scholarly journals Choosing and using multiple traits in functional diversity research

2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 104-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
JONATHAN S. LEFCHECK ◽  
VINICIUS A. G. BASTAZINI ◽  
JOHN N. GRIFFIN
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Total Variation ◽  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Redundant Information ◽  
Multiple Traits ◽  
Conservation Science ◽  
Diversity Research

SUMMARYSpecies are different, but they are not equally different. Yet many indices of biodiversity assume species vary to identical degrees. This notion does not meet with intuition: some species vary greatly in terms of their morphology, behaviour and ecology, while others vary only a little. One way to reconcile the dissimilarity between species is by collecting information on their functional traits (FTs), descriptors of how organisms interact with their environment and each other. Functional diversity (FD) is the total variation in one or more FTs across all species within a community, and provides a powerful complement to species diversity. There are several challenges facing the application of FD to conservation science, including lack of rigorous trait data for many organisms, and sparse details on how to select available traits to generate meaningful inferences for the various summary metrics of FD. This Comment provides a brief discussion on choosing and using FTs, and recommendations for best practice. Ultimately, researchers need to consider using a variety of traits when hypotheses are multifaceted or could potentially evolve, at the same time thinking critically about trait selection to avoid redundant information.

scholarly journals Functional Diversity: An Epistemic Roadmap

BioScience ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (10) ◽  
pp. 800-811 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christophe Malaterre ◽  
Antoine C Dussault ◽  
Sophia Rousseau-Mermans ◽  
Gillian Barker ◽  
Beatrix E Beisner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Taxonomic Diversity ◽  
Ecological Management ◽  
Diversity Studies

Abstract Functional diversity holds the promise of understanding ecosystems in ways unattainable by taxonomic diversity studies. Underlying this promise is the intuition that investigating the diversity of what organisms actually do (i.e., their functional traits) within ecosystems will generate more reliable insights into the ways these ecosystems behave, compared to considering only species diversity. But this promise also rests on several conceptual and methodological (i.e., epistemic) assumptions that cut across various theories and domains of ecology. These assumptions should be clearly addressed, notably for the sake of an effective comparison and integration across domains, and for assessing whether or not to use functional diversity approaches for developing ecological management strategies. The objective of this contribution is to identify and critically analyze the most salient of these assumptions. To this aim, we provide an epistemic roadmap that pinpoints these assumptions along a set of historical, conceptual, empirical, theoretical, and normative dimensions.

The effect of trampling disturbance on functional traits, species diversity, and functional diversity of alpine meadows in Bitahai Nature Reserve

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
何淑嫱 HE Shuqiang ◽  
李伟 LI Wei ◽  
程希平 CHENG Xiping ◽  
谭芮 TAN Rui ◽  
松卫红 SONG Weihong
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Alpine Meadows ◽  
Trampling Disturbance

scholarly journals The Functional Ecology and Diversity of Tropical Tree Assemblages through Space and Time: From Local to Regional and from Traits to Transcriptomes

ISRN Forestry ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan G. Swenson
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Tropical Trees ◽  
Tropical Tree ◽  
Functional Ecology ◽  
Evolutionary Mechanisms ◽  
Space And Time ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
Tree Assemblages

Tropical tree biodiversity motivates an extremely large amount of research and some of the most passionate debates in ecology and evolution. Research into tropical tree biodiversity generally has been very biased towards one axis of biodiversity-species diversity. Less work has focused on the functional diversity of tropical trees and I argue that this has greatly limited our ability to not only understand the species diversity in tropical tree assemblages, but their distributions through space and time. Increasingly plant ecologists have turned to measuring plant functional traits to estimate functional diversity and to uncover the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms underlying the distribution and dynamics of tropical trees. Here I review much of the recent work on functional traits in tropical tree community ecology. I will highlight what I believe are the most important findings and which research directions are not likely to progress in the future. I also argue that functionally based investigations of tropical trees are likely to be revolutionized in the coming years through the incorporation of functional genomic approaches. The paper ends with a discussion of three major research areas or areas in need of focus that could lead to rapid advances in functionally based investigations of tropical trees.

scholarly journals Effects of a Dominant Species on the Functional Diversity of Coexisting Species in Temperate Deciduous Understorey

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2252
Author(s):  
Krishan Kaushik ◽  
Alessandro Bricca ◽  
Michele Mugnai ◽  
Daniele Viciani ◽  
Kinga Rudolf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Dominant Species ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Biotic Interactions ◽  
Niche Differentiation ◽  
Forest Understory ◽  
Multiple Traits ◽  
Coexisting Species ◽  
Clonal Traits

The herb layer plays a significant role in maintaining forest functions, and its community composition is determined by various abiotic factors and biotic interactions. This study attempted to investigate the interspecific plant–plant biotic interactions using a functional traits approach. Specifically, the effects of a dominant species coverage on the functional diversity of coexisting species in the temperate forest understory were studied. Species coverage and soil moisture data were collected using a 1 m2 quadrat couplet (2 × 1 m2) from six sites alongside a 20 m linear transect encompassing a cover gradient of Allium ursinum in southwest Hungary. Major plant functional dimensions i.e., aboveground, and clonal functional traits were considered. Linear and nonlinear mixed models to quantify the effects of biotic interaction on the functional diversity of every single trait and multiple traits were employed. Both aboveground traits and clonal traits of persistent clonal growth organs responded positively to the A. ursinum L., cover gradient. The coexistence of understory species in the presence of a monodominant species seems to be mainly influenced by aboveground traits as compared to the clonal traits suggesting, a role of niche differentiation. The consistent impact of A. ursinum coverage on coexisting species dynamics highlights a need for similar in-depth studies in various forest settings.

The relationship between species diversity and functional diversity along aridity gradients in semi-arid rangeland

2021 ◽  
Vol 195 ◽  
pp. 104632
Author(s):  
Guy Dovrat ◽  
Ehud Meron ◽  
Moshe Shachak ◽  
Yosef Moshe ◽  
Yagil Osem
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Functional Diversity ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
Arid Rangeland

scholarly journals Canopy Leaf Traits, Basal Area, and Age Predict Functional Patterns of Regenerating Communities in Secondary Subtropical Forests

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Cristina Müller ◽  
Rodrigo Scarton Bergamin ◽  
Kauane Maiara Bordin ◽  
Joice Klipel ◽  
Milena Fermina Rosenfield
Keyword(s):  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Natural Regeneration ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Leaf Traits ◽  
Leaf Nitrogen ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Secondary Forests ◽  
Functional Composition ◽  
Forest Age

Secondary forests originate from natural regeneration after fallow (succession) or restoration. Species assembly in these communities, which can affect ecosystem functions and successional trajectories, is very unpredictable. Trait-based trajectories can shed light on the recovery of ecosystem functions and enable predictions of how the regenerating communities will change with forest age. Regeneration communities are affected by initial conditions and also by canopy structure and functional traits that alter dispersers' attractiveness and coexistence mechanisms. Here we evaluated how community functional traits change over time and tested if functional diversity and composition of the established canopy, as well as the structure of the canopy and forest age, influence the functional structure of regenerating tree communities when compared to their reference forests. For this, we calculated dissimilarity in trait composition (community-weighted means) and in functional diversity of regenerating communities of each succession/restoration stand, using the tree stratum of nearby mature forests as baseline values. Functional trait information comprises leaf, wood density, and reproductive traits from tree species. Our community data contain information from natural successional forests and restoration sites, in the South-Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Predictor variables of functional dissimilarities were forest age, canopy structural variables, canopy functional composition, and functional diversity. Results showed leaf traits (leaf dry matter content, leaf nitrogen content, leaf nitrogen-phosphorus ratio) and seed mass varying with forest age. Canopy functional composition based on leaf traits and total basal area significantly predicted multiple trait functional dissimilarity between the regeneration component of secondary forests and their reference community values. Dissimilarity increased when the canopy was composed of species with more acquisitive traits. Difference in functional diversity was only influenced by forest age. Mid-stage secondary forests showed lower functional diversity than early-stage forests. Our results indicated the importance of canopy traits on the natural regeneration of secondary subtropical forests. If functional similarity with reference forests is a desired objective in order to recover ecosystem functions through natural regeneration, leaf functional traits of canopy trees that establish or are planted in degraded areas must be considered in the successional processes.

scholarly journals The Role of Phytodiversity in Riparian Alder Forests in Supporting the Provision of Ecosystem Services

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 47-51
Author(s):  
Patrícia Mariničová ◽  
Pavol Eliáš
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Functional Groups ◽  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Woody Plants ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Human Society

Abstract Nature, ecosystems and biodiversity provide human society with many benefits known as ecosystem services. Functional diversity is an important aspect of biodiversity. In this paper, we applied inductive approach to the identification, mapping and evaluation of ecosystem services of the Aegopodio-Alnetum glutinosae community in Tribeč Mts. The results from 2015 show that the alder floodplain forest represents one of the most productive forest ecosystems with seasonal maximum production of 59.03 g m−2, species diversity of N0 = 40 and functional diversity of FD = 10. The forage potential of this community is medium, the melliferous potential is high and the therapeutic potential was estimated as extremely rich in medicinal plants. From the functional groups for providing ecosystem services, woody plants and hemicryptophytes play the most significant role.

scholarly journals Direct and Indirect Effects of Precipitation Change and Nutrients Addition on Desert Steppe Productivity in Inner Mongolia, Northern China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinxin Guo ◽  
Xiaoan Zuo ◽  
Ping Yue ◽  
Xiangyun Li ◽  
Ya Hu
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Nutrient Addition ◽  
Global Changes ◽  
Leaf Nitrogen Content ◽  
Dry Matter Content ◽  
Desert Steppe ◽  
Precipitation Changes

Abstract Background and Aims Global changes profoundly impact on structure and function of grassland ecosystem. However, it remains unclear on the mechanism of how multiple limiting resources affect plant community primary productivity (ANPP) in desert steppe.Methods Here, we conducted an experiment to examine the effects of precipitation changes (natural and ± 50% precipitation) and nutrient addition (=N: 0 g·m-2·yr-1; +N: N 10 g·m-2·yr-1; +NPK: N/P/K each for 10 g·m-2·yr-1) on species diversity, ANPP, functional traits and soil properties. We used structural equation model (SEM) to evaluate the effects of precipitation changes and nutrient addition on ANPP.Results Increased precipitation increased species diversity and ANPP under NPK addition, NPK addition increased ANPP under increased precipitation, and the interaction of precipitation changes and nutrient addition was significant for ANPP. Drought reduced plant height and leaf dry matter content (LDMC), but increased leaf nitrogen content (LNC). ANPP was positively correlated with species richness, abundance, height and LDMC, but negatively correlated with specific leaf area (SLA) and LNC. The SEM showed increased precipitation and nutrient addition directly increased ANPP. Altered precipitation indirectly affected ANPP through its effect on abundance and SLA, while nutrient addition indirectly affected ANPP only through its effect on abundance.Conclusion The combined limitations of precipitation and multiple nutrients deserves more attention in studying the effect of global changes on productivity in arid steppe. Our results highlight the importance of species diversity and functional traits in driving short-term responses of ANPP to environmental factors in desert steppe ecosystems.

scholarly journals Functional Diversity of Evolutionary Novelties: Insights from Waterfall-Climbing Kinematics and Performance of Juvenile Gobiid Fishes

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
R W Blob ◽  
R Lagarde ◽  
K M Diamond ◽  
R M Keeffe ◽  
R S Bertram ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
La Réunion ◽  
Similar Performance ◽  
Evolutionary Changes ◽  
Single Genus ◽  
Functional Pathways ◽  
Functional Complexity ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Multiple Species

Synopsis The evolution of novel functional traits can contribute substantially to the diversification of lineages. Older functional traits might show greater variation than more recently evolved novelties, due to the accrual of evolutionary changes through time. However, functional complexity and many-to-one mapping of structure to function could complicate such expectations. In this context, we compared kinematics and performance across juveniles from multiple species for two styles of waterfall-climbing that are novel to gobiid fishes: ancestral “powerburst” climbing, and more recently evolved “inching”, which has been confirmed only among species of a single genus that is nested within the clade of powerburst climbers. Similar net climbing speeds across inching species seem, at first, to indicate that this more recently evolved mode of climbing exhibits less functional diversity. However, these similar net speeds arise through different pathways: Sicyopterus stimpsoni from Hawai’i move more slowly than S. lagocephalus from La Réunion, but may also spend more time moving. The production of similar performance between multiple functional pathways reflects a situation that resembles the phenomenon of many-to-one mapping of structure to function. Such similarity has the potential to mask appropriate interpretations of relative functional diversity between lineages, unless the mechanisms underlying performance are explored. More specifically, similarity in net performance between “powerburst” and “inching” styles indicates that selection on climbing performance was likely a limited factor in promoting the evolution of inching as a new mode of climbing. In this context, other processes (e.g., exaptation) might be implicated in the origin of this functional novelty.

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