Functional diversity and biogeography using ‘sFDvent’ - the first global trait database for hydrothermal vent species
Author and article information
Abstract
The taxonomic composition of hydrothermal vent communities differs markedly on a global scale, forming distinct biogeographic provinces. The relative biodiversity of these areas can be assessed using traits as a common, cross-province ‘currency’. First, we used well-studied Juan de Fuca Ridge vents (NE Pacific) to assess trait data availability for vent species and to test the performance of functional diversity metrics given a species-poor system. These investigations highlighted vents as model ‘untouched’ ecosystems for developing ecological theory for conservation, advocating the potential of a vent trait database. Next, we built a global trait database for vent species – ‘sFDvent’. We selected traits that characterized the performance of a species and its contribution to ecosystem function, and best matched with established trait databases to ensure cross-ecosystem consistency. An international pool of experts scored these traits to populate the 14-trait database. Using sFDvent, we: created the first map of functional biogeography for deep-sea hydrothermal vents; assessed global-scale functional biodiversity trends (e.g., the East Pacific has fewer functionally unique species than the West Pacific, based on preliminary analyses); and evaluated the potential roles of large-scale environmental processes on these patterns.
Cite this as
2018. Functional diversity and biogeography using ‘sFDvent’ - the first global trait database for hydrothermal vent species. PeerJ Preprints 6:e26627v1 https://doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.26627v1Author comment
This is an abstract which has been accepted for the World Conference on Marine Biodiversity (WCMB).
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Additional Information
Competing Interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Author Contributions
Abbie Chapman conceived and designed the experiments, performed the experiments, analyzed the data, contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools, authored or reviewed drafts of the paper, approved the final draft.
Amanda E Bates conceived and designed the experiments, performed the experiments, analyzed the data, contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools, authored or reviewed drafts of the paper, approved the final draft.
Verena Tunnicliffe conceived and designed the experiments, analyzed the data, contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools, authored or reviewed drafts of the paper, approved the final draft.
The sFDvent Working Group contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools, sFDvent database creation was completed by the sFDvent working group and expert contributors from across the globe..
Data Deposition
The following information was supplied regarding data availability:
This is a submission of an abstract for a talk accepted for presentation at WCMB 2018.
Funding
Abbie Chapman is a PhD candidate supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (Grant/Award Number: NE/ L002531/1) and the University of Southampton, through the SPITFIRE Doctoral Training Partnership. Amanda Bates and Verena Tunnicliffe are supported by The Canada Research Chairs Program. The sFDvent working group was supported by sDiv, the Synthesis Centre of the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, funded by the German Research Foundation (FZT 118). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
