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Measuring biodiversity in the Anthropocene: a simple guide to helpful methods

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Abstract

Quantifying biodiversity patterns in the context of human-caused environmental degradation is a fundamental task to improve conservation strategies; yet, it can be difficult given the rapid increase of available analytical methods. To guide studies on the topic, in this brief essay we present four approaches, accompanied by empirical examples, that can be used to accurately assess the impact of human activities on different facets of biological diversity. Such approaches include: (1) measurement of alpha diversity by incorporating interpolation-extrapolation techniques, Hill numbers and rank-abundance graphs; (2) beta diversity and its components of turnover and richness differences due to nestedness; (3) functional diversity, and (4) phylogenetic diversity. We highlight that a critical assessment, understanding and appropriate application of these and other emerging concepts and methods to assess biodiversity is needed to support both theoretical and applied studies, especially in biological conservation.

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Acknowledgements

This contribution was inspired by the authors’ opinions during an update workshop on concepts and methods to assess biodiversity, organized with the support of the Conacyt Basic Science Project 222632 “Evaluación de la diversidad de especies mediante el análisis e integración de elementos ecológicos, funcionales y evolutivos” and the Conacyt Red Temática 251272 “Biología, Manejo y Conservación de la Fauna Nativa en Ambientes Antropizados”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Instituto de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Pachuca, Mexico

    Claudia E. Moreno, Jaime M. Calderón-Patrón, Natalia Martín-Regalado, Ana P. Martínez-Falcón, Ilse J. Ortega-Martínez, C. Lucero Rios-Díaz, Fernando Rosas & Iriana Zuria

  2. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelia, Mexico

    Víctor Arroyo-Rodríguez & Jorge E. Schondube

  3. División de Ciencias Ambientales, CONACYT-Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica A.C., San Luis Potosí, Mexico

    Felipe Barragán

  4. Red de Ecoetología, Instituto de Ecología A.C., Xalapa, Mexico

    Federico Escobar

  5. División de Desarrollo Sustentable, Universidad Intercultural del Estado de México, San Felipe del Progreso, Estado de México, Mexico

    Yuriana Gómez-Ortiz

  6. Departamento de Conservación de la Biodiversidad, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, San Cristóbal de las Casas, Mexico

    Miguel Ángel Martínez-Morales

  7. Instituto de Investigaciones sobre los Recursos Naturales, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia, Mexico

    Eduardo Mendoza

  8. Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico

    Cisteil X. Pérez-Hernández

  9. Red de Biología y Conservación de Vertebrados, Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Xalapa, Mexico

    Eduardo Pineda

  10. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Querétaro, Mexico

    Rubén Pineda-López

  11. Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad, Mexico City, Mexico

    Pilar Rodríguez

Authors
  1. Claudia E. Moreno
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  2. Jaime M. Calderón-Patrón
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  3. Víctor Arroyo-Rodríguez
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  5. Federico Escobar
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  6. Yuriana Gómez-Ortiz
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  7. Natalia Martín-Regalado
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  8. Ana P. Martínez-Falcón
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  9. Miguel Ángel Martínez-Morales
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  10. Eduardo Mendoza
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  11. Ilse J. Ortega-Martínez
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  12. Cisteil X. Pérez-Hernández
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  13. Eduardo Pineda
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  14. Rubén Pineda-López
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  15. C. Lucero Rios-Díaz
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  16. Pilar Rodríguez
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  17. Fernando Rosas
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  18. Jorge E. Schondube
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  19. Iriana Zuria
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Claudia E. Moreno.

Additional information

Communicated by Dirk Sven Schmeller.

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Moreno, C.E., Calderón-Patrón, J.M., Arroyo-Rodríguez, V. et al. Measuring biodiversity in the Anthropocene: a simple guide to helpful methods. Biodivers Conserv 26, 2993–2998 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-017-1401-1

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