Decoupled responses of biodiversity facets driven from anuran vulnerability to climate and land-use changes

Biodiversity loss not only implies the loss of species but also entails losses in other dimensions of biodiversity, such as functional, phylogenetic and interaction diversity. Yet, each of those facets of biodiversity may respond differently to extinctions. Here, we examine how extinction, driven by climate and land-use changes may affect those different facets of diversity by combining empirical data on anuran-prey interaction networks, species distribution modelling and extinction simulations in assemblages representing four Neotropical ecoregions. We found a mismatch in the response of functional, phylogenetic and interaction diversity to extinction. In spite of high network robustness to extinction, the effects on interaction diversity were stronger than those on phylogenetic and functional diversity, declining linearly with species loss. Although it is often assumed that interaction patterns are reflected by functional diversity, assessing species interactions may be necessary to understand how species loss translates into the loss of ecosystem functions.

Automated summary

Biodiversity loss not only includes species loss, but also loss in functional, phylogenetic, and interaction diversity. However, each aspect of biodiversity may respond differently to extinctions. This study examines the impact of extinction driven by climate and land-use changes on different facets of diversity using empirical data, species distribution modeling, and extinction simulations. The results show a mismatch in the response of functional, phylogenetic, and interaction diversity to extinction, with stronger effects on interaction diversity. Assessing species interactions is necessary to understand how species loss translates into the loss of ecosystem functions.