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Hoenle PO, Plowman NS, Matos-Maraví P, de Bello F, Bishop TR, Libra M, Idigel C, Rimandai M, Klimes P. Forest disturbance increases functional diversity but decreases phylogenetic diversity of an arboreal tropical ant community. J Anim Ecol 2024; 93:501-516. [PMID: 38409804 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.14060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Tropical rainforest trees host a diverse arthropod fauna that can be characterised by their functional diversity (FD) and phylogenetic diversity (PD). Human disturbance degrades tropical forests, often coinciding with species invasion and altered assembly that leads to a decrease in FD and PD. Tree canopies are thought to be particularly vulnerable, but rarely investigated. Here, we studied the effects of forest disturbance on an ecologically important invertebrate group, the ants, in a lowland rainforest in New Guinea. We compared an early successional disturbed plot (secondary forest) to an old-growth plot (primary forest) by exhaustively sampling their ant communities in a total of 852 trees. We expected that for each tree community (1) disturbance would decrease FD and PD in tree-dwelling ants, mediated through species invasion. (2) Disturbance would decrease ant trait variation due to a more homogeneous environment. (3) The main drivers behind these changes would be different contributions of true tree-nesting species and visiting species. We calculated FD and PD based on a species-level phylogeny and 10 ecomorphological traits. Furthermore, we assessed by data exclusion the influence of species, which were not nesting in individual trees (visitors) or only nesting species (nesters), and of non-native species on FD and PD. Primary forests had higher ant species richness and PD than secondary forest. However, we consistently found increased FD in secondary forest. This pattern was robust even if we decoupled functional and phylogenetic signals, or if non-native ant species were excluded from the data. Visitors did not contribute strongly to FD, but they increased PD and their community weighted trait means often varied from nesters. Moreover, all community-weighted trait means changed after forest disturbance. Our finding of contradictory FD and PD patterns highlights the importance of integrative measures of diversity. Our results indicate that the tree community trait diversity is not negatively affected, but possibly even enhanced by disturbance. Therefore, the functional diversity of arboreal ants is relatively robust when compared between old-growth and young trees. However, further study with higher plot-replication is necessary to solidify and generalise our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp O Hoenle
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Nichola S Plowman
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Pável Matos-Maraví
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Francesco de Bello
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre Desertificación (CSIC-UV-GV), Valencia, Spain
| | - Tom R Bishop
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Martin Libra
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Cliffson Idigel
- New Guinea Binatang Research Center, Madang, Papua New Guinea
| | - Maling Rimandai
- New Guinea Binatang Research Center, Madang, Papua New Guinea
| | - Petr Klimes
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
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Ramírez JP, Reeder TW, Spasojevic MJ. Extinction debt and functional traits mediate community saturation over large spatiotemporal scales. J Anim Ecol 2023; 92:2228-2239. [PMID: 37786361 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.14009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Determining if ecological communities are saturated (have a limit to the number of species they can support) has important implications for understanding community assembly, species invasions, and climate change. However, previous studies have generally been limited to short time frames that overlook extinction debt and have not explicitly considered how functional trait diversity may mediate patterns of community saturation. Here, we combine data from biodiversity surveys with functional and phylogenetic data to explore if the colonisation events after the Great American Biotic Interchange (closure of the Panamanian Isthmus) resulted in increases in species richness of communities of the snake family Dipsadidae. We determined the number and the direction of dispersal events between Central and South America by estimating ancestral areas based on a Bayesian time-calibrated phylogenetic analysis. We then evaluated whether variation in community saturation was mediated by the functional similarity of six traits for the resident and colonizing snakes and/or local environmental conditions. We found that colonised communities did not support more species than those that were not colonised. Moreover, we did not find an association between the functional diversity across sites and whether they were colonised by members from the lineages dispersing across the Isthmus or not. Instead, variation in species richness was predicted best by covariates such as time since colonisation and local environment. Taken together, our results suggest that snake communities of the Dipsadidae across the neotropics are saturated. Moreover, our research highlights two important factors to consider in studies of community saturation: extinction debt and the functional differences and similarities in species' ecological roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan P Ramírez
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Tod W Reeder
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Marko J Spasojevic
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
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3
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Portela AP, Gonçalves JF, Durance I, Vieira C, Honrado J. Riparian forest response to extreme drought is influenced by climatic context and canopy structure. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 881:163128. [PMID: 37030365 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Droughts significantly impact forest ecosystems, reducing forest health and productivity, compromising ecosystem functioning, and nature-based solutions for climate change. The response and resilience of riparian forests to drought are poorly understood despite their key role in the functioning of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Here we investigate riparian forest drought responses and resilience to an extreme drought event at a regional scale. We also examine how drought event characteristics, average climate conditions, topography, soil, vegetation structure, and functional diversity shape the resilience of riparian forests to drought. We used a time series of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) to calculate the resistance to and recovery after an extreme drought (2017-2018) in 49 sites across an Atlantic-Mediterranean climate gradient in North Portugal. We used generalized additive models and multi-model inference to understand which factors best explained drought responses. We found a trade-off between drought resistance and recovery (maximum r = -0.5) and contrasting strategies across the climatic gradient of the study area. Riparian forests in the Atlantic regions showed comparatively higher resistance, while Mediterranean forests recovered more. Canopy structure and climate context were the most relevant predictors of resistance and recovery. However, median NDVI and NDWI had not returned to pre-drought levels (RcNDWI mean = 1.21, RcNDVI mean = 1.01) three years after the event. Our study shows that riparian forests have contrasting drought response strategies and may be susceptible to extended legacy effects associated with extreme and/or recurring droughts, similarly to upland forests. This work highlights the drought vulnerability of riparian ecosystems and emphasises the need for further studies on long-term resilience to droughts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula Portela
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal; BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal.
| | - João F Gonçalves
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; proMetheus-Research Unit in Materials, Energy and Environment for Sustainability, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo (IPVC), Avenida do Atlântico, No. 644, 4900-348 Viana do Castelo, Portugal.
| | - Isabelle Durance
- Water Research Institute and School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, The Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, United Kingdom.
| | - Cristiana Vieira
- Museu de História Natural e da Ciência da Universidade do Porto (MHNC-UP/UPorto/PRISC), Praça Gomes Teixeira, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal..
| | - João Honrado
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal; BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal.
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Portela AP, Durance I, Vieira C, Honrado J. Response-effect trait overlap and correlation in riparian plant communities suggests sensitivity of ecosystem functioning and services to environmental change. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 860:160549. [PMID: 36455733 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Environmental changes and biodiversity loss have emphasized the need to understand how communities affect ecosystem functioning and services. In riparian ecosystems, integrative, generalizable, broad-scale models of ecosystem functioning are still required to fulfill this need. However, few studies have explored the links between functional traits, ecosystem functions, and the services of riparian vegetation. Here we adapt the response-effect trait framework to link drivers, traits, ecosystem functions, and services in riparian ecosystems and assess ecosystem functioning sensitivity to environmental changes. The response-effect trait framework distinguishes between traits related to responses to the environment (response traits) and effects on ecosystem functioning (effect traits). The framework predicts that if response and effect traits are tightly linked, shifts in environmental drivers may alter communities' traits and ecosystem functioning. We adapted the response-effect trait framework for riparian plant communities and used it to assess the overlap between response and effect traits. We tested for correlation among traits identified in the framework and for community functional responses to climatic, topographic, soil, and land cover factors using riparian plant communities along a Temperate-Mediterranean climate gradient in North Portugal. We found a high overlap between response and effect traits, with seven out of thirteen traits identified as both response and effect. Additionally, we found trait linkages in four groups of positively correlated community mean traits. Precipitation and aridity were the most predictive drivers of community functional structure, and life form and leaf area were the most responsive traits. Overall, our findings suggest riparian plant communities are likely to propagate the effects of environmental changes to ecosystem functioning and services, affecting several regulation ecosystem services. This work highlights the sensitivity of riparian ecosystems to environmental changes and how it can affect ecosystem services. Similar functional approaches can be useful for adaptive ecosystem management to sustain biodiversity and ecosystem services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula Portela
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal; BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal.
| | - Isabelle Durance
- Water Research Institute and School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, The Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, United Kingdom
| | - Cristiana Vieira
- Museu de História Natural e da Ciência da Universidade do Porto (MHNC-UP/UPorto/PRISC), Praça Gomes Teixeira, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal
| | - João Honrado
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal; BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
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5
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Escobar-Luján J, Castaño-Quintero SM, Villalobos F, Lira-Noriega A, Chiappa-Carrara X, Yañez-Arenas C. Current and future geographic patterns of bird diversity dimensions of the Yucatan Peninsula and their representativeness in natural protected areas. NEOTROPICAL BIODIVERSITY 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/23766808.2022.2087282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jazmín Escobar-Luján
- Laboratorio de Ecología Geográfica - Unidad de Biología de la Conservación, Unidad Académica Sisal - Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Parque Científico Chuburná, México
| | - Sandra M. Castaño-Quintero
- Laboratorio de Ecología Geográfica - Unidad de Biología de la Conservación, Unidad Académica Sisal - Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Parque Científico Chuburná, México
| | | | - Andrés Lira-Noriega
- CONACYT Research Fellow, Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, Instituto de Ecología, A.C, Xalapa, México
| | - Xavier Chiappa-Carrara
- Laboratorio de Ecología Geográfica - Unidad de Biología de la Conservación, Unidad Académica Sisal - Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Parque Científico Chuburná, México
| | - Carlos Yañez-Arenas
- Laboratorio de Ecología Geográfica - Unidad de Biología de la Conservación, Unidad Académica Sisal - Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Parque Científico Chuburná, México
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6
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Rodríguez A, de Vries FT, Manning P, Sebastià MT, Bardgett RD. Soil Abiotic Properties Shape Plant Functional Diversity Across Temperate Grassland Plant Communities. Ecosystems 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-022-00812-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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7
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Pinilla-Rosa M, García-Saúco G, Santiago A, Ferrandis P, Méndez M. Can botanic gardens serve as refuges for taxonomic and functional diversity of Odonata? The case of the botanic garden of Castilla-La Mancha (Spain). LIMNOLOGY 2022; 24:37-50. [PMID: 36258754 PMCID: PMC9559554 DOI: 10.1007/s10201-022-00704-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED In a scenario with declining biodiversity and habitat loss, botanic gardens could serve as refuges for invertebrates, but the opportunities they offer for animal conservation are still poorly understood. Odonata is a good model group for conservation studies, because it includes threatened species and responses to habitat disturbance are well documented. In this study, we assessed the role of the botanic garden of Castilla-La Mancha in Spain as a refuge for members of Odonata by analysing their taxonomic and functional diversity. We explored if the small size of the botanic garden might constrain the taxonomic diversity of Odonata and if low habitat diversity might limit their functional diversity. We sampled adult Odonata from five water bodies along a gradient of human impact and characterized the Odonata communities based on 12 functional traits in Odonata. We used a species-area relationship to control for differences in the size of water bodies. Compared with natural lakes, the Odonata communities contained less species and their functional diversity was lower in the botanic garden ponds, where generalist species were basically hosted. Despite these limitations, the botanic garden ponds hosted the number of species expected for natural water bodies with the moderate surface area and functional diversity, thereby demonstrating that they are a valuable habitat for Odonata in an urban environment. Appropriate management involving the removal of exotic fish and habitat diversification, including creating lotic environments, would increase the taxonomic and functional diversity of Odonata in this urban system. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10201-022-00704-3.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alejandro Santiago
- Botanic garden of Castilla-La Mancha, Avda. de La Mancha s/n, 02006 Albacete, Spain
| | - Pablo Ferrandis
- Botanic garden of Castilla-La Mancha, Avda. de La Mancha s/n, 02006 Albacete, Spain
- Botanic Institute of the University of Castilla-La Mancha, Avda. de La Mancha s/n, 02006 Albacete, Spain
| | - Marcos Méndez
- University Rey Juan Carlos, C/ Tulipán s/n, 28933 Móstoles, Madrid Spain
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Cera A, Montserrat-Martí G, Luzuriaga AL, Pueyo Y, Palacio S. When disturbances favour species adapted to stressful soils: grazing may benefit soil specialists in gypsum plant communities. PeerJ 2022. [DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Herbivory and extreme soils are drivers of plant evolution. Adaptation to extreme soils often implies substrate-specific traits, and resistance to herbivory involves tolerance or avoidance mechanisms. However, little research has been done on the effect of grazing on plant communities rich in edaphic endemics growing on extreme soils. A widespread study case is gypsum drylands, where livestock grazing often prevails. Despite their limiting conditions, gypsum soils host a unique and highly specialised flora, identified as a conservation priority.
Methods
We evaluated the effect of different grazing intensities on the assembly of perennial plant communities growing on gypsum soils. We considered the contribution of species gypsum affinity and key functional traits of species such as traits related to gypsum specialisation (leaf S accumulation) or traits related to plant tolerance to herbivory such as leaf C and N concentrations. The effect of grazing intensity on plant community indices (i.e., richness, diversity, community weighted-means (CWM) and functional diversity (FD) indices for each trait) were modelled using Generalised Linear Mixed Models (GLMM). We analysed the relative contribution of interspecific trait variation and intraspecific trait variation (ITV) in shifts of community index values.
Results
Livestock grazing may benefit gypsum plant specialists during community assembly, as species with high gypsum affinity, and high leaf S contents, were more likely to assemble in the most grazed plots. Grazing also promoted species with traits related to herbivory tolerance, as species with a rapid-growth strategy (high leaf N, low leaf C) were promoted under high grazing conditions. Species that ultimately formed gypsum plant communities had sufficient functional variability among individuals to cope with different grazing intensities, as intraspecific variability was the main component of species assembly for CWM values.
Conclusions
The positive effects of grazing on plant communities in gypsum soils indicate that livestock may be a key tool for the conservation of these edaphic endemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreu Cera
- Departamento Biodiversidad y Restauración/Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Jaca, Huesca, Spain
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gabriel Montserrat-Martí
- Departamento de Biodiversidad y Restauración/Instituto Pirenaico de Ecologia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Arantzazu L. Luzuriaga
- Departamento de Biología y Geología, Física y Química inorgánica, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Mostoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - Yolanda Pueyo
- Departamento de Biodiversidad y Restauración/Instituto Pirenaico de Ecologia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Sara Palacio
- Departamento Biodiversidad y Restauración/Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Jaca, Huesca, Spain
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Bopp MC, Fried G, Metay A, Bastianelli D, Bonnal L, Kazakou E. Linkages between traits and decomposition of weed communities along a soil management and pedoclimate gradient in Mediterranean vineyards. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2022; 130:547-560. [PMID: 35947944 PMCID: PMC9510946 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcac099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Decomposition is a major ecosystem process which improves soil quality. Despite that, only a few studies have analysed decomposition in an agricultural context, while most agrosystems (e.g. vineyards) are facing decreasing soil quality. The objective of this study is to understand the impacts of both pedoclimate and weed management on the mass loss of vineyard weed communities during the early stages of the decomposition process through their functional properties. METHODS In 16 Mediterranean vineyards representing both a pedoclimate and a soil management gradient, we measured the mass loss of green above-ground biomass of 50 weed communities during decomposition in standard conditions and key leaf traits of dominant species [e.g. leaf dry matter content (LDMC) and leaf lignin to nitrogen ratio (lignin:N)]. Both the mean [i.e. community-weighted mean (CWM)] and diversity (i.e. Rao index) were computed at the community level. Path analysis was used to quantify the effects of agro-environmental filters on the mass loss of weed communities through their functional properties. KEY RESULTS Tillage and mowing filtered more decomposable communities than chemical weeding (16 and 8 % of higher mass loss after 2 months of decomposition). Path analysis selected weed management practice type as the main factor determining mass loss through its effect on functional properties, while soil and climate had minor and no effects, respectively. Chemical weeding favoured communities with higher investment in resistant leaves (e.g. 38 % higher lignin:N, 22 % lower leaf nitrogen content) which resulted in lower mass loss compared with tilled and mowed communities. Mowing favoured communities with 47 % higher biomass and with 46 % higher nitrogen content. CONCLUSIONS Weed management significantly influenced weed mass loss, while the pedoclimate had little effect. Our results suggest that mowing is a promising alternative to herbicide use, favouring higher biomass, nitrogen content and decomposability potential of weeds.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Guillaume Fried
- Anses, Laboratoire de la Santé des Végétaux, Unité Entomologie et Plantes invasives, 34988 Montferrier-sur-Lez, France
| | - Aurélie Metay
- UMR ABSys, Institut Agro, Inrae, Cirad, CIHEAM-IAMM, Univ Montpellier, 2 Place Pierre Viala, 34060 Montpellier, France
| | - Denis Bastianelli
- CIRAD, UMR SELMET, F-34398 Montpellier, France
- SELMET, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, Montpellier, France
| | - Laurent Bonnal
- CIRAD, UMR SELMET, F-34398 Montpellier, France
- SELMET, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, Montpellier, France
| | - Elena Kazakou
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Institut Agro, Montpellier, France
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Bitomský M, Schaefer H, Pakeman RJ, Klimešová J, Götzenberger L, Duchoslav M. Variability in mycorrhizal status of plant species is much larger within than between plots in grassland and coastal habitats. Oecologia 2022; 200:209-219. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-022-05262-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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11
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Auber A, Waldock C, Maire A, Goberville E, Albouy C, Algar AC, McLean M, Brind'Amour A, Green AL, Tupper M, Vigliola L, Kaschner K, Kesner-Reyes K, Beger M, Tjiputra J, Toussaint A, Violle C, Mouquet N, Thuiller W, Mouillot D. A functional vulnerability framework for biodiversity conservation. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4774. [PMID: 36050297 PMCID: PMC9437092 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32331-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Setting appropriate conservation strategies in a multi-threat world is a challenging goal, especially because of natural complexity and budget limitations that prevent effective management of all ecosystems. Safeguarding the most threatened ecosystems requires accurate and integrative quantification of their vulnerability and their functioning, particularly the potential loss of species trait diversity which imperils their functioning. However, the magnitude of threats and associated biological responses both have high uncertainties. Additionally, a major difficulty is the recurrent lack of reference conditions for a fair and operational measurement of vulnerability. Here, we present a functional vulnerability framework that incorporates uncertainty and reference conditions into a generalizable tool. Through in silico simulations of disturbances, our framework allows us to quantify the vulnerability of communities to a wide range of threats. We demonstrate the relevance and operationality of our framework, and its global, scalable and quantitative comparability, through three case studies on marine fishes and mammals. We show that functional vulnerability has marked geographic and temporal patterns. We underline contrasting contributions of species richness and functional redundancy to the level of vulnerability among case studies, indicating that our integrative assessment can also identify the drivers of vulnerability in a world where uncertainty is omnipresent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnaud Auber
- IFREMER, Unité Halieutique Manche Mer du Nord, Laboratoire Ressources Halieutiques, Boulogne-sur-Mer, France.
| | - Conor Waldock
- Division of Aquatic Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Fish Ecology and Evolution, Center for Ecology, Evolution and Biogeochemistry, Eawag - Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Kastanienbaum, Switzerland
| | - Anthony Maire
- EDF R&D LNHE - Laboratoire National d'Hydraulique et Environnement, 6 quai Watier, Chatou, France
| | - Eric Goberville
- Unité Biologie des Organismes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques (BOREA), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Université, Université de Caen Normandie, Université des Antilles, CNRS, IRD, Paris, Cedex 05, France
| | - Camille Albouy
- Ecosystems and Landscape evolution, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Unit of Land Change Science, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Adam C Algar
- Department of Biology, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada
| | - Matthew McLean
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Anik Brind'Amour
- IFREMER, unité Ecologie et Modèles pour l'Halieutique, rue de l'Ile d'Yeu, BP21105, Nantes, cedex 3, France
| | - Alison L Green
- Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mark Tupper
- Institute of Marine Science, University of Portsmouth, Ferry Reach, Portsmouth, UK
- CGG, Crompton Way, Crawley, UK
| | - Laurent Vigliola
- UMR ENTROPIE, IRD-UR-UNC-IFREMER-CNRS, Centre IRD de Nouméa, Nouméa Cedex, New-Caledonia, France
| | - Kristin Kaschner
- Department of Biometry and Environmental Systems Analysis, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Maria Beger
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Jerry Tjiputra
- NORCE Norwegian Research Centre, Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, Bergen, Norway
| | - Aurèle Toussaint
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Cyrille Violle
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Nicolas Mouquet
- CESAB - FRB, Montpellier, France
- UMR MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, IRD, Montpellier, Cedex, France
| | - Wilfried Thuiller
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Univ. Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, LECA, Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, Grenoble, France
| | - David Mouillot
- UMR MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, IRD, Montpellier, Cedex, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France
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12
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Concostrina-Zubiri L, Prieto M, Hurtado P, Escudero A, Martínez I. Functional diversity regulates the effects of habitat degradation on biocrust phylogenetic and taxonomic diversities. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 32:e2599. [PMID: 35343001 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Biocrusts are major contributors to dryland diversity, functioning, and services. However, little is known about how habitat degradation will impact multiple facets of biocrust diversity and measurable functional traits. We evaluated changes in taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity of biocrust-forming lichens along a habitat degradation gradient related to the presence of linear infrastructure (i.e., a road) and a profound agricultural driven transformation. To do so, we selected 50 remnants of a Mediterranean shrubland. We considered several surrogates of habitat quality and causal disturbance on the various diversity facets of biocrusts by using structural equation modeling, hypothesizing that habitat degradation primarily affects functional diversity, which in turn regulates changes in taxonomic and phylogenetic diversities, and also that taxonomic and phylogenetic diversities are coupled. Fragment connectivity, distance to linear infrastructure (i.e., a road) and, particularly, soil fertility (i.e., soil P concentration), had mostly negative effects on biocrust functional diversity, which in turn affected both taxonomic and phylogenetic diversities. However, we found no direct effects of habitat degradation variables on the taxonomic and phylogenetic diversities. We also found that increases in phylogenetic diversity had a positive effect on taxonomic diversity along the habitat degradation gradient. Our results indicate that functional diversity of biocrusts is strongly affected by habitat degradation, which may profoundly alter their contribution to ecosystem functioning and services. Furthermore, functional diversity regulates the response of biocrust taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity to habitat degradation. These findings indicate that habitat degradation alters and simplifies the diversity of functional traits of biocrust-forming lichens, leading to biodiversity loss, with important consequences for the conservation of global drylands biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - María Prieto
- Área de Biodiversidad y Conservación, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pilar Hurtado
- Área de Biodiversidad y Conservación, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Biología (Botánica), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Adrián Escudero
- Área de Biodiversidad y Conservación, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Martínez
- Área de Biodiversidad y Conservación, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain
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13
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Biassi DL, Baldissera R, Galiano D, de Souza Rezende R. Effects of Pine Forest Management Practices on Bat Functional Traits in a Subtropical Region. ACTA CHIROPTEROLOGICA 2022. [DOI: 10.3161/15081109acc2021.23.2.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David Liposki Biassi
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Comunitária da Região de Chapecó — UNOCHAPECÓ, Rua Servidão Anjo da Guarda, 295-D, Efapi, CEP 89809-000, Chapecó, SC, Brasil
| | - Ronei Baldissera
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Comunitária da Região de Chapecó — UNOCHAPECÓ, Rua Servidão Anjo da Guarda, 295-D, Efapi, CEP 89809-000, Chapecó, SC, Brasil
| | - Daniel Galiano
- Laboratório de Zoologia, Universidade Federal da Fronteira Sul, Campus Realeza. Rua Edmundo Gaievisk, 1000, Zona Rural, CEP 85770000, Realeza, PR, Brasil
| | - Renan de Souza Rezende
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Comunitária da Região de Chapecó — UNOCHAPECÓ, Rua Servidão Anjo da Guarda, 295-D, Efapi, CEP 89809-000, Chapecó, SC, Brasil
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14
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The Functional Structure of Tropical Plant Communities and Soil Properties Enhance Ecosystem Functioning and Multifunctionality in Different Ecosystems in Ghana. FORESTS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/f13020297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Plant functional traits are useful in tracking changes in the environment, and play an important role in determining ecosystem functioning. The relationship between plant functional traits and ecosystem functioning remains unclear, although there is growing evidence on this relationship. In this study, we tested whether the functional structure of vegetation has significant effects on the provision of ecosystem services. We analysed plant trait composition (specific leaf area, leaf carbon and nitrogen ratio, isotopic carbon fraction, stem dry matter content, seed mass and plant height), soil parameters (nutrients, pH, bulk density) and proxies of ecosystem services (carbon stock, decomposition rate, invertebrate activity) in twenty-four plots in three tropical ecosystems (active restored and natural forests and an agroforestry system) in Ghana. For each plot, we measured above-ground biomass, decomposition rates of leaves and invertebrate activity as proxies for the provision of ecosystem services to evaluate (i) whether there were differences in functional composition and soil properties and their magnitude between ecosystem types. We further aimed to (ii) determine whether the functional structure and/or soil parameters drove ecosystem functions and multifunctionality in the three ecosystem types. For functional composition, both the leaf economic spectrum and seed mass dimension clearly separated the ecosystem types. The natural forest was more dominated by acquisitive plants than the other two ecosystem types, while the non-natural forests (agroforest and restored forest) showed higher variation in the functional space. The natural forest had higher values of soil properties than the restored forest and the agroforestry system, with the differences between the restored and agroforestry systems driven by bulk density. Levels of ecosystem service proxies and multifunctionality were positively related to the functional richness of forest plots and were mainly explained by the differences in site conditions. Our study demonstrated the effects of functional forest structure on ecosystem services in different forest ecosystems located in the semi-deciduous forest zone of Ghana.
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15
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Dawson SK, Carmona CP, González‐Suárez M, Jönsson M, Chichorro F, Mallen‐Cooper M, Melero Y, Moor H, Simaika JP, Duthie AB. The traits of "trait ecologists": An analysis of the use of trait and functional trait terminology. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:16434-16445. [PMID: 34938447 PMCID: PMC8668725 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Trait and functional trait approaches have revolutionized ecology improving our understanding of community assembly, species coexistence, and biodiversity loss. Focusing on traits promotes comparability across spatial and organizational scales, but terms must be used consistently. While several papers have offered definitions, it remains unclear how ecologists operationalize "trait" and "functional trait" terms. Here, we evaluate how researchers and the published literatures use these terms and explore differences among subdisciplines and study systems (taxa and biome). By conducting both a survey and a literature review, we test the hypothesis that ecologists' working definition of "trait" is adapted or altered when confronting the realities of collecting, analyzing and presenting data. From 486 survey responses and 712 reviewed papers, we identified inconsistencies in the understanding and use of terminology among researchers, but also limited inclusion of definitions within the published literature. Discrepancies were not explained by subdiscipline, system of study, or respondent characteristics, suggesting there could be an inconsistent understanding even among those working in related topics. Consistencies among survey responses included the use of morphological, phonological, and physiological traits. Previous studies have called for unification of terminology; yet, our study shows that proposed definitions are not consistently used or accepted. Sources of disagreement include trait heritability, defining and interpreting function, and dealing with organisms in which individuals are not clearly recognizable. We discuss and offer guidelines for overcoming these disagreements. The diversity of life on Earth means traits can represent different features that can be measured and reported in different ways, and thus, narrow definitions that work for one system will fail in others. We recommend ecologists embrace the breadth of biodiversity using a simplified definition of "trait" more consistent with its common use. Trait-based approaches will be most powerful if we accept that traits are at least as diverse as trait ecologists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha K. Dawson
- Swedish Species Information CentreSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUppsalaSweden
| | | | | | - Mari Jönsson
- Swedish Species Information CentreSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUppsalaSweden
| | - Filipe Chichorro
- LIBRe – Laboratory for Integrative Biodiversity ResearchFinnish Museum of Natural HistoryUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Max Mallen‐Cooper
- Ecology and Evolution Research CentreSchool of Biological, Earth and Environmental SciencesUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | | | - Helen Moor
- Swedish Species Information CentreSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUppsalaSweden
| | - John P. Simaika
- Department of Water Resources and EcosystemsIHE Delft Institute for Water EducationDelftThe Netherlands
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16
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Positive Effects of Legumes on Soil Organic Carbon Stocks Disappear at High Legume Proportions Across Natural Grasslands in the Pyrenees. Ecosystems 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-021-00695-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
AbstractSoil is the largest terrestrial carbon pool, making it crucial for climate change mitigation. Soil organic carbon (SOC) is suggested to depend on biodiversity components, but much evidence comes from diversity-function experiments. To disentangle the relationships of plant guild diversity with SOC storage (kg m−2) at broad spatial scales, we applied diversity-interaction models to a regional grassland database (n = 96) including wide environmental conditions and management regimes. The questions were: (1) Are the effects of plant guilds on SOC stocks in natural grasslands consistent with those found in experimental systems? (2) Are plant guild effects on SOC stocks independent of each other or do they show interactive—synergistic or antagonistic—effects? (3) Do environmental variables, including abiotic and management, modify guild effects on SOC stocks? Among our most novel results we found, legume effects on grassland SOC vary depending on legume proportion consistently across broad spatial scales. SOC increased with legume proportion up to 7–17%, then decreased. Additionally, these effects were strengthened when grasses and forbs were codominant. Grazing intensity modulated grass proportion effects on SOC, being maximum at relatively high intensities. Interpreting our results in terms of existing contrasted ecological theories, we confirmed at broad spatial scales and under wide-ranging environmental conditions the positive effects of plant guild diversity on SOC, and we showed how legumes exert a keystone effect on SOC in natural grasslands, probably related to their ability to fix inorganic N. Niche complementarity effects were illustrated when codominance of forbs and grasses at optimum legume proportions boosted SOC storage, whereas grass dominance increased SOC stocks at medium–high grazing intensities. These findings can facilitate the preparation of regional and local strategies to ameliorate the soil capacity to absorb carbon.
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17
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Sîrbu I, Benedek AM, Sîrbu M. Variation partitioning in double-constrained multivariate analyses: linking communities, environment, space, functional traits, and ecological niches. Oecologia 2021; 197:43-59. [PMID: 34379198 PMCID: PMC8445867 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-021-05006-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Constrained multivariate analysis is a common tool for linking ecological communities to environment. The follow-up is the development of the double-constrained correspondence analysis (dc-CA), integrating traits as species-related predictors. Further, methods have been proposed to integrate information on phylogenetic relationships and space variability. We expand this framework, proposing a dc-CA-based algorithm for decomposing variation in community structure and testing the simple and conditional effects of four sets of predictors: environment characteristics and space configuration as predictors related to sites, while traits and niche (dis)similarities as species-related predictors. In our approach, ecological niches differ from traits in that the latter are distinguished by and characterize the individual level, while niches are measured on the species level, and when compared, they are characteristics of communities and should be used as separate predictors. The novelties of this approach are the introduction of new niche parameters, niche dissimilarities, synthetic niche-based diversity which we related to environmental features, the development of an algorithm for the full variation decomposition and testing of the community–environment–niche–traits–space (CENTS) space by dc-CAs with and without covariates, and new types of diagrams for the results. Applying these methods to a dataset on freshwater mollusks, we learned that niche predictors may be as important as traits in explaining community structure and are not redundant, overweighting the environmental and spatial predictors. Our algorithm opens new pathways for developing integrative methods linking life, environment, and other predictors, both in theoretical and practical applications, including assessment of human impact on habitats and ecological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioan Sîrbu
- Faculty of Sciences, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, 5-7 Dr. I. Ratiu St., 550012, Sibiu, Romania.
| | - Ana Maria Benedek
- Faculty of Sciences, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, 5-7 Dr. I. Ratiu St., 550012, Sibiu, Romania
| | - Monica Sîrbu
- Andrei Șaguna National Pedagogical College, 2 Aleea Turnu Roșu St., 550361, Sibiu, Romania
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18
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Mammola S, Carmona CP, Guillerme T, Cardoso P. Concepts and applications in functional diversity. Funct Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Mammola
- Laboratory for Integrative Biodiversity Research (LIBRe) Finnish Museum of Natural History (Luomus) University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
- Molecular Ecology Group (MEG) Water Research InstituteNational Research Council (CNR‐IRSA) Verbania Pallanza Italy
| | - Carlos P. Carmona
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences University of Tartu Tartu Estonia
| | - Thomas Guillerme
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences The University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
| | - Pedro Cardoso
- Laboratory for Integrative Biodiversity Research (LIBRe) Finnish Museum of Natural History (Luomus) University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
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19
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Pescador DS, de Bello F, López-Angulo J, Valladares F, Escudero A. Spatial Scale Dependence of Ecological Factors That Regulate Functional and Phylogenetic Assembly in a Mediterranean High Mountain Grassland. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.622148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding how functional and phylogenetic patterns vary among scales and along ecological gradients within a given species pool is critical for inferring community assembly processes. However, we lack a clear understanding of these patterns in stressful habitats such as Mediterranean high mountains where ongoing global warming is expected to affect species fitness and species interactions, and subsequently species turnover. In this study, we investigated 39 grasslands with the same type of plant community and very little species turnover across an elevation gradient above the treeline at Sierra de Guadarrama National Park in central Spain. In particular, we assessed functional and phylogenetic patterns, including functional heterogeneity, using a multi-scale approach (cells, subplots, and plots) and determined the relevance of key ecological factors (i.e., elevation, potential solar radiation, pH, soil organic carbon, species richness, and functional heterogeneity) that affect functional and phylogenetic patterns at each spatial scale. Overall, at the plot scale, coexisting species tended to be more functionally and phylogenetically similar. By contrast, at the subplot and cell scales, species tended to be more functionally different but phylogenetically similar. Functional heterogeneity at the cell scale was comparable to the variation across plots along the gradient. The relevance of ecological factors that regulate diversity patterns varied among spatial scales. An increase in elevation resulted in functional clustering at larger scales and phylogenetic overdispersion at a smaller scale. The soil pH and organic carbon levels exhibited complex functional patterns, especially at small spatial scales, where an increase in pH led to clustering patterns for the traits related to the leaf economic spectrum (i.e., foliar thickness, specific leaf area, and leaf dry matter content). Our findings confirm the presence of primary environmental filters (coldness and summer drought at our study sites) that constrain the regional species pool, suggesting the presence of additional assembly mechanisms that act at the smallest scale (e.g., micro-environmental gradients and/or species interactions). Functional and phylogenetic relatedness should be determined using a multi-scale approach to help interpret community assembly processes and understand the initial community responses to environmental changes, including ongoing global warming.
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20
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Staton T, Walters RJ, Smith J, Breeze TD, Girling RD. Evaluating a trait-based approach to compare natural enemy and pest communities in agroforestry vs. arable systems. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 31:e02294. [PMID: 33427350 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Diversified farming systems, for example those that incorporate agroforestry elements, have been proposed as a solution that could maintain and improve multiple ecosystem services. However, habitat diversification in and around arable fields has complex and inconsistent effects on invertebrate crop pests and their natural enemies. This hinders the development of policy recommendations to promote the adoption of such management strategies for the provision of natural pest control services. Here, for the first time, we conducted a trait-based approach to investigate the effect of farming system on plant, invertebrate herbivore, and invertebrate natural enemy communities. We then evaluated this approach by comparing the results to those generated using a traditional taxonomic approach. At each of three working farms, we sampled within an agroforestry field (a diverse farming system comprising alleys of arable crops separated by tree rows), and within a paired non-diversified area of the farm (arable control field). Each of 96 sample points was sampled between 8 and 10 times, yielding 393,318 invertebrate specimens from 344 taxonomic groups. Diet specialization or granivory, lack of a pupal stage, and wing traits in invertebrates, along with late flowering, short flowering duration, creeping habit, and perenniality in plants, were traits more strongly associated with agroforestry crop alleys than the arable control fields. We hypothesize that this is a result of reduced habitat disturbance and increased habitat complexity in the agroforestry system. Taxonomic richness and diversity were higher in the agroforestry crop alleys compared to the arable control fields, but these effects were stronger at lower trophic levels. However, functional trait diversity of natural enemies was significantly higher in the agroforestry crop alleys than the arable control fields, suggesting an improved level of biocontrol, which was not detected by traditional diversity metrics. Of eight key pest taxa, three were significantly suppressed in the agroforestry system, while two were more abundant, compared to the arable control fields. Trait-based approaches can provide a better mechanistic understanding of farming system effects on pests and their natural enemies, therefore we recommend their application and testing in future studies of diversified farming systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Staton
- School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, PO Box 237, Reading, RG6 6EU, United Kingdom
| | - Richard J Walters
- Centre for Environmental and Climate Science, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, Lund, 223 62, Sweden
| | - Jo Smith
- MV Agroecological Research Centre, Moinhos de Vento, Mértola, 7750-217, Portugal
- Organic Research Centre, Trent Lodge, Stroud Road, Cirencester, GL7 6JN, United Kingdom
| | - Tom D Breeze
- School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, PO Box 237, Reading, RG6 6EU, United Kingdom
| | - Robbie D Girling
- School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, PO Box 237, Reading, RG6 6EU, United Kingdom
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21
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Plazas‐Jiménez D, Cianciaruso MV. Leaf decomposition depends on nutritional trait values but increasing trait variability does not always increase decomposition efficiency. OIKOS 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.08065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Plazas‐Jiménez
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Ecologia e Evolução, Univ. Federal de Goiás Goiânia Goiás Brasil
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22
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Wong MKL, Carmona CP. Including intraspecific trait variability to avoid distortion of functional diversity and ecological inference: Lessons from natural assemblages. Methods Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mark K. L. Wong
- Department of Zoology University of Oxford Oxford UK
- Forest Entomology Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL Birmensdorf Switzerland
| | - Carlos P. Carmona
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences University of Tartu Tartu Estonia
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23
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Deák B, Rádai Z, Bátori Z, Kelemen A, Lukács K, Kiss R, Maák IE, Valkó O. Ancient Burial Mounds Provide Safe Havens for Grassland Specialist Plants in Transformed Landscapes—A Trait-Based Analysis. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.619812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the intensified land use in transformed landscapes, grassland biodiversity is often restricted to habitat fragments inadequate for arable use or for urban development. In continental parts of Eurasia, the ~600,000 ancient burial mounds (called “kurgans”) built by nomadic tribes of the steppes are amongst the most widespread landmarks providing refuge for dry grassland species. In our study by using plant functional groups and functional traits, we aimed at gaining insight into the ecological and evolutionary processes shaping the structure and the composition of assemblages of grassland specialist plant species on kurgans embedded in the agricultural landscapes of East-Hungary. As a comparison, we also studied roadside verges and pristine extensive grasslands in the same region. We found that despite their small size, due to the lack of human disturbances and high microhabitat diversity kurgans can maintain a high species richness and percentage cover of specialists, especially when compared to verges. We revealed that assemblages of specialist plants on kurgans are characterized by traits typical to terrestrial habitat islands such as self-compatibility, large seed mass and tall stature. Kurgans and extensive grasslands were characterized by higher functional diversity (both at the level of single traits and multi-trait based functional dispersion) which is probably due to the higher level of environmental heterogeneity compared to the homogeneous environment in verges.
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24
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Bello F, Botta‐Dukát Z, Lepš J, Fibich P. Towards a more balanced combination of multiple traits when computing functional differences between species. Methods Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Bello
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre Desertificación (CSIC‐UV‐GV) Valencia Spain
- Department of Botany Faculty of Sciences University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | | | - Jan Lepš
- Department of Botany Faculty of Sciences University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences Institute of Entomology České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Fibich
- Department of Botany Faculty of Sciences University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
- Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences Průhonice Czech Republic
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25
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Sun J, Wen Z, Feijó A, Cheng J, Wang Y, Li S, Ge D, Xia L, Yang Q. Elevation patterns and critical environmental drivers of the taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity of small mammals in a karst mountain area. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:10899-10911. [PMID: 33072304 PMCID: PMC7548175 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding how biodiversity components are related under different environmental factors is a fundamental challenge for ecology studies, yet there is little knowledge of this interplay among the biotas, especially small mammals, in karst mountain areas. Here, we examine the elevation patterns of the taxonomic diversity (TD), phylogenetic diversity (PD), and functional diversity (FD) of small mammals in a karst mountain area, the Wuling Mountains, Southwest China, and compare these patterns between taxa (Rodentia and Eulipotyphla) and scales (broad‐ and narrow‐range species). We also disentangle the impacts of the human influence index, net primary productivity (NPP), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), annual precipitation (AP), and annual mean temperature (AMT) on these three facets of biodiversity by using structural equation modeling. We recorded a total of 39 small mammal species, including 26 rodents and 13 species of the order Eulipotyphla. Our study shows that the facets of biodiversity are spatially incongruent. Net primary productivity has a positive effect on the three facets for most groups, while the effect of the NDVI is negative for TD and PD in most groups. AMT temperature and AP have negative effects on FD and PD, whereas TD is dependent on the species range scale. The human influence index effect on TD and PD also depends on the species range scale. These findings provide robust evidence that the ecological drivers of biodiversity differ among different biotas and different range scales, and future research should use multifacet approach to determine biodiversity conservation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Sun
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Zhixin Wen
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Anderson Feijó
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Jilong Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Yanqun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Song Li
- Kunming Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Kunming China
| | - Deyan Ge
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Lin Xia
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Qisen Yang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
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26
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Dar PA, Reshi ZA. Impact of alien species on species composition, floristic and functional diversity of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Trop Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s42965-020-00102-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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27
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Belinchón R, Hemrová L, Münzbergová Z. Functional traits determine why species belong to the dark diversity in a dry grassland fragmented landscape. OIKOS 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.07308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rocío Belinchón
- Dept of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles Univ. CZ‐128 01 Prague Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Hemrová
- Inst. of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences Průhonice Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Münzbergová
- Dept of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles Univ. CZ‐128 01 Prague Czech Republic
- Inst. of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences Průhonice Czech Republic
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Blaus A, Reitalu T, Gerhold P, Hiiesalu I, Massante JC, Veski S. Modern Pollen–Plant Diversity Relationships Inform Palaeoecological Reconstructions of Functional and Phylogenetic Diversity in Calcareous Fens. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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29
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Niu K, Zhang S, Lechowicz MJ. Harsh environmental regimes increase the functional significance of intraspecific variation in plant communities. Funct Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kechang Niu
- Department of Ecology School of Life Sciences Nanjing University Nanjing China
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Cornell University Ithaca NY USA
| | - Shiting Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland and Agro‐Ecosystems School of Life Science Lanzhou University Lanzhou China
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30
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Pichon NA, Cappelli SL, Soliveres S, Hölzel N, Klaus VH, Kleinebecker T, Allan E. Decomposition disentangled: A test of the multiple mechanisms by which nitrogen enrichment alters litter decomposition. Funct Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Santiago Soliveres
- Department of Ecology University of Alicante Alicante Spain
- Multidisciplinary Institute for Environmental Studies ‘Ramón Margalef’ University of Alicante Alicante Spain
| | - Norbert Hölzel
- Institute of Landscape Ecology University of Münster Münster Germany
| | | | - Till Kleinebecker
- Institute of Landscape Ecology and Resource Management Justus‐Liebig‐University Gießen Giessen Germany
| | - Eric Allan
- Institute of Plant Sciences University of Bern Bern Switzerland
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31
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Ricotta C, Laroche F, Szeidl L, Pavoine S. From alpha to beta functional and phylogenetic redundancy. Methods Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Ricotta
- Department of Environmental Biology University of Rome ‘La Sapienza’ Rome Italy
| | | | - László Szeidl
- John von Neumann Faculty of Informatics Óbuda University Budapest Hungary
| | - Sandrine Pavoine
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO) Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle CNRSSorbonne Université Paris France
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Micó E, Ramilo P, Thorn S, Müller J, Galante E, Carmona CP. Contrasting functional structure of saproxylic beetle assemblages associated to different microhabitats. Sci Rep 2020; 10:1520. [PMID: 32001786 PMCID: PMC6992628 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-58408-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Saproxylic beetles depend on diverse microhabitats that are exploited by different species assemblages. We focused on anlyse the functional trait patterns and functional diversity components of two main assemblages that were collected with window traps (WTs) and hollow emergence traps (HETs) respectively, between three protected areas of the Iberian Peninsula. For that we measured phenological, physiological, morphological, and ecological traits. Results showed that the main microhabitats exploited by each assemblage (WT and HET) constrain most of the morphological traits and trophic guilds. In addition, relative elytra length and predator guild, together with adult activity period, responded to differences at the habitat level (among study areas). HET assemblages were less taxonomically diverse but more functionally diverse than those of WTs, enhancing the functional relevance of tree hollows. Additionally, niche filtering dominated WT assemblages, which were characterised by a narrower functional space and a higher redundancy. In contrast, in the HET assemblages the coexistence of functionally dissimilar species is driven by the niche heterogeneity. HET and WT assemblages differed in the functional space occupied by each within areas, but both assemblages reflected coincident patterns among areas that pointed to a reduction of functional space with management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estefanía Micó
- Centro Iberoamericano de la Biodiversidad (CIBIO), Universidad de Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, 03690, Alicante, Spain.
| | - Pablo Ramilo
- Centro Iberoamericano de la Biodiversidad (CIBIO), Universidad de Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, 03690, Alicante, Spain
| | - Simon Thorn
- Field Station Fabrikschleichach, Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter University of Würzburg, Glashüttenstraße 5, DE-96181, Rauhenebrach, Germany
| | - Jörg Müller
- Field Station Fabrikschleichach, Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter University of Würzburg, Glashüttenstraße 5, DE-96181, Rauhenebrach, Germany.,Bavarian Forest National Park, Freyunger Str. 2, 94481, Grafenau, Germany
| | - Eduardo Galante
- Centro Iberoamericano de la Biodiversidad (CIBIO), Universidad de Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, 03690, Alicante, Spain
| | - Carlos P Carmona
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Lai 40, Tartu, 51005, Estonia
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Belinchón R, Hemrová L, Münzbergová Z. Abiotic, present-day and historical effects on species, functional and phylogenetic diversity in dry grasslands of different age. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0223826. [PMID: 31613919 PMCID: PMC6793948 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2018] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Many grasslands have disappeared over the last century as a result of anthropogenic land use intensification, while new patches are emerging through abandonment of arable fields. Here, we compared species (SD), functional (FD) and phylogenetic (PD) (alpha) diversity among 272 dry grassland patches of two age-classes: old and new, with the new patches being dry grasslands established on previous intensively managed fields during the last 30 years. We first compared SD, FD and PD, between patches of different age. Then, we performed generalized linear models to determine the influence of abiotic, present-day and historical landscape configuration variables on SD, FD and PD. By measuring abiotic variables, we explained the effect of environmental filtering on species diversity, whereas the present-day and historical landscape configuration variables were included to describe how the spatial and temporal configuration of the patches influence patterns of species. Finally, we applied partial regressions to explore the relative importance of abiotic, present-day and historical variables in explaining the diversity metrics and how this varies between patches of different ages. We found higher SD in the old compared to the new patches, but no changes in FD and PD. SD was mostly affected by abiotic and present-day landscape configuration variables in the new and the old patches, respectively. In the new patches, historical variables explained variation in the FD, while present-day variables explained the PD. In the old patches, historical variables accounted for most of the variation in both FD and PD. Our evidence suggests that the relative importance of assembly processes has changed over time, showing that environmental filtering and changes in the landscape configuration prevented the establishment of species in the new patches. However, the loss of species (i.e. SD) is not necessarily linked to a loss of functions and evolutionary potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocío Belinchón
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Zuzana Münzbergová
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
- Institute of Botany CAS, Průhonice, Czech Republic
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34
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García-Navas V. Phylogenetic and functional diversity of African muroid rodents at different spatial scales. ORG DIVERS EVOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s13127-019-00411-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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35
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Herrera P, Suárez JP, Sánchez-Rodríguez A, Molina MC, Prieto M, Méndez M. Many broadly-shared mycobionts characterize mycorrhizal interactions of two coexisting epiphytic orchids in a high elevation tropical forest. FUNGAL ECOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funeco.2018.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Tsafack N, Rebaudo F, Wang H, Nagy DD, Xie Y, Wang X, Fattorini S. Carabid community structure in northern China grassland ecosystems: Effects of local habitat on species richness, species composition and functional diversity. PeerJ 2019; 6:e6197. [PMID: 30643684 PMCID: PMC6330033 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Most carabid beetles are particularly sensitive to local habitat characteristics. Although in China grasslands account for more than 40% of the national land, their biodiversity is still poorly known. The aim of this paper is to identify the main environmental characteristics influencing carabid diversity in different types of grassland in northern China. Methods We investigated the influence of vegetation (plant biomass, cover, density, height and species richness), soil (bulk density, above ground litter, moisture and temperature) and climate (humidity, precipitation and temperature) on carabid community structure (species richness, species composition and functional diversity—measured as body size, movement and total diversity) in three types of grasslands: desert, typical and meadow steppes. We used Canonical correspondence analysis to investigate the role of habitat characteristics on species composition and eigenvector spatial filtering to investigate the responses of species richness and functional diversities. Results We found that carabid community structure was strongly influenced by local habitat characteristics and particularly by climatic factors. Carabids in the desert steppe showed the lowest richness and functional diversities. Climate predictors (temperature, precipitation and humidity) had positive effects on carabid species richness at both regional and ecosystem levels, with difference among ecosystems. Plant diversity had a positive influence on carabid richness at the regional level. Soil compaction and temperature were negatively related to species richness at regional level. Climatic factors positively influenced functional diversities, whereas soil temperature had negative effects. Soil moisture and temperature were the most important drivers of species composition at regional level, whereas the relative importance of the various environmental parameters varied among ecosystems. Discussion Carabid responses to environmental characteristics varied among grassland types, which warns against generalizations and indicates that management programs should be considered at grassland scale. Carabid community structure is strongly influenced by climatic factors, and can therefore be particularly sensitive to ongoing climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - François Rebaudo
- UMR EGCE, IRD, University of Paris-Sud, CNRS, University of Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Hui Wang
- School of Agriculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Dávid D Nagy
- MTA-DE, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Research Group, Egyetem Sq. 1, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Yingzhong Xie
- School of Agriculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Xinpu Wang
- School of Agriculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Simone Fattorini
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
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Saiz H, Le Bagousse-Pinguet Y, Gross N, Maestre FT. Intransitivity increases plant functional diversity by limiting dominance in drylands worldwide. THE JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY 2019; 107:240-252. [PMID: 30546158 PMCID: PMC6287709 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2745.13018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2017] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
1. Biotic interactions are key determinants of plant community structure. Indirect interactions such as intransitivity (i.e. in the absence of competitive hierarchies among species) have been hypothesized to benefit diversity within plant communities. However, their effect on functional diversity remains scarcely explored in real communities. Here we develop a novel approach to infer intransitivity from plant spatial patterns and functional traits (height and specific leaf area), and quantify its effect on different components of plant diversity along environmental gradients in 100 drylands from all continents except Antarctica. 2. We first calculated the spatial association pattern for all perennials to infer competition between species. Trait values were used as a proxy of competitive hierarchies to infer the direction of these interactions. We used multiple regression models to evaluate how intransitivity responds to environmental variables (mean annual temperature and precipitation, precipitation seasonality, soil pH, sand content and woody cover). We also used confirmatory path analysis to evaluate the effects of intransitivity on species richness and evenness, trait dispersion and functional diversity. 3. Intransitivity mostly responded to climatic variables, and significantly increased with precipitation scarcity and seasonality. We found that intransitivity had significant effects on functional diversity, mostly by promoting plant community evenness. However, the dominance of woody vegetation (steppes vs. shrublands) modulated this effect. SYNTHESIS Intransitivity increased the functional diversity of drylands, particularly under high rainfall seasonality, by limiting functionally dominant species. Our findings specify how intransitivity structures the functional diversity of dryland vegetation worldwide. Intransitivity may be particularly important in ecosystems where the availability of abiotic resources changes over time, thereby breaking down inherent competitive hierarchies between plant species. Neglecting intransitivity will bias our estimation of the impacts of biotic interactions on plant communities, a fundamental issue to fully understand how plant communities will respond to ongoing environmental changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Saiz
- Departamento de Biología y Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, Escuela Superior de Ciencias Experimentales y Tecnología, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/ Tulipán s/n, 28933 Móstoles, Spain
| | - Yoann Le Bagousse-Pinguet
- Departamento de Biología y Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, Escuela Superior de Ciencias Experimentales y Tecnología, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/ Tulipán s/n, 28933 Móstoles, Spain
| | - Nicolas Gross
- Departamento de Biología y Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, Escuela Superior de Ciencias Experimentales y Tecnología, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/ Tulipán s/n, 28933 Móstoles, Spain
- INRA, USC1339 Chizé (CEBC), F-79360, Villiers en Bois, France
- Centre d'étude biologique de Chizé, CNRS - Université La Rochelle (UMR 7372), F-79360, Villiers en Bois, France
| | - Fernando T Maestre
- Departamento de Biología y Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, Escuela Superior de Ciencias Experimentales y Tecnología, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/ Tulipán s/n, 28933 Móstoles, Spain
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38
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Lechêne A, Lobry J, Boët P, Laffaille P. Change in fish functional diversity and assembly rules in the course of tidal marsh restoration. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0209025. [PMID: 30566467 PMCID: PMC6300267 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0209025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Functional trait theory provides a mechanistic framework to understand change in community composition and community assembly through time and space. Despite this, trait-based approaches have seldom been used in ecological restoration. Succession theory predicts that habitat complexity and resource availability will increase with restoration time, leading to increased functional dissimilarity among coexisting species. However, in the case of tidal marsh restoration, it is not clear whether reestablishing the harsh abiotic conditions typical of estuaries will initiate successional trajectories. We investigated monotonic changes in the functional structure of fish communities and shifts in assembly mechanisms, with tidal restoration time. A five-level gradient of ‘intertidal habitat naturalness’ was constructed from a set of artificialized (dyked), restored (with different ages) and natural intertidal sites, and used as a surrogate for restoration progress. The fish ecophases were described using ten functional traits related to food acquisition and swimming ability. The trends in six functional dimensions (identity, richness, evenness, dispersion, originality and specialization) were investigated along the naturalness gradient. Consistenly with succession theory, functional specialization, dispersion and, less markedly, richness increased with intertidal naturalness meaning that restored and natural intertidal habitats supplied fish with specific foraging and dwelling conditions absent from dyked marshes. Community assembly patterns varied with respect to traits and differed at both ends of the naturalness gradient. Dyked marshes were more affected by trait convergence possibly due to limiting resources. Environmental filtering was detected all along the naturalness gradient although the traits affected varied depending on the naturalness level of habitats. Environmental filtering tended to decrease in restored and natural intertidal habitats. Increased naturalness restored the attractivity of benthic habitats as feeding or settling grounds, promoted shelter-seeking vs. free-swimming strategists and favoured ecophases with carnivorous diets, feeding on microinvertebrates and benthic low-mobility macroinvertebrates. Approaches based on functional trait diversity have the potential to question and refine the theoretical frame of ecological restoration and to assist managers in their efforts to restore tidal wetlands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alain Lechêne
- Irstea, UR EABX, centre de Bordeaux, 50 avenue de Verdun, F-33612 Cestas cedex, France
- * E-mail:
| | - Jérémy Lobry
- Irstea, UR EABX, centre de Bordeaux, 50 avenue de Verdun, F-33612 Cestas cedex, France
| | - Philippe Boët
- Irstea, UR EABX, centre de Bordeaux, 50 avenue de Verdun, F-33612 Cestas cedex, France
| | - Pascal Laffaille
- EcoLab, Université de Toulouse, INP, UPS, ENSAT, Castanet-Tolosan, France
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Greenop A, Woodcock BA, Wilby A, Cook SM, Pywell RF. Functional diversity positively affects prey suppression by invertebrate predators: a meta-analysis. Ecology 2018; 99:1771-1782. [PMID: 29727489 PMCID: PMC6099248 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Revised: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 04/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The use of pesticides within agricultural ecosystems has led to wide concern regarding negative effects on the environment. One possible alternative is the use of predators of pest species that naturally occur within agricultural ecosystems. However, the mechanistic basis for how species can be manipulated in order to maximize pest control remains unclear. We carried out a meta‐analysis of 51 studies that manipulated predator species richness in reference to suppression of herbivore prey to determine which components of predator diversity affect pest control. Overall, functional diversity (FD) based on predator's habitat domain, diet breadth and hunting strategy was ranked as the most important variable. Our analysis showed that increases in FD in polycultures led to greater prey suppression compared to both the mean of the component predator species, and the most effective predator species, in monocultures. Further analysis of individual traits indicated these effects are likely to be driven by broad niche differentiation and greater resource exploitation in functionally diverse predator communities. A decoupled measure of phylogenetic diversity, whereby the overlap in variation with FD was removed, was not found to be an important driver of prey suppression. Our results suggest that increasing FD in predatory invertebrates will help maximize pest control ecosystem services in agricultural ecosystems, with the potential to increase suppression above that of the most effective predator species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arran Greenop
- NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Maclean Building, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BB, UK.,Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Library Avenue, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Ben A Woodcock
- NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Maclean Building, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Andy Wilby
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Library Avenue, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Samantha M Cook
- Biointeractions and Crop Protection Department, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts, AL5 2JQ, UK
| | - Richard F Pywell
- NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Maclean Building, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BB, UK
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Almeida SM, Juen L, Sobral FL, Santos MPD. The influence of biogeographic history on the functional and phylogenetic diversity of passerine birds in savannas and forests of the Brazilian Amazon. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:3617-3627. [PMID: 29686843 PMCID: PMC5901182 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2017] [Revised: 01/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Passeriformes is the largest and most diverse avian order in the world and comprises the Passeri and Tyranni suborders. These suborders constitute a monophyletic group, but differ in their ecology and history of occupation of South America. We investigated the influence of biogeographic history on functional and phylogenetic diversities of Passeri and Tyranni in forest and savanna habitats in the Brazilian Amazon. We compiled species composition data for 34 Passeriformes assemblages, 12 in savannas and 22 in forests. We calculated the functional (Rao's quadratic entropy, FD Q ) and phylogenetic diversities (mean pairwise distance, MPD, and mean nearest taxon distance, MNTD), and the functional beta diversity to investigate the potential role of biogeographic history in shaping ecological traits and species lineages of both suborders. The functional diversity of Passeri was higher than for Tyranni in both habitats. The MPD for Tyranni was higher than for Passeri in forests; however, there was no difference between the suborders in savannas. In savannas, Passeri presented higher MNTD than Tyranni, while in forest areas, Tyranni assemblages showed higher MNTD than Passeri. We found a high functional turnover (~75%) between Passeri and Tyranni in both habitats. The high functional diversity of Passeri in both habitats is due to the high diversity of ecological traits exhibited by species of this group, which enables the exploitation of a wide variety of resources and foraging strategies. The higher Tyranni MPD and MNTD in forests is likely due to Tyranni being older settlers in this habitat, resulting in the emergence and persistence of more lineages. The higher Passeri MNTD in savannas can be explained by the existence of a larger number of different Passeri lineages adapted to this severe habitat. The high functional turnover between the suborders in both habitats suggests an ecological strategy to avoid niche overlap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Miranda Almeida
- Programa de Pós‐graduação em ZoologiaUniversidade Federal do ParáBelémParáBrazil
- Instituto de Ciências BiológicasUniversidade Federal do ParáBelémParáBrazil
| | - Leandro Juen
- Programa de Pós‐graduação em ZoologiaUniversidade Federal do ParáBelémParáBrazil
- Instituto de Ciências BiológicasUniversidade Federal do ParáBelémParáBrazil
| | - Fernando Landa Sobral
- Departamento de EcologiaInstituto de Ciências BiológicasUniversidade Federal de GoiásGoiâniaGoiásBrazil
| | - Marcos Pérsio Dantas Santos
- Programa de Pós‐graduação em ZoologiaUniversidade Federal do ParáBelémParáBrazil
- Instituto de Ciências BiológicasUniversidade Federal do ParáBelémParáBrazil
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41
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Sessa EB, Chambers SM, Li D, Trotta L, Endara L, Burleigh JG, Baiser B. Community assembly of the ferns of Florida. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2018; 105:549-564. [PMID: 29730880 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.1073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE OF THE STUDY Many ecological and evolutionary processes shape the assembly of organisms into local communities from a regional pool of species. We analyzed phylogenetic and functional diversity to understand community assembly of the ferns of Florida at two spatial scales. METHODS We built a phylogeny for 125 of the 141 species of ferns in Florida using five chloroplast markers. We calculated mean pairwise dissimilarity (MPD) and mean nearest taxon distance (MNTD) from phylogenetic distances and functional trait data for both spatial scales and compared the results to null models to assess significance. KEY RESULTS Our results for over vs. underdispersion in functional and phylogenetic diversity differed depending on spatial scale and metric considered. At the county scale, MPD revealed evidence for phylogenetic overdispersion, while MNTD revealed phylogenetic and functional underdispersion, and at the conservation area scale, MPD revealed phylogenetic and functional underdispersion while MNTD revealed evidence only of functional underdispersion. CONCLUSIONS Our results are consistent with environmental filtering playing a larger role at the smaller, conservation area scale. The smaller spatial units are likely composed of fewer local habitat types that are selecting for closely related species, with the larger-scale units more likely to be composed of multiple habitat types that bring together a larger pool of species from across the phylogeny. Several aspects of fern biology, including their unique physiology and water relations and the importance of the independent gametophyte stage of the life cycle, make ferns highly sensitive to local, microhabitat conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily B Sessa
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, 220 Bartram Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Sally M Chambers
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, 220 Bartram Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
- Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 900 S. Palm Avenue, Sarasota, FL, 34236, USA
| | - Daijiang Li
- Department of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Lauren Trotta
- Department of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Lorena Endara
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, 220 Bartram Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - J Gordon Burleigh
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, 220 Bartram Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Benjamin Baiser
- Department of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
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Mazel F, Mooers AO, Riva GVD, Pennell MW. Conserving Phylogenetic Diversity Can Be a Poor Strategy for Conserving Functional Diversity. Syst Biol 2018; 66:1019-1027. [PMID: 28595366 DOI: 10.1093/sysbio/syx054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Accepted: 05/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
For decades, academic biologists have advocated for making conservation decisions in light of evolutionary history. Specifically, they suggest that policy makers should prioritize conserving phylogenetically diverse assemblages. The most prominent argument is that conserving phylogenetic diversity (PD) will also conserve diversity in traits and features (functional diversity [FD]), which may be valuable for a number of reasons. The claim that PD-maximized ("maxPD") sets of taxa will also have high FD is often taken at face value and in cases where researchers have actually tested it, they have done so by measuring the phylogenetic signal in ecologically important functional traits. The rationale is that if traits closely mirror phylogeny, then saving the maxPD set of taxa will tend to maximize FD and if traits do not have phylogenetic structure, then saving the maxPD set of taxa will be no better at capturing FD than criteria that ignore PD. Here, we suggest that measuring the phylogenetic signal in traits is uninformative for evaluating the effectiveness of using PD in conservation. We evolve traits under several different models and, for the first time, directly compare the FD of a set of taxa that maximize PD to the FD of a random set of the same size. Under many common models of trait evolution and tree shapes, conserving the maxPD set of taxa will conserve more FD than conserving a random set of the same size. However, this result cannot be generalized to other classes of models. We find that under biologically plausible scenarios, using PD to select species can actually lead to less FD compared with a random set. Critically, this can occur even when there is phylogenetic signal in the traits. Predicting exactly when we expect using PD to be a good strategy for conserving FD is challenging, as it depends on complex interactions between tree shape and the assumptions of the evolutionary model. Nonetheless, if our goal is to maintain trait diversity, the fact that conserving taxa based on PD will not reliably conserve at least as much FD as choosing randomly raises serious concerns about the general utility of PD in conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florent Mazel
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Arne O Mooers
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Giulio Valentino Dalla Riva
- Department of Zoology and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Matthew W Pennell
- Department of Zoology and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
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Pescador DS, Sánchez AM, Luzuriaga AL, Sierra-Almeida A, Escudero A. Winter is coming: plant freezing resistance as a key functional trait for the assembly of annual Mediterranean communities. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2018; 121:335-344. [PMID: 29300824 PMCID: PMC5808800 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcx166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Background and Aims In Mediterranean annual plants, germination mainly occurs during the autumn and only those seedlings that survive winter freezing can flower and produce seedlings in spring. Surprisingly, the effect of freezing events as an abiotic determinant of these communities remains unexplored. The present study aimed to investigate how freezing events affect annual Mediterranean communities and whether their functional structure as related to freezing resistance is linked to the main biotic and abiotic determinants of these communities. Methods In 120 plots located on a semi-arid Mediterranean steppe (Spain), the community functional structure related to the lethal temperature causing 50 % frost damage (LT50 trait) in seedlings was estimated and summarized as the community-weighted mean (CWM-LT50) and its functional diversity (FD-LT50). Plots were stratified according to distance to rabbit shelters and latrines as a proxy for rabbit density, proximity to Stipa tenacissima and spring water availability, where annual species abundance was recorded in all plots over three consecutive years. Key Results Annual species were able to resist a threshold temperature of -4 °C and most had LT50 values around the absolute minimum temperature (-9.5 °C) in the three years. Higher rabbit densities led to lower CWM-LT50 and higher FD-LT50 values. Plots close to Stipa tussocks had higher CWM-LT50 values whereas water availability had no effects. Conclusions High freezing resistance was extended among winter annual species, suggesting the presence of an association between historical environmental filtering and low winter temperatures. However, the community functional structure related to freezing resistance remained variable among scenarios with differences in herbivory pressure and distance to perennial vegetation. The trends observed indicate that traits that allow plants to deal with herbivory may also promote freezing resistance, and that tussocks can act as nurses via microclimatic amelioration of harsher winter conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S Pescador
- Biodiversity and Conservation Unit, Department of Biology, Geology, Physics and Inorganic Chemistry, ESCET, URJC, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana M Sánchez
- Biodiversity and Conservation Unit, Department of Biology, Geology, Physics and Inorganic Chemistry, ESCET, URJC, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - Arantzazu L Luzuriaga
- Biodiversity and Conservation Unit, Department of Biology, Geology, Physics and Inorganic Chemistry, ESCET, URJC, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - Angela Sierra-Almeida
- Departamento de Botánica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
- Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad (IEB), Santiago, Chile
| | - Adrián Escudero
- Biodiversity and Conservation Unit, Department of Biology, Geology, Physics and Inorganic Chemistry, ESCET, URJC, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
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44
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Linking intraspecific trait variability and spatial patterns of subtropical trees. Oecologia 2018; 186:793-803. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-017-4042-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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45
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de Villalobos AE, Schwerdt L. Feral horses and alien plants: effects on the structure and function of the Pampean Mountain grasslands (Argentina). ECOSCIENCE 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/11956860.2017.1409476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ana E. de Villalobos
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida, Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, CERZOS – CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Dep. Biología Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Leonela Schwerdt
- Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida, Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, CERZOS – CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
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Carmona CP, de Bello F, Mason NWH, Lepš J. Traits Without Borders: Integrating Functional Diversity Across Scales. Trends Ecol Evol 2017; 31:382-394. [PMID: 26924737 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2016.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2015] [Revised: 01/30/2016] [Accepted: 02/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Owing to the conceptual complexity of functional diversity (FD), a multitude of different methods are available for measuring it, with most being operational at only a small range of spatial scales. This causes uncertainty in ecological interpretations and limits the potential to generalize findings across studies or compare patterns across scales. We solve this problem by providing a unified framework expanding on and integrating existing approaches. The framework, based on trait probability density (TPD), is the first to fully implement the Hutchinsonian concept of the niche as a probabilistic hypervolume in estimating FD. This novel approach could revolutionize FD-based research by allowing quantification of the various FD components from organismal to macroecological scales, and allowing seamless transitions between scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos P Carmona
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Francesco de Bello
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Třeboň, Czech Republic
| | | | - Jan Lepš
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Institute of Entomology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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A new method for quantifying the phylogenetic redundancy of biological communities. Oecologia 2017; 186:339-346. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-017-4026-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 11/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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48
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Wiegand T, Uriarte M, Kraft NJ, Shen G, Wang X, He F. Spatially Explicit Metrics of Species Diversity, Functional Diversity, and Phylogenetic Diversity: Insights into Plant Community Assembly Processes. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ECOLOGY EVOLUTION AND SYSTEMATICS 2017. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-110316-022936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Spatial processes underlie major species coexistence mechanisms. A range of spatial analysis techniques are increasingly applied to data of fully mapped communities to quantify spatial structures in species and phylogenetic and functional diversity at some given spatial scale with the goal of gaining insights into processes of community assembly and dynamics. We review these techniques, including spatial point pattern analysis, quadrat-based analyses, and individual-based neighborhood models, and provide a practical roadmap for ecologists in the analysis of local spatial structures in species and phylogenetic and functional diversity. We show how scale-dependent metrics of spatial diversity can be used in concert with ecological null models, statistical models, and dynamic community simulation models to detect spatial patterns, reveal the influence of the biotic neighborhood on plant performance, and quantify the relative contribution of species interactions, habitat heterogeneity, and stochastic processes to community assembly across scale. Future works should integrate these approaches into a dynamic spatiotemporal framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thorsten Wiegand
- Department of Ecological Modelling, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research UFZ, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - María Uriarte
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York 10027
| | - Nathan J.B. Kraft
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Guochun Shen
- Tiantong National Forest Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Xugao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China
| | - Fangliang He
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H1, Canada
- Sun Yat-sen University-Alberta Joint Laboratory for Biodiversity Conservation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
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Diversity begets diversity in competition for space. Nat Ecol Evol 2017; 1:156. [DOI: 10.1038/s41559-017-0156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2016] [Accepted: 04/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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50
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Trait assembly in grasslands depends on habitat history and spatial scale. Oecologia 2017; 184:1-12. [PMID: 28101635 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-017-3812-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2015] [Accepted: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
During the past century, grasslands in Europe have undergone marked changes in land-use, leading to a decline in plant diversity both at local and regional scales, thus possibly also affecting the mechanisms of species sorting into local communities. We studied plant species assembly in grasslands with differing habitat history and hypothesised that trait divergence prevails in historical grasslands due to niche differentiation and trait convergence prevails in more dynamic grasslands due to competitive exclusion and dispersal limitation. We tested these hypotheses in 35 grassland complexes in Estonia, containing neighbouring grassland habitats with different land-use histories: continuously managed open historical grassland, currently overgrown former grassland and young developing grassland. We assessed species assembly patterns in each grassland type for finer scale-a 2 × 2 m plot scale from a local community pool and for broader scale-a local community from the habitat species pool for that grassland stage and observed changes in trait means at finer scale. We found that grasslands with long management history are assembled differently from former grasslands or young developing grasslands. In historical grasslands, divergence or random patterns prevailed at finer scale species assembly while in former or developing grasslands, mostly convergence patterns prevailed. With increasing scale convergence patterns become more prevalent in all grassland types. We conclude that land-use history is an important factor to consider when assessing grassland functional trait assembly, particularly at small scales. Understanding the mechanisms behind species assembly and their relationship with land-use history is vital for habitat conservation and restoration.
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