Taxonomic homogenization of woodland plant communities over 70 years

Keith, Sally A.; Newton, Adrian C.; Morecroft, Michael D.; Bealey, Clive E.; Bullock, James M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0529-4020. 2009 Taxonomic homogenization of woodland plant communities over 70 years. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, B, 276 (1672). 3539-3544. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2009.0938

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Abstract/Summary

Taxonomic homogenization (TH) is the increasing similarity of the species composition of ecological communities over time. Such homogenization represents a form of biodiversity loss and can result from local species turnover. Evidence for TH is limited, reflecting a lack of suitable historical datasets, and previous analyses have generated contrasting conclusions. We present an analysis of woodland patches across a southern English county (Dorset) in which we quantified 70 years of change in the composition of vascular plant communities. We tested the hypotheses that over this time patches decreased in species richness, homogenized, or shifted towards novel communities. Although mean species richness at the patch scale did not change, we found increased similarity in species composition among woodlands over time. We concluded that the woodlands have undergone TH without experiencing declines in local diversity or shifts towards novel communities. Analysis of species characteristics suggested that these changes were not driven by non-native species invasions or climate change, but instead reflected reorganization of the native plant communities in response to eutrophication and increasingly shaded conditions. These analyses provide, to our knowledge, the first direct evidence of TH in the UK and highlight the potential importance of this phenomenon as a contributor to biodiversity loss.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2009.0938
Programmes:	CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biodiversity > BD Topic 2 - Ecological Processes in the Environment CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Biodiversity
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Hails
Additional Keywords:	biotic homogenization, biodiversity, conservation, environmental change
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	12 Nov 2009 13:11 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/8126

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