Palaeobotanical experiences of plant diversity in deep time. 2: How to measure and analyse past plant biodiversity

Autor(en)

H.S. Pardoe, Christopher J. Cleal, C.M. Berry, B. Cascales-Miñana, Basil A.S. Davies, J.B. Diez, T. Giesecke, M.V. Filipova-Marinova, Jason Hilton, Dimiter Ivanov, Evelyn Kustatscher, S.A.G. Leroy, J.C. McElwain, S. Opluštil, M.E. Popa, Leyla Jean Seyfullah, Ellen Stolle, Barry Thomas, Dieter Uhl, Jason Hilton

Abstrakt

Determining the diversity of past floras helps with interpreting both the history and predicting the future of vegetation change. For global-scale and regional-scale diversity studies especially, secondary data are often used but local-scale studies tend to be based on survey data that require rigorous sampling. The correct sampling strategies depend on the types of fossils being investigated, including their physical size, and whether the aim is to determine taxonomic richness or relative abundance. Describing and comparing diversities can use a range of different metrics, depending on whether binary presence/absence or abundance data are available. Each metric provides a different insight into the diversities and the choice of which to use depends on the research question being investigated. Various numerical approaches are available for identifying spatial and stratigraphical diversity patterns, mainly classificatory techniques (e.g., cluster and parsimony analyses) and ordination (e.g., Detrended Correspondence Analysis, Nonmetric Dimensional Scaling). The choice of technique again depends on the research question, but often it has proved useful to run both types of analysis in tandem. This article is illustrated by past biodiversity case studies from throughout the fossil record, dealing with floras ranging in age from the Devonian to the last few centuries.

Organisation(en)

Institut für Paläontologie

Externe Organisation(en)

University of Birmingham, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS), National Museum of Wales, University of Bristol, Cardiff University, Université de Lille, Université de Lausanne, Universidad de Vigo, Utrecht University, Regional Historical Museum Varna, Südtiroler Archäologiemuseum, Laboratoire Méditerranéen de Préhistoire Europe Afrique (UMR 7269), CNRS, University of Liverpool, Trinity College Dublin, Charles University Prague, Southwest Petroleum University, University of Bucharest, EP Research, University of Exeter, Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum

Journal

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology

Band

580

Anzahl der Seiten

26

ISSN

0031-0182

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2021.110618

Publikationsdatum

10-2021

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ÖFOS 2012

105117 Paläobotanik, 101018 Statistik

Schlagwörter

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Earth-Surface Processes, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Oceanography, Palaeontology

Link zum Portal

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/4bc78c50-204a-4385-b444-911a8225d2be