2010/11/11 by Marti J. Anderson, Thomas O. Crist, Jonathan M. Chase +11 · 5 citations
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Environmental Science · #Biology #Computer science #Ecology #Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies #Environmental ethics #Geology #Library science #Miami #Philosophy #Plant and animal studies #Sociology #Species Distribution and Climate Change #State (computer science)
paper · pdf · doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2010.01552.x
openalex publication_date 2010/11/11 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/02
A 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.