To what extent could functional diversity be a useful tool in inferring ecosystem responses to past climate changes

摘要: Abstract Functional diversity (the amount of inter-specific variation in functional traits an ecological community) has been receiving increased attention studies because it does not treat all species identically, as taxonomical does, but rather according to the role they have within a community. Therefore, (FD) can provide information capable revealing processes that structured past faunal complexes (FCs) (seen “spatio-temporal” meta-communities) and promoted their dynamic changes. Each FC gathers assemblages from different territories. Thus, composition local faunas may differ site site, though structure be substantially same. In such cases, is appropriate classify into groups study changes relative abundance over time. This allows quantify aspect biodiversity establish its relationships with ecosystem functioning environmental constraints through resource partitioning among species. The research focused on mammalian SW European FCs, examined light Early Middle Pleistocene profound climate known Mid-Pleistocene Revolution. population density (that marginally affected by climatic geographical factors) here proposed best proxy for individuals FC. approach advantage avoiding effects time averaging fossil data other sampling issues paleontologists routinely face (e.g. taphonomic biases). Results obtained indicate comparison FD across region analysis interesting hints scrutinizing detail effect shifts restructuring communities.