WOODIV

Origin and congruence of taxonomic, phylogenetic, functional and paleo-ecological diversity patterns: tree biodiversity in the European Mediterranean 

Taxonomic diversity is the most widely used indicator for biodiversity conservation, even though its genetic and functional components are essential in the processes governing its maintenance.  

WOODIV collected in a open-access database, the eco-phylogenetic and paleo-ecological data available for indigenous trees in the European Mediterranean. Their spatial analysis made possible to define the structure of the patterns of the three components of biodiversity and their level of congruence, then meta-analyses and models allowed the project to identify the factors at the origin of the observed patterns. One of the strengths of this project is that it does not limit itself to contemporary explanatory variables, but integrates paleo-ecological data (i) from which will be derived, in particular, proxy data for past diversity and anthropogenic impacts, as well as (ii) phylogeographic data on available ligneous species and community phylogeny. 

WOODIV tested the congruence of the taxonomic, phylogenetic, functional and paleo-ecological diversity of trees in the European Mediterranean, and identified the factors behind these patterns. WOODIV was for example, able to show that southern Spain, Cyprus and some Aegean islands contain areas of disproportionately high phylogenetic diversity and to identify these areas as priority targets for the conservation of European forest trees. The results contributes to the implementation of conservation priorities using the functional and evolutionary components of biodiversity, which are not yet widely considered at this scale. 

Map of the relative phylogenetic diversity significance in Mediterranean Europe. Areas in blue have a concentration of significantly longer branches than expected; whereas, areas in red have a concentration of significantly shorter branches than expected. (Cheikh Albassatneh et al., 2021)