Functional diversity in plants: Implications for conservation issues of the mexican biodiversity

In this chapter, we explore the functional diversity concept and its importance in several ecological issues, especially maintenance of ecosystem services and conservation. We consider that Mexico’s species megadiversity should be reflected into a high functional diversity. However, our knowledge on this issue is still limited. Interest in the functional diversity approach has just increased in Mexico. Despite that, since the 1970s, ecophysiological research in Mexican ecosystems has had important pioneer contributions to our knowledge on functional traits in plants and its ecological importance. In this chapter, we review some case studies describing our knowledge of plant physiological diversity in different ecosystems, as examples of the high functional diversity in Mexico. Unfortunately anthropogenic disturbance is increasingly affecting species biodiversity, in particular the more vulnerable species and ecosystems. Increasing research on the functional traits of Mexican ecosystems will provide important information about species function at the ecosystem level and species vulnerability in the context of human disturbance and/or climatic change. Studies focused in functional diversity as an important component of biodiversity will provide us a solid base for planning on conservation decisions, restoration programs, and maintenance of ecosystem services.