Avian functional diversity retained in a tropical rainforest fragment after more than 120 years of turnover

Despite significant species turnover over more than 120 years, a small tropical rainforest fragment within the UNESCO-listed Singapore Botanic Gardens has retained its avian functional diversity. This resilience was revealed through a comparison of historical records from 1898 with contemporary surveys conducted in 1998 and 2018–2021. The study found that while species composition shifted dramatically (50% dissimilarity), driven primarily by turnover rather than nestedness, both species richness and functional diversity remained stable. This suggests that small forest fragments can support novel but functionally equivalent bird communities, potentially due to functional redundancy. Such findings highlight the importance of habitat restoration adjacent to fragmented forests in preserving ecological functions.

LOW, B. W., WEE, S. Q. W., SOH, M. C. K., & ER, K. B. H. (2024). Avian functional diversity retained in a tropical rainforest fragment after more than 120 years of turnover. Biodiversity and Conservation, 33(6-7), 2195–2210. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-024-02855-4