Journal article
Measures of taxonomic distinctness do not reliably assess anthropogenic impacts on intertidal mollusc communities
TL Costa, TD O'Hara, MJ Keough
Marine Ecology Progress Series | INTER-RESEARCH | Published : 2010
DOI: 10.3354/meps08713
Abstract
Indices of taxonomic distinctness measure the taxonomic breadth of a community and may be more sensitive to human impacts than conventional diversity indices. They have the advantage of being, in theory, insensitive to sampling effort and can be calculated using presence/absence data. The average taxonomic distinctness index and variation in taxonomic distinctness index were used to assess the effects of putative human impacts on molluscan community composition at 63 rocky intertidal platforms on the coast of Victoria, Australia. The use of 2 sampling techniques, viz. timed searches and quadrats, was compared. Sites exposed to sewage discharge maintained high taxonomic distinctness, and thos..
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Funding Acknowledgements
The project was funded by a Special Postgraduate Studentship from Melbourne University and Museum Victoria, an Albert Shimmins Postgraduate write-up award from the University of Melbourne, as well as various grants from the National Heritage Trust, Parks Victoria and the Victorian Environmental Protection Authority. We thank R. Marchant (Museum Victoria) for statistical advice, the late C. Hendrick (Marine Research Group of Victoria) for assistance with identifying animals, and Parks Victoria for facilitating access to remote sites.