Taxonomic resolution and treatment effects – alone and combined – can mask significant biodiversity reductions

Abstract

Taxonomic resolution or uncertainty poses an important problem in biodiversity research. Assessment of biodiversity at the species level is most informative and preferred, but requires effort and expertise. Alternatively, researchers often bin species into higher taxa because they are unable to recognize them, or to save money and time. Here we analyse, by simulation and analytical modelling, the combined effects of dose-dependent mortality and taxonomic binning on biodiversity indices for a fictitious community of organisms. We asked Show more