Measuring the effects of change inbiodiversity on multipleecosystem functionsJarrett  Byrnes,  Lars  Gamfeldt,  Forest  Isbell,  Jonathan  Lefcheck,  John  Griffin,

Andrew  Hector,  Bradley  Cardinale,  David  Hooper,  Laura  Dee,  J.  Emmett  Duffy

UMass Boston, University of Gothenburg, University of Minnesota, Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences,Swansea University, University of Zurich, University of Michigan, Western Washington University,University of California Santa Barbara, Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences

http://jebyrnes.github.io/intecol-multifunc

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Meta-­‐analysis  Trio:  Diversity  Affects  Function

Balvanera et al. 2006 Eco. Let.

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But  Are  Only  Two  Species  Needed?

Cardinale et al. 2006

Balvanera et al. 2006 Eco. Let.

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Duffy et al. 2003Ecology Letters

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Multifunctionality: thesimultaneous

performance ofmultiple functions

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How  to  Measure  Multifunctionality

1. Past Methods of 'Measuring' Multifunctionality

2. At the Threshold of a Solution

3. Future Explorations of BEMF

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An  Example:  Biodepth

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Functions  Measured  in  Germany

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Different  Ways  of  Measuring  Multifunctionality1. Overlap in Species Influencing Function

2. Average Function

3. Number of Functions Performing at a Threshold

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Overlap  in  Species  Influencing  Function

This is not a measure of Multifunctionality

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Average  of  Standardized  Functions

Many results lead to the same line

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Number  of  Functions  Performing  at  a  Threshold

Threshold may be arbitrary

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How  to  Measure  Multifunctionality

1. Past Methods of 'Measuring' Multifunctionality

2. At the Threshold of a Solution

3. Future Explorations of BEMF

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Thresholds  Seem  Arbitrary

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Slope  Changes  Systematically  Across  Thresholds

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Slope  Changes  Systematically  Across  Thresholds

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Slope  Changes  Systematically  Across  Thresholds

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Slope  Changes  Systematically  Across  Thresholds

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How  to  Measure  Multifunctionality

1. Past Methods of 'Measuring' Multifunctionality

2. At the Threshold of a Solution

3. Future Explorations of BEMF

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Comparing  Systems

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Comparing  Systems  Behaviour

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Assessing  Generality  of  Metrics

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How  do  We  Measure  Multifunctionality?

1. Multifunctionality is a nuanced phenomenon

2. Multiple methods in the literature addressdifferent aspects of multifunctionality

3. Examining the relationship between diversityand # of Functions > a threshold at multiplethresholds provides new promising metrics

These methods not limited to biodiversity-ecosystem function research

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Thanks  to  NCEAS  &  the  BEF  Working  Group

Paper: http://bit.ly/multifunc R Multifunc Library: https://github.com/jebyrnes/multifunc

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