Functional diversity in marine ecosystems

Functional diversity refers to the variety of biological processes, functions or characteristics of a particular ecosystem.

Functional diversity reflects the biological complexity of an ecosystem. Some scientists argue that examining functional diversity may in fact be the most meaningful way of assessing biodiversity while avoiding the difficult and usually impossible task of cataloging all species in marine ecosystems. By focusing on processes, it may be easier to determine how an ecosystem can most effectively be protected. Protecting biological functions will protect many of the species that perform them. However, the exact function of most of the species is hardly known to date.

There are several ways in which ecological classifications group organisms according to common functions: classification according to their habitat, to their position in the food web or to their functional feeding mechanism.