The more things change, the more they stay the same? When is trait variability important for stability of ecosystem function in a changing environment

The importance of intraspecific trait variability for community dynamics and ecosystem functioning has been underappreciated. There are theoretical reasons for predicting that species that differ in intraspecific trait variability will also differ in their effects on ecosystem functioning, particularly in variable environments. We discuss whether species with greater trait variability are likely to exhibit greater temporal stability in their population dynamics, and under which conditions this might lead to stability in ecosystem functioning. Resolving this requires us to consider several questions. First, are species with high levels of variation for one trait equally variable in others? In particular, is variability in response and effects traits typically correlated? Second, what is the relative contribution of local adaptation and phenotypic plasticity to trait variability? If local adaptation dominates, then stability in function requires one of two conditions: (i) individuals of appropriate phenotypes present in the environment at high enough frequencies to allow for populations to respond rapidly to the changing environment, and (ii) high levels of dispersal and gene flow. While we currently lack sufficient information on the causes and distribution of variability in functional traits, filling in these key data gaps should increase our ability to predict how changing biodiversity will alter ecosystem functioning.

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Diversity of parental environments increases phenotypic variation in Arabidopsis populations more than genetic diversity but similarly affects productivity

Annals of Botany ◽

10.1093/aob/mcaa100 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Javier Puy ◽

Carlos P Carmona ◽

Hana Dvořáková ◽

Vít Latzel ◽

Francesco de Bello

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Environmental Conditions ◽

Phenotypic Variation ◽

Ecosystem Functioning ◽

Phenotypic Variability ◽

Population Type ◽

Diversity Effect ◽

Environmental Fluctuations ◽

Intraspecific Trait Variability ◽

Trait Variability

Abstract Background and Aims The observed positive diversity effect on ecosystem functioning has rarely been assessed in terms of intraspecific trait variability within populations. Intraspecific phenotypic variability could stem both from underlying genetic diversity and from plasticity in response to environmental cues. The latter might derive from modifications to a plant’s epigenome and potentially last multiple generations in response to previous environmental conditions. We experimentally disentangled the role of genetic diversity and diversity of parental environments on population productivity, resistance against environmental fluctuations and intraspecific phenotypic variation. Methods A glasshouse experiment was conducted in which different types of Arabidopsis thaliana populations were established: one population type with differing levels of genetic diversity and another type, genetically identical, but with varying diversity levels of the parental environments (parents grown in the same or different environments). The latter population type was further combined, or not, with experimental demethylation to reduce the potential epigenetic diversity produced by the diversity of parental environments. Furthermore, all populations were each grown under different environmental conditions (control, fertilization and waterlogging). Mortality, productivity and trait variability were measured in each population. Key Results Parental environments triggered phenotypic modifications in the offspring, which translated into more functionally diverse populations when offspring from parents grown under different conditions were brought together in mixtures. In general, neither the increase in genetic diversity nor the increase in diversity of parental environments had a remarkable effect on productivity or resistance to environmental fluctuations. However, when the epigenetic variation was reduced via demethylation, mixtures were less productive than monocultures (i.e. negative net diversity effect), caused by the reduction of phenotypic differences between different parental origins. Conclusions A diversity of environmental parental origins within a population could ameliorate the negative effect of competition between coexisting individuals by increasing intraspecific phenotypic variation. A diversity of parental environments could thus have comparable effects to genetic diversity. Disentangling the effect of genetic diversity and that of parental environments appears to be an important step in understanding the effect of intraspecific trait variability on coexistence and ecosystem functioning.

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Dispersal syndromes can link intraspecific trait variability and meta-ecosystem functioning

Trends in Ecology & Evolution ◽

10.1016/j.tree.2021.12.001 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Allan Raffard ◽

Elvire Bestion ◽

Julien Cote ◽

Bart Haegeman ◽

Nicolas Schtickzelle ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Functioning ◽

Dispersal Syndromes ◽

Intraspecific Trait Variability ◽

Trait Variability

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Exploring the relationship between functional structure and ecosystem multifunctionality requires intraspecific trait variability

10.1101/2020.11.03.366054 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Li Zhang ◽

Bill Shipley ◽

Shurong Zhou

Keyword(s):

Intraspecific Variability ◽

Nitrogen Addition ◽

High Threshold ◽

List Type ◽

Relative Contribution ◽

The Face ◽

Ecosystem Multifunctionality ◽

Intraspecific Trait Variability ◽

Trait Variability

AbstractRecent studies have shown that intraspecific trait variability is an important source of total trait variation in the face of global change. However, the contribution of intraspecific variability to ecosystem multifunctionality remains unknown.We calculated the mean and variability of four functional traits in an alpine meadow under long-term nitrogen addition and experimental warming and split them into interspecific and intraspecific variabilities. We then investigated their net effects and relative importance in determining ecosystem multifunctionality.We found that the effect of trait variability on multifunctionality depended not only on the number of functions, but also on the thresholds considered. Trait variability dominating ecosystem multifunctionality switched from interspecific to intraspecific when the thresholds of multifunctionality varied from low to high levels. When more functions were considered to interpret multifunctionality above high threshold levels, the relative contribution of intraspecific variability would be more important.

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Dominance Structure Plays a Leading Role In Shaping Community Stability In The Northern Tibetan Grasslands

10.21203/rs.3.rs-1136633/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ge Hou ◽

Peili Shi ◽

Ning Zong ◽

Tiancai Zhou ◽

Minghua Song ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Functioning ◽

Dominant Species ◽

Community Dynamics ◽

Temporal Stability ◽

Selection Effect ◽

Community Stability ◽

Alpine Grasslands ◽

Leading Role ◽

Dominance Structure ◽

Dominant Structure

Abstract Dominant species may strongly influence biotic conditions and interact with other species, and thus are important drivers of community dynamics and ecosystem functioning, particularly in the stressed environment of alpine grasslands. However, the effects of dominant species and its derived dominance structure on the community stability remain poorly understood. We examined the temporal stability of above-ground productivity (2014-2020 year) and biotic stability mechanisms in the Northern Tibetan grasslands with changing species composition and dominance structure along a precipitation gradient. Our results showed that community stability was significantly higher in the alpine meadow than the other types of grasslands. This difference was mainly attributed to higher compensatory effect and selection effect of dominant species in the mesic meadows. Furthermore, dominant structure strongly affected community stability through increasing dominant species stability and species asynchrony. However, species richness had almost little effect. Our findings demonstrate that dominant species, as foundation species, may play leading roles in shaping community stability in the alpine grasslands, highlighting the importance of conserving dominant species for stable ecosystem functioning in these fragile ecosystems under increasing environmental fluctuations.

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Personality dynamics at work: The effects of form, time, and context of variability

European Journal of Personality ◽

10.1177/08902070211017341 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 089020702110173

Author(s):

Nadin Beckmann ◽

Damian P Birney ◽

Amirali Minbashian ◽

Jens F Beckmann

Keyword(s):

Individual Differences ◽

Cognitive Ability ◽

Temporal Stability ◽

Limited Evidence ◽

Short Term ◽

State Data ◽

The Status ◽

Over Time ◽

Trait Variability

The study aimed to investigate the status of within-person state variability in neuroticism and conscientiousness as individual differences constructs by exploring their (a) temporal stability, (b) cross-context consistency, (c) empirical links to selected antecedents, and (d) empirical links to longer term trait variability. Employing a sample of professionals ( N = 346) from Australian organisations, personality state data together with situation appraisals were collected using experience sampling methodology in field and repeatedly in lab-like settings. Data on personality traits, cognitive ability, and motivational mindsets were collected at baseline and after two years. Contingent (situation contingencies) and non-contingent (relative SD) state variability indices were relatively stable over time and across contexts. Only a small number of predictive effects of state variability were observed, and these differed across contexts. Cognitive ability appeared to be associated with state variability under lab-like conditions. There was limited evidence of links between short-term state and long-term trait variability, except for a small effect for neuroticism. Some evidence of positive manifold was found for non-contingent variability. Systematic efforts are required to further elucidate the complex pattern of results regarding the antecedents, correlates and outcomes of individual differences in state variability.

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