Widman, Elizabeth (2012) Trait similarity vs species similarity in coral reef ecology : test of improved monitoring methods using Southwest Madagascar reefs. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

Trait-based approaches are emerging in various fields of ecology, and are here
developed for coral reefs. ‘Traits’ means biological characteristics of each species;
thus closely related species may have different traits and distantly related species
may share common traits. This promotes understanding of a system better than using
species alone.
Chapter One summarizes existing methods, mostly from plant ecology, explores their
utility for corals, and an extensive review then extracts candidate Scleractinian traits
(Chapter Two). A dataset of 26 key traits from 231 species from Southwest
Madagascar was then collected using 68 reefs of several typologies along several
natural and ‘use’ gradients (Chapter Three). This used over 7,000 photo-quadrats on
reefs spanning over 200 km (Chapter Four).
Trait-based approaches require species-level identification. However, where species
are difficult to distinguish, a species-replacement methodology facilitated translation
of species to trait-combinations (Chapter Four).
Inter-specific trait similarity between the 231 corals and their 26 traits is examined
(Chapter Five). In total, 13 groups of corals with highly similar trait-combinations
were identified, in which species are functionally equivalent and which therefore can
be considered as functionally interchangeable parts in the ecosystem. However,
because one quarter of species had unique trait combinations, a functional group
approach to surveying reefs may not adequately describe existing trait diversity.
Therefore a methodological alternative to using functional groups alone was
developed.
A trait-based similarity coefficient (Tsim) was developed to take into account both
species and trait combination similarities between reefs (Chapter Six). A R-based
package that calculates and visualizes Tsim is provided. Tsim’s characteristics were
compared to species-based coefficients (Renkonen similarity). Tsim identifies
functionally similar reefs missed using species identity alone (Chapters Six and
Seven), and can be used to determine reefs that have highly similar trait
combinations while being very dissimilar in terms of species.

Item Type:	Thesis or Dissertation (PhD)
Subjects:	Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Coral reef ecology -- Madagascar, Homoplasy, Evolution (Biology)
Official Date:	September 2012
Dates:	Date Event September 2012 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	School of Life Sciences
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Sheppard, Charles (Charles R. C.); Keeling, Matthew James
Sponsors:	Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC); University of Warwick; Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (Great Britain) (BBSRC); Carter Foundation
Extent:	xxiv, 418 pages : illustrations. + supplemental material
Language:	eng

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