2910 Broadway, MC 3277, NY 10025, New York, USA

    Roly Russell

  3. The Sandhill Institute, 5800 Edwards Road, V0H 1H9, Grand Forks, BC, Canada

    Roly Russell

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  1. Tasman P. Crowe
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  2. Roly Russell
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Correspondence to Tasman P. Crowe .

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    Crowe, T.P., Russell, R. (2009). Functional and Taxonomic Perspectives of Marine Biodiversity. In: Wahl, M. (eds) Marine Hard Bottom Communities. Ecological Studies, vol 206. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/b76710_27

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