Long-term datasets in biodiversity research and monitoring: assessing change in ecological communities through time

Magurran, Anne E.; Baillie, Stephen R.; Buckland, Stephen T.; Dick, Jan; Elston, David A.; Scott, E. Marian; Smith, R. I.; Somerfield, Paul J.; Watt, Allan D.

doi:10.1016/j.tree.2010.06.016

Cited by 730 publications

(592 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…Magurran et al 2010), even though both observers were skilled and experienced bryologists. A long-term study of similar catchments in Sweden by the same observer found no changes in number of species over a 16-year period (Köchy and Bråkenhielm 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understorey Vegetation Stability and Dynamics in Unmanaged Boreal Forests Along a Deposition Gradient in Sweden

Grandin

2011

AMBIO

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The aims of this study were to investigate spatial patterns and temporal changes in understorey vegetation at four forest catchments forming a depositional gradient. Inventories of the bottom and field layers were carried out in the 1990s and repeated after 5-14 years, depending on catchment. It was hypothesized that changes and patterns in ground vegetation would be related to changes and patterns in N and S deposition. The data were analyzed using Ellenberg indices and multivariate methods. All catchments showed temporal changes in species composition. Analyses of the bottom layer were confounded by a change of field staff, but after accounting for this observer effect, differences in species composition between the catchments remained. Within catchments, the changes in species composition were unrelated to N or S deposition. Relationships between environmental factors, expressed as Ellenberg indices, and compositional patterns differed between catchments although Ellenberg indices showed small temporal changes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understorey Vegetation Stability and Dynamics in Unmanaged Boreal Forests Along a Deposition Gradient in Sweden

Grandin

2011

AMBIO

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“…One approach is to find and use easily assessed indicators (partial measures or estimator surrogates, sensu Sarkar and Margules 2002). However, selection of such indicators remains predominantly intuitive rather than evidence-based (Howard et al 1997;Lawton et al 1998;Watt 1998;Noss 1999;Dudley et al 2005;Kessler et al 2011;Le et al 2012) and there remains the challenge of distinguishing change that can be attributed to external anthropogenic factors from underlying natural processes (Magurran et al 2010). Candidate indicators such as landscape metrics, remotely-sensed variables, multi-species indices and formulated measures of ecosystem complexity or genetic diversity have found wide application but are of limited practicality in forests (UNEP-CBD 1996; Kapos et al 2001;Delbaere 2002; European Academies' Science Advisory Council (ESAC) 2004; Gregory et al 2005;Duraiappah and Naeem 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant functional types and traits as biodiversity indicators for tropical forests: two biogeographically separated case studies including birds, mammals and termites

et al. 2013

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Multi-taxon surveys were conducted in species-rich, lowland palaeotropical and neotropical forested landscapes in Sumatra, Indonesia and Mato Grosso, Brazil. Gradient-directed transects (gradsects) were sampled across a range of forested land use mosaics, using a uniform protocol to simultaneously record vegetation (vascular plant 123Biodivers Conserv (2013( ) 22:1909( -1930( DOI 10.1007 species, plant functional types (PFTs) and vegetation structure), vertebrates (birds, mammals) and invertebrates (termites), in addition to measuring site and soil properties, including carbon stocks. At both sites similar correlations were detected between major components of structure (mean canopy height, woody basal area and litter depth) and the diversities of plant species and PFTs. A plant species to PFT ratio [spp.:PFTs] was the best overall predictor of animal diversity, especially termite species richness in Sumatra. To a notable extent vegetation structure also correlated with animal diversity. These surrogates demonstrate generic links between habitat structural elements, carbon stocks and biodiversity. They may also offer practical low-cost indicators for rapid assessment in tropical forest landscapes.

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“…Furthermore, accurate assessment of phenophases is likely to vary from recorder to recorder (Sparks et al 2006), whilst human error during field observations could be expected to increase during times of adverse conditions. One method currently being used to overcome such problems is citizen science (Magurran et al 2010), such as the UK Phenological Network (http://www.naturescalender. org.uk), where the high number of records generated is likely to outweigh recorder error.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Biological and Environmental Phenology at a Landscape Level from 30 Years of Fixed-Date Repeat Photography in Northern Sweden

Andrews

Dick

Jonasson

et al. 2011

AMBIO

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A 30-year series of photographic records were analysed to determine changes in lake ice cover, local (low elevation) and montane (high elevation) snow cover and phenological stages of mountain birch (Betula pubescens ssp. czerepanovii) at the Abisko Scientific Research Station, Sweden. In most cases, the photographic-derived data showed no significant difference in phenophase score from manually observed field records from the same period, demonstrating the accuracy and potential of using weekly repeat photography as a quicker, cheaper and more adaptable tool to remotely study phenology in both biological and physical systems. Overall, increases in ambient temperatures coupled with decreases in winter ice and snow cover, and earlier occurrence of birch foliage, signal a reduction in the length of winter, a shift towards earlier springs and an increase in the length of available growing season in the Swedish sub-arctic.

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Long-term datasets in biodiversity research and monitoring: assessing change in ecological communities through time

Cited by 730 publications

References 55 publications

Understorey Vegetation Stability and Dynamics in Unmanaged Boreal Forests Along a Deposition Gradient in Sweden

Understorey Vegetation Stability and Dynamics in Unmanaged Boreal Forests Along a Deposition Gradient in Sweden

Plant functional types and traits as biodiversity indicators for tropical forests: two biogeographically separated case studies including birds, mammals and termites

Assessment of Biological and Environmental Phenology at a Landscape Level from 30 Years of Fixed-Date Repeat Photography in Northern Sweden

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