How Biodiversity, Climate and Landscape Drive Functional Redundancy of British Butterflies

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Zoology
• Conservation Biology

Background:

• Ecosystem functioning relies on biodiversity.
• Functional redundancy safeguards ecosystem stability against environmental changes.
• Drivers of functional redundancy remain largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze taxonomic and functional diversity and redundancy in British butterflies.
• To investigate the influence of temperature and landscape variables on these patterns.
• To understand the relationship between species richness and functional redundancy.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of taxonomic diversity, functional richness, and beta-diversity.
• Application of generalized additive models for richness and redundancy.
• Utilization of generalized dissimilarity models for beta-diversity.
• Exploration of climate and landscape variables as drivers.

Main Results:

• Species richness and functional richness showed a saturating relationship, indicating functional redundancy in diverse communities.
• Temperature significantly impacted all diversity metrics and functional redundancy (unimodal relationship).
• Landscape variables influenced observed diversity and redundancy patterns.
• Taxonomic and functional beta-diversity were congruent, but taxonomic beta-diversity better explained environmental gradients.
• Warmer areas had lower functional redundancy, potentially linked to agricultural intensification.

Conclusions:

• Species-rich butterfly communities exhibit functional redundancy.
• Climate and landscape variables are significant drivers of butterfly diversity and redundancy.
• Taxonomic beta-diversity is more sensitive to environmental gradients than functional beta-diversity.
• Reduced functional redundancy in warmer areas suggests potential vulnerability despite high species richness.