Putting Beta-Diversity On The Map: Broad-Scale Congruence And Coincidence In The Extremes

Beta-diversity, how species composition varies from place to place, is a
fundamental attribute of biodiversity. However, despite its recognized
importance, beta-diversity is rarely studied across large spatial scales.



Here, Meghan McKnight, Simon Stuart, and colleagues, published in the
open-access journal PLoS Biology, use a new method to compare amphibian,
bird,
and mammal beta-diversity across large regions within the Western
Hemisphere. They show that although the areas of low beta-diversity are
different
for the three groups, areas of high beta-diversity largely coincide.
Moreover, they find that the degree to which the groups exhibit similar
patterns
of beta-diversity depends on the geographic location and extent at which
it is measured. Beta-diversity is high where species are most susceptible
to
climate change, such as in areas with complex topography or high
environmental variation. Identifying where areas of high beta-diversity
coincide for
different species groups is essential to the design of effective protected
area networks.



Citation: McKnight MW, White PS,McDonald RI, Lamoreux JF, Sechrest W, et
al. (2007) Putting beta-diversity on themap: Broad-scale congruence and
coincidence in the extremes.
PLoS Biol 5(10): e272. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0050272
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