Ecology Letters (2011) 14: 19–28AbstractA recent increase in studies of β diversity has yielded a confusing array of concepts, measures and methods. Here, we provide a roadmap of the most widely used and ecologically relevant approaches for analysis through a series of mission statements. We distinguish two types of β diversity: directional turnover along a gradient vs. non-directional variation. Different measures emphasize different properties of ecological data. Such properties include the degree of emphasis on presence/absence vs. relative abundance information and the inclusion vs. exclusion of joint absences. Judicious use of multiple measures in concert can uncover the underlying nature of patterns in β diversity for a given dataset. A case study of Indonesian coral assemblages shows the utility of a multi-faceted approach. We advocate careful consideration of relevant questions, matched by appropriate analyses. The rigorous application of null models will also help to reveal potential processes driving observed patterns in β diversity.
%0 Journal Article
%1 anderson_navigating_2011
%A Anderson, Marti J.
%A Crist, Thomas O.
%A Chase, Jonathan M.
%A Vellend, Mark
%A Inouye, Brian D.
%A Freestone, Amy L.
%A Sanders, Nathan J.
%A Cornell, Howard V.
%A Comita, Liza S.
%A Davies, Kendi F.
%A Harrison, Susan P.
%A Kraft, Nathan J. B.
%A Stegen, James C.
%A Swenson, Nathan G.
%D 2011
%J Ecology Letters
%K \_tablet, beta-diversity, community diversity, ecology, environmental models, multispecies partitioning species turnover, variability, variance
%N 1
%P 19--28
%R 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2010.01552.x
%T Navigating the multiple meanings of β diversity: a roadmap for the practicing ecologist
%U http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2010.01552.x/abstract
%V 14
%X Ecology Letters (2011) 14: 19–28AbstractA recent increase in studies of β diversity has yielded a confusing array of concepts, measures and methods. Here, we provide a roadmap of the most widely used and ecologically relevant approaches for analysis through a series of mission statements. We distinguish two types of β diversity: directional turnover along a gradient vs. non-directional variation. Different measures emphasize different properties of ecological data. Such properties include the degree of emphasis on presence/absence vs. relative abundance information and the inclusion vs. exclusion of joint absences. Judicious use of multiple measures in concert can uncover the underlying nature of patterns in β diversity for a given dataset. A case study of Indonesian coral assemblages shows the utility of a multi-faceted approach. We advocate careful consideration of relevant questions, matched by appropriate analyses. The rigorous application of null models will also help to reveal potential processes driving observed patterns in β diversity.