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The potential of trait-based approaches to contribute to marine conservation

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 02:44 authored by Richard Stuart-SmithRichard Stuart-Smith, Bates, AE, Lefcheck, JS, Duffy, JE, Susan BakerSusan Baker, Russell Thomson, Jemina Stuart-SmithJemina Stuart-Smith, Nicole HillNicole Hill, Kininmonth, SJ, Airoldi, L, Becerro, MA, Campbell, SJ, Dawson, TP, Navarrete, SA, German Soler AlarconGerman Soler Alarcon, Elisabeth StrainElisabeth Strain, Willis, TJ, Graham EdgarGraham Edgar
The value of diversity metrics to represent ecological communities and inform broad-scale conservation objectives and policy has often been subject to debate and uncertainty [1] and [2]. In practice, diversity metrics are important in setting management and conservation priorities, just as economic indices contribute to global monetary and financial policies. Thus, key challenges for ecologists are to identify new ways to view and summarise patterns in biodiversity and improve on the metrics available for management purposes. In a recent paper on functional diversity patterns in reef fishes [3], we highlighted the potential of new insights gained from functional trait-based approaches to inform marine management, stressing the need to develop and refine biodiversity measures that are linked to ecology (rather than taxonomy). We used a unique, fisheries-independent reef fish identity and abundance dataset, collected using standardised methods from equatorial to high latitude regions all over the world, to provide the first global view of the distribution of individuals amongst species (including a measure of evenness) and functional traits amongst marine communities. A recent paper by Robinson et al. [4] published in Marine Policy criticised the use of our evenness index as a measure of biodiversity, and questioned the use of functional trait-based metrics derived from surveys of standardised areas for decisions relating to broad-scale management of marine systems. In this paper we respond to Robinson et al. and rebut their claims related to sampling bias and broad-scale applicability of trait-based approaches.

History

Publication title

Marine Policy

Volume

51

Pagination

148-150

ISSN

0308-597X

Department/School

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies

Publisher

Elsevier Sci Ltd

Place of publication

The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford, England, Oxon, Ox5 1Gb

Rights statement

Copyright 2014 Elsevier Ltd.

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Assessment and management of coastal and estuarine ecosystems; Marine biodiversity

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