scholarly journals Just how big is intraspecific trait variation in basidiomycete wood fungal fruit bodies?

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha K. Dawson ◽  
Mari Jönsson
Keyword(s):  
Intraspecific Variation ◽  
Community Dynamics ◽  
Niche Partitioning ◽  
Fruit Body ◽  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Functional Trait ◽  
Species Level ◽  
Fungal Ecology ◽  
Species Identity ◽  
Trait Variation

AbstractAs the use of functional trait approaches is growing in fungal ecology, there is a corresponding need to understand trait variation. Much of trait theory and statistical techniques are built on the assumption that interspecific variation is larger than intraspecific variation. This allows the use of mean trait values for species, which the vast majority of trait studies adopt. We examined the size of intra- vs. inter-specific variation in two wood fungal fruit body traits: size and density. Both coefficients of variation (CV) and Trait Probability Density analyses were used to quantify trait variation. We found that intraspecific variation in fruit body density was more than twice as variable as interspecific variation, and fruit body size was hugely variable (CVs averaged 190%), although interspecific variation was larger. Further, there was a very high degree of overlap in the trait space of species, indicating that there may be little niche partitioning at the species level. These findings show that intraspecific variation is highly important and should be accounted for when using trait approaches to understand fungal ecology. More data on variation of other fungal traits is also desperately needed to ascertain whether the high level of variation found here is typical for fungi. While the need to measure individuals does reduce the ability to generalise at the species level, it does not negate the usefulness of fungal trait measurements. There are two reasons for this: first, the ecology of most fungal species remains poorly known and trait measurements address this gap; and secondly, if trait overlap between species more generally is as much as we found here, then individual measurements may be more helpful than species identity for untangling fungal community dynamics.

scholarly journals Intraspecific Variation on Palm Leaf Traits of Co-occurring Species—Does Local Hydrology Play a Role?

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thaise Emilio ◽  
Havle Pereira ◽  
Flávia R. C. Costa
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Intraspecific Variation ◽  
Leaf Traits ◽  
Species Level ◽  
Species Identity ◽  
Trait Variation ◽  
Amazonian Forest ◽  
Palm Species ◽  
Local Hydrology

The study of plant species and trait distributions can provide answers to many of the ecological challenges of our times, from climate change to the biodiversity crisis. Although traits are classically measured at the species level, understanding intraspecific variation is necessary to determine the type of response species will have to climate change. Here we measured and analyzed seven leaf traits (leaf area—LA, specific leaf area—SLA, leaf thickness—LT, leaf dry mass content—LDMC, venation density—VD, stomata length—SL, and stomata density—SD) across 14 locally dominant palm species (10 individuals/species) distributed along hydro-topographic gradients (1.4–37 m of terrain height above nearest drainage) of a central Amazonian forest to disentangle the role of species identity, relatedness, and local hydrology on trait variation and covariation. Our results show that trait variation is not always larger between species than within species as expected. Intraspecific variation accounted for 23–74% of trait variation depending on the trait. Most of the variation happened at species level for SL, LA, LT, and SD but not for SLA, VD, and LDMC. For a third of the traits (LDMC, SLA, and SD), we found some evidence of phylogenetic inertia. This lack of independency among traits is confirmed by the maintenance of strong correlation among some of those traits after controlling for local environmental conditions. Intraspecific variation, however, was not related to height above nearest drainage for any of the traits. Most of the trait–environment relationships were species-specific. Therefore, the change in palm trait composition detected along topography, from higher community means of SLA and LA, lower LT, LDMC, SL, and SD in the wet valleys to opposite traits in drier plateaus, is mostly due to the turnover in species composition and relative abundance variation. We conclude these palm species have well-defined hydrological niches, but their large intraspecific variation in leaf traits does not contribute to the adjustment of individuals to the local hydrological conditions in this Amazonian forest.

Consumption of macro-fungi by invertebrates in a Mexican tropical cloud forest: do fruit body characteristics matter?

1999 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 603-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger Guevara ◽  
Rodolfo Dirzo
Keyword(s):  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Fruit Body ◽  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Species Identity ◽  
Tropical Cloud Forest ◽  
Aggregation Size ◽  
Coloration Patterns ◽  
Plant Herbivore ◽  
Consumer Interactions ◽  
The Tropics

The emphasis of antagonistic fungus–consumer interactions to date has been on temperate taxa and predominantly zoocentric, neglecting the effects on the fungal component. These interactions are expected to be especially complex and diverse in the tropics, where both components display their greatest diversity. Variability in fungivory (apparent biomass consumed) of understorey basidiomycetes in a tropical cloud forest was investigated to test whether this could be explained (at the proximate level) by apparency-related characteristics of the aboveground structures (colour of pileus, stipe and hymenium; size and aggregation), as has been suggested for plant–herbivore relationships. Considerable interspecific variation in fungivory was detected (range 0–50%). Cluster analysis showed that neighbouring clusters had dissimilar levels of fungivory. Such clusters were similar in colour attributes of aboveground structures, but differed in aggregation size and apparent biomass. A quantitative analysis also showed that colour attributes were not strongly associated with the observed variation of consumption levels, whereas apparent biomass and aggregation size did correlate with the observed variation in fungivory. Furthermore, specific identity correlated with fungivory. It was concluded that coloration patterns may not be important for fungivory, whereas genet size and species identity (probably via characteristics unrelated to apparency, such as mycotoxins and nutritional value) seemed to be critical factors.

scholarly journals Patterns of microbiome variation among infrapopulations of permanent bloodsucking parasites

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Doña ◽  
Stephany Virrueta Herrera ◽  
Tommi Nyman ◽  
Mervi Kunnasranta ◽  
Kevin P. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Species Level ◽  
Metagenomic Data ◽  
Species Identity ◽  
Balanced Design ◽  
Microbiome Composition ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Ringed Seals ◽  
Single Host ◽  
Pusa Hispida

AbstractWhile interspecific variation in microbiome composition can often be readily explained by factors such as host species identity, there is still limited knowledge of how microbiomes vary at scales lower than the species level (e.g., between individuals or populations). Here, we evaluated variation in microbiome composition of individual parasites among infrapopulations (i.e., populations of parasites of the same species living on a single host individual). To address this question, we used genome-resolved and shotgun metagenomic data of 17 infrapopulations (balanced design) of the permanent, bloodsucking seal louse Echinophthirius horridus sampled from individual Saimaa ringed seals Pusa hispida saimensis. Both genome-resolved and read-based metagenomic classification approaches consistently show that parasite infrapopulation identity is a significant factor that explains both qualitative and quantitative patterns of microbiome variation at the intraspecific level. This study contributes to the general understanding of the factors driving patterns of intraspecific variation in microbiome composition, especially of bloodsucking parasites, and has implications for understanding how well-known processes occurring at higher taxonomic levels, such as phylosymbiosis, might arise in these systems.

scholarly journals Patterns of Microbiome Variation Among Infrapopulations of Permanent Bloodsucking Parasites

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Doña ◽  
Stephany Virrueta Herrera ◽  
Tommi Nyman ◽  
Mervi Kunnasranta ◽  
Kevin P. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Species Level ◽  
Metagenomic Data ◽  
Species Identity ◽  
Balanced Design ◽  
Microbiome Composition ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Ringed Seals ◽  
Single Host ◽  
Pusa Hispida

While interspecific variation in microbiome composition can often be readily explained by factors such as host species identity, there is still limited knowledge of how microbiomes vary at scales lower than the species level (e.g., between individuals or populations). Here, we evaluated variation in microbiome composition of individual parasites among infrapopulations (i.e., populations of parasites of the same species living on a single host individual). To address this question, we used genome-resolved and shotgun metagenomic data of 17 infrapopulations (balanced design) of the permanent, bloodsucking seal louse Echinophthirius horridus sampled from individual Saimaa ringed seals Pusa hispida saimensis. Both genome-resolved and read-based metagenomic classification approaches consistently show that parasite infrapopulation identity is a significant factor that explains both qualitative and quantitative patterns of microbiome variation at the intraspecific level. This study contributes to the general understanding of the factors driving patterns of intraspecific variation in microbiome composition, especially of bloodsucking parasites, and has implications for understanding how well-known processes occurring at higher taxonomic levels, such as phylosymbiosis, might arise in these systems.

scholarly journals Species interactions and environmental context affect intraspecific behavioural trait variation and ecosystem function

2020 ◽  
Vol 287 (1919) ◽  
pp. 20192143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camilla Cassidy ◽  
Laura J. Grange ◽  
Clement Garcia ◽  
Stefan G. Bolam ◽  
Jasmin A. Godbold
Keyword(s):  
Environmental History ◽  
Ecosystem Functioning ◽  
Species Interactions ◽  
Nutrient Release ◽  
Functional Trait ◽  
Benthic Invertebrate ◽  
Species Identity ◽  
Trait Variation ◽  
Amphiura Filiformis ◽  
Morphological Differences

Functional trait-based approaches are increasingly adopted to understand and project ecological responses to environmental change; however, most assume trait expression is constant between conspecifics irrespective of context. Using two species of benthic invertebrate (brittlestars Amphiura filiformis and Amphiura chiajei ), we demonstrate that trait expression at individual and community levels differs with biotic and abiotic context. We use PERMANOVA to test the effect of species identity, density and local environmental history on individual (righting and burrowing) and community (particle reworking and burrow ventilation) trait expression, as well as associated effects on ecosystem functioning (sediment nutrient release). Trait expression differs with context, with repercussions for the faunal mediation of ecosystem processes; we find increased rates of righting and burial behaviour and greater particle reworking with increasing density that are reflected in nutrient generation. However, the magnitude of effects differed within and between species, arising from site-specific environmental and morphological differences. Our results indicate that traits and processes influencing change in ecosystem functioning are products of both prevailing and historic conditions that cannot be constrained within typologies. Trait-based study must incorporate context-dependent variation, including intraspecific differences from individual to ecosystem scales, to avoid jeopardizing projections of ecosystem functioning and service delivery.

scholarly journals Physiological variation reflects bioclimatic differences in the Drosophila americana species complex

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy S. Davis ◽  
Leonie C. Moyle
Keyword(s):  
Natural Selection ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Functional Trait ◽  
Species Level ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Desiccation Resistance ◽  
Uv Resistance ◽  
Multiple Traits ◽  
Trait Variation ◽  
Geographic Space

AbstractBackgroundDisentangling the selective factors shaping adaptive trait variation is an important but challenging task. Many studies—especially in Drosophila—have documented trait variation along latitudinal or altitudinal clines, but frequently lack resolution about specific environmental gradients that could be causal selective agents, and often do not investigate covariation between traits simultaneously. Here we examined variation in multiple macroecological factors across geographic space and their associations with variation in three physiological traits (desiccation resistance, UV resistance, and pigmentation) at both population and species scales, to address the role of abiotic environment in shaping trait variation.ResultsUsing environmental data from collection locations of three North American Drosophila species—D. americana americana, D. americana texana and D. novamexicana—we identified two primary axes of macroecological variation; these differentiated species habitats and were strongly loaded for precipitation and moisture variables. In nine focal populations (three per species) assayed for each trait, we detected significant species-level variation for both desiccation resistance and pigmentation, but not for UV resistance. Species-level trait variation was consistent with differential natural selection imposed by variation in habitat water availability, although patterns of variation differed between desiccation resistance and pigmentation, and we found little evidence for pleiotropy between traits.ConclusionsOur multi-faceted approach enabled us to identify potential agents of natural selection and examine how they might influence the evolution of multiple traits at different evolutionary scales. Our findings highlight that environmental factors influence functional trait variation in ways that can be complex, and point to the importance of studies that examine these relationships at both population- and species-levels.

scholarly journals TURNOVER OR INTRASPECIFIC TRAIT VARIATION: EXPLAINING FUNCTIONAL VARIABILITY IN A NEOTROPICAL ANURAN METACOMMUNITY

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Anderson Dalmolin ◽  
Alexandro Marques Tozetti ◽  
Maria João Ramos Pereira
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Intraspecific Variation ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Limb Length ◽  
Head Shape ◽  
Trait Variation ◽  
Intraspecific Trait Variation ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Eye Size

ABSTRACTTrait variation across environmental gradients results from two processes: intraspecific variation (ITV) and turnover. Tadpoles are known to exhibit phenotypic plasticity in several traits in response to the environment, resulting from intra or interspecific variation. Here we evaluate patterns of intraspecific variation in functional traits of adult anurans (head shape, eye size and position, limb length and body mass) and their relationship with environmental variables in an anuran metacommunity in southern Brazil. From anurans sampled from 33 ponds, we decomposed trait variation into ITV and turnover and modelled trait-environment relationships. We predict that the contribution of ITV and turnover to trait variation and trait-environment relationships should vary according to the preferred habitat of the species and the analysed traits. Intraspecific variation accumulated the highest rate of trait variation for arboreal species, while interspecific variation was greater for aquatic-terrestrial species and for the whole set of species. The contributions of turnover and ITV to shifts in community mean trait values were similar between traits, but differed between species sets. Depth, distance between ponds, area of Pinus surrounding the ponds, and types of pond vegetation and substrate strongly influenced trait variation, but their relative contribution depended on the analysed traits and species sets. The great contribution of ITV for head shape and eye size and position suggests the existence of intraspecific adaptations to microhabitats, while turnover dominance in the variation of body mass and limb length suggests differences in dispersal and trophic segregation between species.

scholarly journals PalmTraits 1.0, a species-level functional trait database of palms worldwide

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Daniel Kissling ◽  
Henrik Balslev ◽  
William J. Baker ◽  
John Dransfield ◽  
Bastian Göldel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Community Dynamics ◽  
Plant Traits ◽  
Functional Trait ◽  
Species Level ◽  
Ecosystem Dynamics ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Palm Species

Abstract Plant traits are critical to plant form and function —including growth, survival and reproduction— and therefore shape fundamental aspects of population and ecosystem dynamics as well as ecosystem services. Here, we present a global species-level compilation of key functional traits for palms (Arecaceae), a plant family with keystone importance in tropical and subtropical ecosystems. We derived measurements of essential functional traits for all (>2500) palm species from key sources such as monographs, books, other scientific publications, as well as herbarium collections. This includes traits related to growth form, stems, armature, leaves and fruits. Although many species are still lacking trait information, the standardized and global coverage of the data set will be important for supporting future studies in tropical ecology, rainforest evolution, paleoecology, biogeography, macroecology, macroevolution, global change biology and conservation. Potential uses are comparative eco-evolutionary studies, ecological research on community dynamics, plant-animal interactions and ecosystem functioning, studies on plant-based ecosystem services, as well as conservation science concerned with the loss and restoration of functional diversity in a changing world.

scholarly journals Desiccation resistance and pigmentation variation reflects bioclimatic differences in the Drosophila americana species complex

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy S. Davis ◽  
Leonie C. Moyle
Keyword(s):  
Natural Selection ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Functional Trait ◽  
Species Level ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Desiccation Resistance ◽  
Uv Resistance ◽  
Multiple Traits ◽  
Trait Variation ◽  
Geographic Space

Abstract Background Disentangling the selective factors shaping adaptive trait variation is an important but challenging task. Many studies—especially in Drosophila—have documented trait variation along latitudinal or altitudinal clines, but frequently lack resolution about specific environmental gradients that could be causal selective agents, and often do not investigate covariation between traits simultaneously. Here we examined variation in multiple macroecological factors across geographic space and their associations with variation in three physiological traits (desiccation resistance, UV resistance, and pigmentation) at both population and species scales, to address the role of abiotic environment in shaping trait variation. Results Using environmental data from collection locations of three North American Drosophila species—D. americana americana, D. americana texana and D. novamexicana—we identified two primary axes of macroecological variation; these differentiated species habitats and were strongly loaded for precipitation and moisture variables. In nine focal populations (three per species) assayed for each trait, we detected significant species-level variation for both desiccation resistance and pigmentation, but not for UV resistance. Species-level trait variation was consistent with differential natural selection imposed by variation in habitat water availability, although patterns of variation differed between desiccation resistance and pigmentation, and we found little evidence for pleiotropy between traits. Conclusions Our multi-faceted approach enabled us to identify potential agents of natural selection and examine how they might influence the evolution of multiple traits at different evolutionary scales. Our findings highlight that environmental factors influence functional trait variation in ways that can be complex, and point to the importance of studies that examine these relationships at both population- and species-levels.

scholarly journals Comparative Immature Morphology of Brazilian Fire Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae:Solenopsis)

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo Gonçalves Paterson Fox ◽  
Daniel Russ Solis ◽  
Mônica Lanzoni Rossi ◽  
Jacques Hubert Charles Delabie ◽  
Rodrigo Fernando de Souza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intraspecific Variation ◽  
Solenopsis Invicta ◽  
Morphological Traits ◽  
Species Level ◽  
Fire Ants ◽  
Fire Ant ◽  
Solenopsis Geminata ◽  
Body Dimensions ◽  
Larval Instars ◽  
Genus Level

Although common in Brazil, the biology of the fire antSolenopsis saevissima(Smith) is still poorly studied. Larval descriptions are useful to genus-level ant systematics and sometimes to species-level taxonomy. This study presents a detailed description of juveniles ofS. saevissimafrom Brazil, which were compared with Brazilian specimens ofSolenopsis invictaBuren,Solenopsis geminata(Fabricius), andSolenopsis altipunctataPitts. Different larval instars were separated by diagnostic morphological traits which were confirmed by observing moults. Reproductive larvae could be easily sorted by their distinctive body dimensions and shape. Contrary to previous reports on this species, the larvae ofS. saevissimaproved to be generally identical to those ofS. invicta, while a few specimens resembled those of other close species, such asSolenopsis megergatesTrager. Mature larvae thus presented considerable intraspecific variation in some characters recently proposed to aid fire ant species separation (morphology of head hairs).

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