Functional Diversity Changes during Tropical Forest Succession

background

This paper evaluates changes in species richness and functional diversity during tropical secondary forest succession following shifting cultivation in Chiapas, Mexico. It examines whether speces richness is a good predictor of functional diversity.

Research Goals & Methods

Functional diversity was calculated based on a combination of nine functional traits and two individual traits important for primary production: specific leaf area and carbon sequestration (wood density).

Conclusions & Takeaways

The authors found that functional diversity increases with species diversity but that the relationship depends on the number and nature of functional traits included. In early secondary forest succession, limited functional redundancy exists. Results suggest that ecological functions are not necessarily safeguarded against species loss through functional redundancy and that species diversity is a better proxy for functional diversity than species richness in early successional sites. The authors recommend further studies across ecosystem types to understand this pattern.