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The European functional tree of bird life in the face of global change

Author

Listed:
  • Wilfried Thuiller

    (Laboratoire d’Ecologie Alpine, UMR CNRS 5553, Université Joseph Fourier)

  • Samuel Pironon

    (Laboratoire d’Ecologie Alpine, UMR CNRS 5553, Université Joseph Fourier
    Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología (CSIC))

  • Achilleas Psomas

    (Landscape Dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL)

  • Morgane Barbet-Massin

    (Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, UMR 7204 MNHN-CNRS-UPMC, Centre de Recherches sur la Biologie des Populations d’Oiseaux)

  • Frédéric Jiguet

    (Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, UMR 7204 MNHN-CNRS-UPMC, Centre de Recherches sur la Biologie des Populations d’Oiseaux)

  • Sébastien Lavergne

    (Laboratoire d’Ecologie Alpine, UMR CNRS 5553, Université Joseph Fourier)

  • Peter B. Pearman

    (Landscape Dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL)

  • Julien Renaud

    (Laboratoire d’Ecologie Alpine, UMR CNRS 5553, Université Joseph Fourier)

  • Laure Zupan

    (Laboratoire d’Ecologie Alpine, UMR CNRS 5553, Université Joseph Fourier)

  • Niklaus E. Zimmermann

    (Landscape Dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL)

Abstract

Despite the recognized joint impact of climate and land cover change on facets of biodiversity and their associated functions, risk assessments have primarily evaluated impacts on species ranges and richness. Here we quantify the sensitivity of the functional structure of European avian assemblages to changes in both regional climate and land cover. We combine species range forecasts with functional-trait information. We show that species sensitivity to environmental change is randomly distributed across the functional tree of the European avifauna and that functionally unique species are not disproportionately threatened by 2080. However, projected species range changes will modify the mean species richness and functional diversity of bird diets and feeding behaviours. This will unequally affect the spatial structure of functional diversity, leading to homogenization across Europe. Therefore, global changes may alter the functional structure of species assemblages in the future in ways that need to be accounted for in conservation planning.

Suggested Citation

  • Wilfried Thuiller & Samuel Pironon & Achilleas Psomas & Morgane Barbet-Massin & Frédéric Jiguet & Sébastien Lavergne & Peter B. Pearman & Julien Renaud & Laure Zupan & Niklaus E. Zimmermann, 2014. "The European functional tree of bird life in the face of global change," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-10, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms4118
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4118
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