Navigating the multiple meanings of β diversity: a roadmap for the practicing ecologist

A recent increase in studies of β diversity has yielded a confusing array of concepts, measures and methods. Here, we provide a roadmap of the most widely used and ecologically relevant approaches for analysis through a series of mission statements. We distinguish two types of β diversity: directional turnover along a gradient vs. non-directional variation. Different measures emphasize different properties of ecological data. Such properties include the degree of emphasis on presence/absence vs. relative abundance information and the inclusion vs. exclusion of joint absences. Judicious use of multiple measures in concert can uncover the underlying nature of patterns in β diversity for a given dataset. A case…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Award: 0906005
• UD
  U.S. Department of Energy
• RS
  Royal Society Te Apārangi

  Award: MAU0713
• NS
  Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada