As the world’s climate continues to change, biologically diverse communities may be most capable of adapting to environmental challenges.
As the world’s climate continues to change, biologically diverse communities may be most capable of adapting to environmental challenges.
While biodiversity’s importance in adaptation may be well appreciated already, new research by Brown University biologists studying the effects of wave turbulence on sea creatures paints a clearer picture of why biologically diverse communities are more likely to thrive.
“Lately, there has been a lot of support in the news for maintaining biodiversity,” said study author Robert Lamb, a recent Ph.D. graduate from Brown who conducted the study as a biology graduate student. “But rarely do people explain why that is so important. This research helps show why diversity really matters: A more diverse community is more resistant to rapidly changing environmental conditions.”
Co-author Jon Witman, a professor of biology at Brown, added that the group’s research “will help us understand how whole marine communities — not just single components — will be affected by increasing environmental stress in this era of climate change.”
Read more at Brown University
Photo: The researchers modeled the effects of biodiversity by analyzing wave strength in conjunction with the foraging abilities of various fish. Photo courtesy of Witman Lab
