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Wang X, Wang Z, Miao H, Zhang C, Zou H, Yang Y, Zhang Z, Liu J. Appropriate livestock grazing alleviates the loss of plant diversity and maintains community resistance in alpine meadows. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 351:119850. [PMID: 38141346 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119850] [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: 07/09/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
Alpine meadows constitute one of the major ecosystems on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, with livestock grazing exerting a considerable impact on their biodiversity. However, the degree to which plant diversity influences community stability under different grazing intensities remains unclear in this region. This study conducted controlled grazing experiments across four levels of grazing intensity (no-, low-, medium-, and high-grazing) based on herbage utilization rate to assess the influence of grazing intensities on plant community structure and diversity-stability relationships. We discovered that high-grazing reduced plant diversity and attenuated the temporal stability and resistance of above-ground biomass. No- and low-grazing could alleviate plant biomass loss, with community resistance being optimal under low-grazing. The direct effects of livestock grazing on temporal stability were found to be negligible. Plant characteristics and diversity accounted for a substantial proportion of livestock grazing effects on community resistance (R2 = 0.46), as revealed by piecewise structural equation model analysis. The presence of plant diversity enhances the resistance of alpine meadows against disturbance and accelerates the recovery after grazing. Our results suggest that low-grazing intensity may represent a judicious option for preserving species diversity and community stability on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Center for Grassland Microbiome, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730020, China
| | - Zaiwei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Center for Grassland Microbiome, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730020, China
| | - Haitao Miao
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Center for Grassland Microbiome, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730020, China
| | - Chunping Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Center for Grassland Microbiome, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730020, China
| | - Hao Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Center for Grassland Microbiome, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730020, China
| | - Yunfeng Yang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Zhenghua Zhang
- Qinghai Haibei National Field Research Station of Alpine Grassland Ecosystem and Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, 810008, China
| | - Jie Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Center for Grassland Microbiome, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730020, China.
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Lammerant R, Norkko A, Gustafsson C. A functional perspective on the factors underpinning biomass-bound carbon stocks in coastal macrophyte communities. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 193:106289. [PMID: 38048659 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106289] [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: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Coastal ecosystems have received international interest for their possible role in climate change mitigation, highlighting the importance of being able to assess and predict how changes in habitat distributions and their associated communities may impact the greenhouse gas sink potential of these vegetated seascapes. Importantly, the range and diversity of macrophytes within the vegetated seascape have different capacities to store C within their biomass and potentially sequester C depending on their functional trait characteristics. To bridge the present knowledge gaps in linking macrophyte traits to C storage in tissue, we (1) quantified biomass-bound C stocks within diverse macrophyte communities, separately for soft and hard bottom habitats and (2) explored the links between various traits of both vascular plants and macroalgae and their respective biomass-bound C stocks using structural equation modeling (SEM). We conducted a field survey where we sampled 6 soft bottom locations dominated by aquatic vascular plants and 6 hard bottom locations dominated by the brown algae Fucus vesiculosus in the Finnish archipelago. Macrophyte carbon stocks of hard bottom locations were an order of magnitude higher than those found in soft bottom locations. Biodiversity was associated with aquatic plant carbon stocks through mass ratio effects, highlighting that carbon stocks were positively influenced by the dominance of species with more acquisitive resource strategies, whereas age was the main driver of carbon in the mono-specific macroalgal communities. Overall, our results demonstrate that habitat type and dominating life-history strategies influenced the size of the organism-bound carbon stocks. Moreover, we showed the importance of accounting for the diversity of different traits to determine the drivers underpinning carbon storage in heterogenous seascapes composed of macrophyte communities with high functional diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roel Lammerant
- Tvärminne Zoological Station, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Hanko, Finland.
| | - Alf Norkko
- Tvärminne Zoological Station, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Hanko, Finland
| | - Camilla Gustafsson
- Tvärminne Zoological Station, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Hanko, Finland
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Gál B, Weiperth A, Farkas J, Schmera D. Road crossings change functional diversity and trait composition of stream-dwelling macroinvertebrate assemblages. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20698. [PMID: 38001350 PMCID: PMC10674018 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47975-z] [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: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Functional diversity is regarded as a key concept in understanding the link between ecosystem function and biodiversity, and is therefore widely investigated in relation to human-induced impacts. However, information on how the intersection of roads and streams (hereafter road crossings, representing a widespread habitat transformation in relation to human development), influences the functional diversity of stream-dwelling macroinvertebrates is still missing. The general aim of our study was to provide a comprehensible picture on the impacts of road crossing structures on multiple facets of the functional diversity of stream-dwelling macroinvertebrates. In addition, we also investigated changes in trait structure. Our research showed that road crossing structures had negative impacts on functional richness and dispersion; i.e., functional diversification. However, we found no significant impact on functional divergence and evenness components. We found a decrease in functional redundancy at road crossing structures. This indicates a reduced ability of the community to recover from disturbances. Finally, we found that road crossings drive stream habitat and hydrological changes in parallel with modification of the trait composition of stream-dwelling macroinvertebrate assemblages. All these results suggest that road crossings cause notable changes in the functional diversity of stream-dwelling macroinvertebrate assemblages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blanka Gál
- Balaton Limnological Research Institute, Klebelsberg K. u. 3, 8237, Tihany, Hungary.
- National Laboratory for Water Science and Water Security, Balaton Limnological Research Institute, Klebelsberg K. u. 3, 8237, Tihany, Hungary.
| | - András Weiperth
- Department of Freshwater Fish Ecology, Institute of Aquaculture and Environmental Safety, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly u. 1, Gödöllő, 2103, Hungary
- Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - János Farkas
- Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dénes Schmera
- Balaton Limnological Research Institute, Klebelsberg K. u. 3, 8237, Tihany, Hungary
- National Laboratory for Water Science and Water Security, Balaton Limnological Research Institute, Klebelsberg K. u. 3, 8237, Tihany, Hungary
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Liu M, Yin F, Xiao Y, Yang C. Grazing alters the relationship between alpine meadow biodiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 898:165445. [PMID: 37442474 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
The relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) depends on changes in environmental disturbance. Plant and soil biological diversity can mediate EMF, but how these change in response to grazing disturbance remains unknown. Here we present an 8-year experiment on sheep grazing control in alpine grasslands in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province, China. Plant species richness, FRic (functional richness), PD (Faith's phylogenetic diversity), soil biological diversity (bacterial, fungal, and ciliate diversity), and multiple ecosystem functions were measured and calculated. The results showed that increasing grazing intensity caused a decrease in biodiversity and EMF and that biodiversity and ecosystem function differed significantly (P < 0.05) between grazing intensities. EMF was positively correlated with species richness, functional diversity, and soil bacterial diversity (P < 0.05), with 23.6 %, 10.8 %, and 12.1 % of EMF explained by changes in grazing intensity, respectively. The interaction terms of grazing intensity, plant species richness, and soil biological diversity were negatively correlated with EMF (P < 0.05). This shift in the relationship between plant or soil biological diversity and EMF occurs at a grazing intensity index of around 0.7, i.e., the impact of plant species richness on EMF is more significant when the grazing intensity index is below 0.67. The effect of soil biological diversity on EMF is more substantial when the grazing intensity index is above 0.86. Conclusion: High grazing intensity directly affects soil bulk density and pH and indirectly affects EMF by regulating plant species richness and soil biological diversity changes. Loss of plant and soil biological diversity can have extreme consequences under low and high grazing intensity disturbance conditions. Therefore, we must develop biodiversity conservation strategies for external disturbances to mitigate the effects of land use practices such as grazing disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minxia Liu
- College of Geography and Environmental Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China.
| | - Fengling Yin
- College of Geography and Environmental Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Yindi Xiao
- College of Geography and Environmental Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Cunliang Yang
- College of Geography and Environmental Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China
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Lammerant R, Rita A, Borghetti M, Muscarella R. Water-limited environments affect the association between functional diversity and forest productivity. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10406. [PMID: 37560182 PMCID: PMC10408253 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The link between biodiversity and ecosystem function can depend on environmental conditions. This contingency can impede our ability to predict how biodiversity-ecosystem function (BEF) relationships will respond to future environmental change, causing a clear need to explore the processes underlying shifts in BEF relationships across large spatial scales and broad environmental gradients. We compiled a dataset on five functional traits (maximum height, wood density, specific leaf area [SLA], seed size, and xylem vulnerability to embolism [P50]), covering 78%-90% of the tree species in the National Forest Inventory from Italy, to test (i) how a water limitation gradient shapes the functional composition and diversity of forests, (ii) how functional composition and diversity of trees relate to forest annual increment via mass ratio and complementarity effects, and (iii) how the relationship between functional diversity and annual increment varies between Mediterranean and temperate climate regions. Functional composition varied with water limitation; tree communities tended to have more conservative traits in sites with higher levels of water limitation. The response of functional diversity differed among traits and climatic regions but among temperate forest plots, we found a consistent increase of functional diversity with water limitation. Tree diversity was positively associated with annual increment of Italian forests through a combination of mass ratio and niche complementarity effects, but the relative importance of these effects depended on the trait and range of climate considered. Specifically, niche complementarity effects were more strongly associated with annual increment in the Mediterranean compared to temperate forests. Synthesis: Overall, our results suggest that biodiversity mediates forest annual increment under water-limited conditions by promoting beneficial interactions between species and complementarity in resource use. Our work highlights the importance of conserving functional diversity for future forest management to maintain forest annual increment under the expected increase in intensity and frequency of drought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roel Lammerant
- Department of Ecology & GeneticsUppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
- Present address:
Tvärminne Zoological StationUniversity of HelsinkiHankoFinland
| | - Angelo Rita
- Dipartimento di AgrariaUniversità degli Studi di Napoli Federico IIPortici (Napoli)Italy
| | - Marco Borghetti
- Scuola di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali, Alimentari ed AmbientaliUniversità degli Studi della BasilicataPotenzaItaly
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Rius BF, Filho JPD, Fleischer K, Hofhansl F, Blanco CC, Rammig A, Domingues TF, Lapola DM. Higher functional diversity improves modeling of Amazon forest carbon storage. Ecol Modell 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2023.110323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
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Ceron K, Sales LP, Santana DJ, Pires MM. Decoupled responses of biodiversity facets driven from anuran vulnerability to climate and land‐use changes. Ecol Lett 2023; 26:869-882. [DOI: 10.1111/ele.14207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
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Adeleye MA, Haberle SG, Gallagher R, Andrew SC, Herbert A. Changing plant functional diversity over the last 12,000 years provides perspectives for tracking future changes in vegetation communities. Nat Ecol Evol 2023; 7:224-235. [PMID: 36624175 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-022-01943-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Plant communities are largely reshaped by climate and the environment over millennia, providing a powerful tool for understanding their response to future climates. Using a globally applicable functional palaeocological approach, we provide a deeper understanding of fossil pollen-inferred long-term response of vegetation to past climatic disturbances based on changes in functional trait composition. Specifically, we show how and why the ecological strategies exhibited by vegetation have changed through time by linking observations of plant traits to multiple pollen records from southeast Australia to reconstruct past functional diversity (FD, the value and the range of species traits that influence ecosystem functioning). The drivers of FD changes were assessed quantitatively by comparing FD reconstructions to independent records of past climates. During the last 12,000 years, peaks in FD were associated with both dry and wet climates in southeast Australia, with shifts in leaf traits particularly pronounced under wet conditions. Continentality determined the degree of stability maintained by high FD, with the greatest seen on the mainland. We expect projected frequent drier conditions in southeast Australia over coming decades to drive changes in vegetation community functioning and productivity mirroring the functional palaeocological record, particularly in western Tasmania and western southeast mainland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Adesanya Adeleye
- School of Culture, History and Language, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. .,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
| | - Simon Graeme Haberle
- School of Culture, History and Language, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Rachael Gallagher
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Samuel Charles Andrew
- The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Annika Herbert
- School of Culture, History and Language, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
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Mancuso FP, Giommi C, Mangano MC, Airoldi L, Helmuth B, Sarà G. Evenness, biodiversity, and ecosystem function of intertidal communities along the Italian coasts: Experimental short-term response to ambient and extreme air temperatures. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 858:160037. [PMID: 36356730 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Biodiversity can promote ecosystem functioning in both terrestrial and marine environments, emphasizing the necessity of biodiversity conservation in order to preserve critical ecosystem functions and associated services. However, the role of biodiversity in buffering ecosystem functioning under extreme events caused by climate change remains a major scientific issue, especially for intertidal systems experiencing stressors from both terrestrial and marine drivers. We performed a regional-scale field experiment along the Italian coast to investigate the response of unmanipulated intertidal communities (by using a natural biodiversity gradient) to low tide aerial exposure to both ambient and short-term extreme temperatures. We specifically investigated the relationship between Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning (BEF) using different biodiversity indexes (species richness, functional diversity and evenness) and the response of the intertidal communities' ecosystem functioning (community respiration rates). Furthermore, we investigated which other environmental variables could influence the BEF relationship. We show that evenness explained a greater variation in intertidal community ecosystem functioning under both temperature conditions. Species richness (the most often used diversity metric in BEF research) was unrelated to ecosystem functioning, while functional diversity was significantly related to respiration under ambient but not extreme temperatures. We highlight the importance of the short-term thermal history of the communities (measured as body temperature) in the BEF relationship as it was consistently identified as the best predictor or response under both temperature conditions. However, Chlorophyll a in seawater and variation in sea surface temperature also contributed to the BEF relationship under ambient but not under extreme conditions, showing that short-duration climate-driven events can overcome local physiological adaptations. Our findings support the importance of the BEF relationship in intertidal communities, implying that systems with more diverse and homogeneous communities may be able to mitigate the effects of extreme temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Paolo Mancuso
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences (DiSTeM), University of Palermo, viale delle Scienze Ed. 16, 90128 Palermo, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo 90133, Italy.
| | - Chiara Giommi
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences (DiSTeM), University of Palermo, viale delle Scienze Ed. 16, 90128 Palermo, Italy; Department of Integrative Marine Ecology (EMI), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, CRIMAC, Calabria Marine Centre, Amendolara, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Mangano
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo 90133, Italy; Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Dipartimento Ecologia Marina Integrata, Sede Interdipartimentale della Sicilia, Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo (complesso Roosevelt), 90142 Palermo, Italy
| | - Laura Airoldi
- Department of Biology, Chioggia Hydrobiological Station Umberto D'Ancona, University of Padova, 30015 Chioggia, Italy; University of Bologna, Dipartimento di Beni Culturali & Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca per le Scienze Ambientali (CIRSA), UO CoNISMa, Via S. Alberto, 163, 48123 Ravenna, Italy
| | - Brian Helmuth
- Marine Science Center, Northeastern University, Nahant, MA 01908, USA
| | - Gianluca Sarà
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences (DiSTeM), University of Palermo, viale delle Scienze Ed. 16, 90128 Palermo, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo 90133, Italy
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Paramasivam K, Venkataraman K. Comparison of macro‐molluscan assemblages in a protected and a non‐protected tropical seagrass ecosystem. Biotropica 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.13153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- K. Paramasivam
- Marine Biology Regional Centre Zoological Survey of India, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India Chennai India
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McCloy MWD, Andringa RK, Grace JK. Resilience of Avian Communities to Urbanization and Climate Change: an Integrative Review. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2022.918873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The concept of ecological resilience is widely used to assess how species and ecosystems respond to external stressors but is applied infrequently at the level of the community or to chronic, ongoing disturbances. In this review, we first discuss the concept of ecological resilience and methods for quantifying resilience in ecological studies. We then synthesize existing evidence for the resilience of avian communities to climate change and urbanization, two chronic disturbances that are driving global biodiversity loss, and conclude with recommendations for future directions. We only briefly discuss the theoretical framework behind ecological resilience and species-specific responses to these two major disturbances, because numerous reviews already exist on these topics. Current research suggests strong heterogeneity in the responses and resilience of bird communities to urbanization and climate change, although community disassembly and reassembly is high following both disturbances. To advance our understanding of community resilience to these disturbances, we recommend five areas of future study (1) the development of a standardized, comprehensive community resilience index that incorporates both adaptive capacity and measures of functional diversity, (2) measurement/modeling of both community resistance and recovery in response to disturbance, (3) multi-scale and/or multi-taxa studies that include three-way interactions between plants, animals, and climate, (4) studies that incorporate interactions between disturbances, and (5) increased understanding of interactions between ecological resilience and socio-ecological dynamics. Advancement in these areas will enhance our ability to predict and respond to the rapidly accelerating effects of climate change and urbanization.
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Zhang X, Lu ZX, Zhang NN, Chen YQ. Data of ant community compositions and functional traits responding to land-use change at the local scale. Biodivers Data J 2022; 10:e85119. [PMID: 36761575 PMCID: PMC9848497 DOI: 10.3897/bdj.10.e85119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: Off-reserve conservation is a major contributor to China biodiversity conservation efforts, biodiversity conservation being achieved within afforestation and low-intensity agriculture in fragmented landscapes. Functional trait is more strongly related to ecological processes than taxonomic diversity and reflects ecosystem functioning and species responses to environmental changes. In this study, we selected five habitats that differ in degree of disturbance to explore the effects of land use on ant community compositions, traits distributions and functional diversity change. We assessed how habitat disturbance affects the ant community compositions and traits distributions and asked if ant functional diversity respond to disturbance at the local scale? Location: Lüchun County, Yunnan Province, southwest China. Methods: Pitfall traps were used to survey ant communities. Additionally, we measured four ant morphological traits (eyes diameter, distance between eyes, femur length of the hind-leg and Weber's length) to assess the functional traits distributions and functional diversity. Shade plot of ant relative abundance was used to explore species distribution amongst different habitats. Kernel density plot was used to explore ant traits distribution patterns amongst different habitats. Non-metric multi-dimensional scaling ordination, based on ant Weber's length, was used to explore the ant traits compositions amongst different habitats. The fourth corner model was used to evaluate the association between ant traits and environmental variables. The FRic, RaoQ and FEve indices were selected as three complementary measures of the multivariate functional traits space and functional redundancy of different habitats. Results: We collected 14258 ants, representing 89 species, 40 genera and seven subfamilies. Aphaenogasterschurri and Tetramoriumciliatum were the common species of secondary forest; P.sagei, P.pieli, Cardiocondylawroughtonii, Recurvidrisnuwa, Tapinnomamelanocephalum, Monomoriumpharaonis and M.orientale were the common species in plantations; and Iridomyrmexanceps and Cardiocondylanuda were the common species in managed farms. Ants had medium eye diameters, narrow distances between eyes, medium leg lengths and smaller body sizes in greatly-disturbed habitats; and ants had an increasing eye diameter and narrowing of the space between eyes, while the leg length and Weber's length became shorter in moderately-disturbed habitats. Ant trait composition, based on Weber's length, showed significantly differences amongst five habitats. The fourth corner analysis indicated that ant species traits were significantly correlated with environmental variables. The functional diversity of secondary forest, lac plantation and lac plantation-corn agroforest were higher than those in dryland farm and rice paddy. Functional diversities were significantly negatively correlated with bare ground cover and significantly positively correlated with leaf-litter cover, leaf-litter thickness and plant cover. Main conclusion: Our results indicated that ant traits distribution patterns were affected by land-use changes, followed by anthropogenic disturbance pressures at the local scale. Ant traits compositions in greatly-disturbed habitats also differed from the habitats with less disturbance. It is unfavourable for the survival of the large body-size ants in more open habitats with more anthropogenic disturbance. Compared with secondary forest, dryland farm and rice paddies were less resistant and more vulnerable and lac plantations had approximately functional diversity of ant communities, suggesting that lac plantations might be resistant as secondary forest to species loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Zhang
- Institute of Highland Forest Science, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming, ChinaInstitute of Highland Forest Science, Chinese Academy of ForestryKunmingChina
| | - Zhi-xing Lu
- Institute of Highland Forest Science, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming, ChinaInstitute of Highland Forest Science, Chinese Academy of ForestryKunmingChina
| | - Nian-nian Zhang
- Guizhou Academy of Forestry, Guiyang, ChinaGuizhou Academy of ForestryGuiyangChina
| | - You-qing Chen
- Institute of Highland Forest Science, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming, ChinaInstitute of Highland Forest Science, Chinese Academy of ForestryKunmingChina
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Galvanese EF, Costa APL, Araújo ES, Falkievicz BC, de Melo GGV, Vitule JRS, Padial AA. Community stability and seasonal biotic homogenisation emphasize the effect of the invasive tropical tanner grass on macrophytes from a highly dynamic neotropical tidal river. AQUATIC SCIENCES 2022; 84:30. [PMID: 35400976 PMCID: PMC8980772 DOI: 10.1007/s00027-022-00858-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED We described the spatial and temporal dynamics of aquatic macrophytes in a Neotropical coastal estuarine river, and identified the negative effects associated to the presence and dominance of the invasive tanner grass. We compared macrophyte beds along the Guaraguaçu River (South Brazil) over four years, using taxonomic and functional dimensions. Biodiversity descriptors were higher in the driest periods compared to the rainiest, although this difference seems to be decreasing over the studied years. Moreover, the spatial organization of biodiversity and community structure slightly changed over time. Such spatial community stability was highlighted by the dominance of the highly invasive tanner grass. In beds dominated by the invasive species, the biodiversity was reduced. As aquatic macrophytes represent an important group in water bodies, the long-term loss of seasonal differences in community structuring is of concern, mainly regarding its potential to impact other groups and ecosystem functioning. By analysing data from standardized monitoring, we were able to identify a poorly discussed facet of biotic homogenisation-the seasonal homogenisation. We also discussed the impact of massive development of invasive species and its consequences for biodiversity in a Neotropical river of outmost importance for biological conservation. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00027-022-00858-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Fukasawa Galvanese
- Laboratório de Análise e Síntese em Biodiversidade, Departamento de Botânica, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Lula Costa
- Laboratório de Análise e Síntese em Biodiversidade, Departamento de Botânica, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR Brazil
| | - Elielton Silva Araújo
- Laboratório de Análise e Síntese em Biodiversidade, Departamento de Botânica, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR Brazil
| | - Bruno Cesar Falkievicz
- Laboratório de Análise e Síntese em Biodiversidade, Departamento de Botânica, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR Brazil
| | - Gabriel Garcia Valente de Melo
- Laboratório de Análise e Síntese em Biodiversidade, Departamento de Botânica, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR Brazil
| | - Jean Ricardo Simões Vitule
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR Brazil
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação, Departamento de Engenharia Ambiental, Setor de Tecnologia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Engenharia Ambiental, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR Brazil
| | - Andre Andrian Padial
- Laboratório de Análise e Síntese em Biodiversidade, Departamento de Botânica, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR Brazil
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação, Departamento de Engenharia Ambiental, Setor de Tecnologia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Engenharia Ambiental, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Botânica, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia de Ambientes Aquáticos Continentais, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Limnologia, Ictiologia e Aquicultura, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR Brazil
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14
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Matinzadeh Z, López‐Angulo J, Escudero A, Palacio S, Abedi M, Akhani H. Functional structure of plant communities along salinity gradients in Iranian salt marshes. PLANT-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS (HOBOKEN, N.J.) 2022; 3:16-27. [PMID: 37283692 PMCID: PMC10168069 DOI: 10.1002/pei3.10070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Salt marshes are unique habitats between sea or saline lakes and land that need to be conserved from the effects of global change. Understanding the variation in functional structure of plant community along environmental gradients is critical to predict the response of plant communities to ongoing environmental changes. We evaluated the changes in the functional structure of halophytic communities along soil gradients including salinity, in Iranian salt marshes; Lake Urmia, Lake Meyghan, Musa estuary, and Nayband Bay (Iran). We established 48 plots from 16 sites in four salt marshes and sampled 10 leaves per species to measure leaf functional traits. Five soil samples were sampled from each plot and 30 variables were analyzed. We examined the changes in the functional structure of plant communities (i.e., functional diversity [FD] and community weighted mean [CWM]) along local soil gradients using linear mixed effect models. Our results showed that FD and CWM of leaf thickness tended to increase with salinity, while those indices related to leaf shape decreased following soil potassium content. Our results suggest that the variations in functional structure of plant communities along local soil gradients reveal the effect of different ecological processes (e.g., niche differentiation related to the habitat heterogeneity) that drive the assembly of halophytic plant communities in SW Asian salt marshes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeinab Matinzadeh
- Halophytes and C4 Plants Research Laboratory, Department of Plant SciencesCollege of ScienceSchool of BiologyUniversity of TehranTehranIran
| | - Jesús López‐Angulo
- Departamento de Biología, Geología, Física y Química inorgánicaUniversidad Rey Juan CarlosMadridSpain
- Department of Environmental Systems ScienceSwiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH)ZürichSwitzerland
| | - Adrián Escudero
- Departamento de Biología, Geología, Física y Química inorgánicaUniversidad Rey Juan CarlosMadridSpain
| | - Sara Palacio
- Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología (IPE‐CSIC)HuescaSpain
| | - Mehdi Abedi
- Department of Range Management, Faculty of Natural ResourcesTarbiat Modares UniversityNoorIran
| | - Hossein Akhani
- Halophytes and C4 Plants Research Laboratory, Department of Plant SciencesCollege of ScienceSchool of BiologyUniversity of TehranTehranIran
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15
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O'Leary J, Journeaux KL, Houthuijs K, Engel J, Sommer U, Viant MR, Eastwood DC, Müller C, Boddy L. Space and patchiness affects diversity-function relationships in fungal decay communities. THE ISME JOURNAL 2021; 15:720-731. [PMID: 33067587 PMCID: PMC8027639 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-020-00808-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The space in which organisms live determines health and physicality, shaping the way in which they interact with their peers. Space, therefore, is critically important for species diversity and the function performed by individuals within mixed communities. The biotic and abiotic factors defined by the space that organisms occupy are ecologically significant and the difficulty in quantifying space-defined parameters within complex systems limits the study of ecological processes. Here, we overcome this problem using a tractable system whereby spatial heterogeneity in interacting fungal wood decay communities demonstrates that scale and patchiness of territory directly influence coexistence dynamics. Spatial arrangement in 2- and 3-dimensions resulted in measurable metabolic differences that provide evidence of a clear biological response to changing landscape architecture. This is of vital importance to microbial systems in all ecosystems globally, as our results demonstrate that community function is driven by the effects of spatial dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jade O'Leary
- Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Katie L Journeaux
- Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Kas Houthuijs
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jasper Engel
- NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility-Metabolomics Node (NBAF-B), School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Ulf Sommer
- NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility-Metabolomics Node (NBAF-B), School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Mark R Viant
- NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility-Metabolomics Node (NBAF-B), School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | | | - Carsten Müller
- Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Lynne Boddy
- Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK.
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16
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Liu C, Li Y, Yan P, He N. How to Improve the Predictions of Plant Functional Traits on Ecosystem Functioning? FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:622260. [PMID: 33633766 PMCID: PMC7901955 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.622260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Congcong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Li
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Pu Yan
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Nianpeng He
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, Institute of Grassland Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
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17
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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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18
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D'Alessandro M, Porporato EMD, Esposito V, Giacobbe S, Deidun A, Nasi F, Ferrante L, Auriemma R, Berto D, Renzi M, Scotti G, Consoli P, Del Negro P, Andaloro F, Romeo T. Common patterns of functional and biotic indices in response to multiple stressors in marine harbours ecosystems. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 259:113959. [PMID: 32023803 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.113959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2019] [Revised: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Evaluating the effects of anthropogenic pressure on the marine environment is one of the focal objectives in identifying strategies for its use, conservation and restoration. In this paper, we assessed the effects of chemical pollutants, grain size and plastic litter on functional traits, biodiversity and biotic indices. The study was conducted on the benthic communities of three harbours in the central Mediterranean Sea: Malta, Augusta and Syracuse, subjected to different levels of anthropogenic stress (high, medium and low, respectively). Six traits were considered, subdivided into 22 categories: reproductive frequency, environmental position, mobility, life habit, feeding habit and bioturbation. Functional diversity indices analysed were: Functional Divergence, Quadratic Entropy, Functional Evenness and Functional Richness. To assess the trait responses to environmental gradients, we applied RLQ analysis, which considers simultaneously the relationship between three components: environmental data (R), species abundances (L) and species traits (Q). From our analyses, significant relationships (P-value = 0.0018 for permutation of samples, and P-value = 0.00027 for permutation of species) between functional traits and environmental data were highlighted. The trait categories significantly influenced by environmental variables were those representing feeding habits and mobility. In particular, the first category was influenced by chemical pollutants (organotin compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and grain size (silt and sand), while the latter category was influenced only by chemical pollutants. Pearson correlations performed for functional vs biotic and diversity indices confirmed the validity of the chosen conceptual framework for harbour environments. Finally, linear models assessing the influence of stressors on functional parameters underlined the link between environmental data vs benthic and functional indices. Our results highlight the fact that functional trait analysis provides a useful and fast method for detecting in greater depth the effects of multiple stressors on functional diversity in marine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela D'Alessandro
- Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, ISPRA via dei Mille 46, 98057, Milazzo, ME, Italy
| | - Erika M D Porporato
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155-30170, Venezia, Mestre, Italy.
| | - Valentina Esposito
- OGS, National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics, via Auguste Piccard 54, 34151, Trieste, Italy
| | - Salvatore Giacobbe
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Messina, Viale Stagno d'Alcontres, 31-98166 S, Agata, Messina, Italy
| | - Alain Deidun
- Department of Geosciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malta, Msida, MSD, 2080, Malta
| | - Federica Nasi
- OGS, National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics, via Auguste Piccard 54, 34151, Trieste, Italy
| | - Larissa Ferrante
- OGS, National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics, via Auguste Piccard 54, 34151, Trieste, Italy
| | - Rocco Auriemma
- OGS, National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics, via Auguste Piccard 54, 34151, Trieste, Italy
| | - Daniela Berto
- ISPRA Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Laboratory of Chioggia, Italy
| | - Monia Renzi
- Bioscience Research Center, Via Aurelia Vecchia 32, 58015, Orbetello, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Scotti
- Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, ISPRA via dei Mille 46, 98057, Milazzo, ME, Italy
| | - Pierpaolo Consoli
- Zoological Station Anton Dorhn, Centro Interdipartimentale della Sicilia, Via dei Mille 46, 98057, Milazzo, ME, Italy
| | - Paola Del Negro
- OGS, National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics, via Auguste Piccard 54, 34151, Trieste, Italy
| | - Franco Andaloro
- Zoological Station Anton Dorhn, Centro Interdipartimentale della Sicilia, Via dei Mille 46, 98057, Milazzo, ME, Italy
| | - Teresa Romeo
- Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, ISPRA via dei Mille 46, 98057, Milazzo, ME, Italy; Zoological Station Anton Dorhn, Centro Interdipartimentale della Sicilia, Via dei Mille 46, 98057, Milazzo, ME, Italy
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19
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Functional Diversity Effects of Vegetation on Runoff to Design Herbaceous Hedges for Sediment Retention. DIVERSITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/d12040131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Background: Functional diversity effects on ecosystem processes, like on soil erosion, are not fully understood. Runoff and soil erosion in agricultural landscapes are reduced by the hydraulic roughness (HR) of vegetation patches, which furthers sediment retention. Vegetation with important stem density, diameters, leaf areas, and density impact the HR. A functional structure composed of these negatively correlated traits involved in the increase of the HR would constitute a positive effect of the functional diversity. Methods: Runoff simulations were undertaken on four mono-specific and two multi-specific communities, using herbaceous plant species from North-West Europe, presenting six contrasting aboveground functional traits involved in the HR increase. Results: An effect of dominant traits in the community was found on the HR, identified as the community-weighted leaf density. The non-additive effect of functional diversity on the HR could be explained by the presence of species presenting large stems in the communities with high functional diversity. Conclusion: We argued that functional diversity effect on the HR could change due to idiosyncratic effects of the plant traits, which would be influenced by soil properties, phylogeny diversity, and plant species interactions. These findings constitute an advancement in the understanding of plant trait assemblage on runoff and soil erosion processes.
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20
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Egres AG, Hatje V, Gallucci F, Machado ME, Barros F. Effects of an experimental oil spill on the structure and function of benthic assemblages with different history of exposure to oil perturbation. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 152:104822. [PMID: 31668831 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2019.104822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Revised: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 10/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The present study compared the short-term effects of a diesel oil spill on the strucure and function of nematode and macrobenthic assemblages between tidal flats with different history of exposure to oil perturbation. A manipulative field experiment was conducted, where oil exposed treatments were contrasted with controls, during four successive times, two before and two after the oil spills. During the oil spill the death and the presence of diverse debilitated macrofaunal organisms were observed in the oil treatments. However, 24 h later no significant changes were identified, suggesting that the impacted plots were quickly recolonized. Nematode assemblages showed a decrease in overall density and an increase of r-strategist traits such as non-selective deposit feeders and colonizers at perturbed treatments from one of the historically non-perturbed tidal flats. We discuss the mechanisms responsible by distinctive patterns of response observed between the two benthic components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Gonzalez Egres
- Laboratório de Ecologia Bentônica (LEB), Centro Interdisciplinar de Energia e Ambiente (CIEnAm), Instituto de Biologia da Universidade Federal da Bahia, Rua Barão de Jeremoabo, Campus de Ondina, Salvador, 40170-115, Bahia, Brazil.
| | - Vanessa Hatje
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Energia e Ambiente (CIEnAm), Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Rua Barão de Jeremoabo, s/n, Ondina, Salvador, 40170-115, BA, Brazil
| | - Fabiane Gallucci
- Instituto do Mar da Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Carvalho de Mendonça, 144, Santos, São Paulo, 11030-400, Brazil
| | - Maria Elisabete Machado
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Energia e Ambiente (CIEnAm), Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Rua Barão de Jeremoabo, s/n, Ondina, Salvador, 40170-115, BA, Brazil
| | - Francisco Barros
- Laboratório de Ecologia Bentônica (LEB), Centro Interdisciplinar de Energia e Ambiente (CIEnAm), Instituto de Biologia da Universidade Federal da Bahia, Rua Barão de Jeremoabo, Campus de Ondina, Salvador, 40170-115, Bahia, Brazil
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21
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Human causes of soil loss in rural karst environments: a case study of Guizhou, China. Sci Rep 2019; 9:3225. [PMID: 30824853 PMCID: PMC6397242 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35808-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Rocky desertification induced by soil loss is a serious ecological problem in karst mountain areas. Lack of awareness in the local population of the need for soil conservation has led to intense human disturbance that has accelerated soil loss and in turn caused a high proportion of land in rural environments to undergo rocky desertification. In this review, we discuss five human-related causes that have accelerated soil loss in the rural karst mountainous areas of Guizhou Province, southwestern China. These causes include road erosion, house construction, steep slope cultivation, tourism development, and animal trampling. These activities destroy surface vegetation and increase the potential for soil loss through exposed swallow holes (karst fissures). In addition to the national development strategy of rural revitalization and countryside beautification already implemented in the western region, the human impacts on the rural environment must be addressed. We discuss some effective measures the government should adopt to control the various types of soil loss due to human activities. Our review and findings provide a better understanding of anthropogenic soil loss in karst rural environments and present information to raise people’s awareness of measures that are needed to protect the soil resources in this region.
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22
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Lago M, Boteler B, Rouillard J, Abhold K, Jähnig SC, Iglesias-Campos A, Delacámara G, Piet GJ, Hein T, Nogueira AJA, Lillebø AI, Strosser P, Robinson LA, De Wever A, O'Higgins T, Schlüter M, Török L, Reichert P, van Ham C, Villa F, McDonald H. Introducing the H2020 AQUACROSS project: Knowledge, Assessment, and Management for AQUAtic Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services aCROSS EU policies. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 652:320-329. [PMID: 30366333 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Revised: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/06/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The AQUACROSS project was an unprecedented effort to unify policy concepts, knowledge, and management of freshwater, coastal, and marine ecosystems to support the cost-effective achievement of the targets set by the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020. AQUACROSS aimed to support EU efforts to enhance the resilience and stop the loss of biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems as well as to ensure the ongoing and future provision of aquatic ecosystem services. The project focused on advancing the knowledge base and application of Ecosystem-Based Management. Through elaboration of eight diverse case studies in freshwater and marine and estuarine aquatic ecosystem across Europe covering a range of environmental management problems including, eutrophication, sustainable fisheries as well as invasive alien species AQUACROSS demonstrated the application of a common framework to establish cost-effective measures and integrated Ecosystem-Based Management practices. AQUACROSS analysed the EU policy framework (i.e. goals, concepts, time frames) for aquatic ecosystems and built on knowledge stemming from different sources (i.e. WISE, BISE, Member State reporting within different policy processes, modelling) to develop innovative management tools, concepts, and business models (i.e. indicators, maps, ecosystem assessments, participatory approaches, mechanisms for promoting the delivery of ecosystem services) for aquatic ecosystems at various scales of space and time and relevant to different ecosystem types.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Lago
- Ecologic Institute, Berlin, Germany.
| | | | | | - K Abhold
- Ecologic Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - S C Jähnig
- Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | - G J Piet
- Wageningen Marine Research, the Netherlands
| | - T Hein
- University of Natural Resources & Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria; WasserCluster Lunz, Austria
| | - A J A Nogueira
- Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal; Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - A I Lillebø
- Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal; Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, Portugal
| | - P Strosser
- ACTeon - Innovation, Policy, Environment, Colmar, France
| | | | - A De Wever
- Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium
| | - T O'Higgins
- University College Cork, National University of Ireland, Ireland
| | - M Schlüter
- Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Sweden
| | - L Török
- Danube Delta National Institute for Research & Development, Romania
| | - P Reichert
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (eawag), Switzerland
| | - C van Ham
- International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Brussels, Belgium
| | - F Villa
- BC3 Basque Centre for Climate Change, Bilbao, Spain
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23
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Hillaert J, Hovestadt T, Vandegehuchte ML, Bonte D. Size-dependent movement explains why bigger is better in fragmented landscapes. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:10754-10767. [PMID: 30519404 PMCID: PMC6262741 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Revised: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 08/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Body size is a fundamental trait known to allometrically scale with metabolic rate and therefore a key determinant of individual development, life history, and consequently fitness. In spatially structured environments, movement is an equally important driver of fitness. Because movement is tightly coupled with body size, we expect habitat fragmentation to induce a strong selection pressure on size variation across and within species. Changes in body size distributions are then, in turn, expected to alter food web dynamics. However, no consensus has been reached on how spatial isolation and resource growth affect consumer body size distributions. Our aim was to investigate how these two factors shape the body size distribution of consumers under scenarios of size-dependent and size-independent consumer movement by applying a mechanistic, individual-based resource-consumer model. We also assessed the consequences of altered body size distributions for important ecosystem traits such as resource abundance and consumer stability. Finally, we determined those factors that explain most variation in size distributions. We demonstrate that decreasing connectivity and resource growth select for communities (or populations) consisting of larger species (or individuals) due to strong selection for the ability to move over longer distances if the movement is size-dependent. When including size-dependent movement, intermediate levels of connectivity result in increases in local size diversity. Due to this elevated functional diversity, resource uptake is maximized at the metapopulation or metacommunity level. At these intermediate levels of connectivity, size-dependent movement explains most of the observed variation in size distributions. Interestingly, local and spatial stability of consumer biomass is lowest when isolation and resource growth are high. Finally, we highlight that size-dependent movement is of vital importance for the survival of populations or communities within highly fragmented landscapes. Our results demonstrate that considering size-dependent movement is essential to understand how habitat fragmentation and resource growth shape body size distributions-and the resulting metapopulation or metacommunity dynamics-of consumers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmijn Hillaert
- Department of BiologyTerrestrial Ecology UnitGhent UniversityGhentBelgium
| | - Thomas Hovestadt
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical BiologyBiocenterUniversity of WuerzburgWuerzburgGermany
| | | | - Dries Bonte
- Department of BiologyTerrestrial Ecology UnitGhent UniversityGhentBelgium
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24
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Khalil MI, Gibson DJ, Baer SG, Willand JE. Functional diversity is more sensitive to biotic filters than phylogenetic diversity during community assembly. Ecosphere 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed I. Khalil
- Department of Plant Biology and Center for Ecology Southern Illinois University Carbondale 1263 Lincoln Drive Carbondale Illinois 62901 USA
| | - David J. Gibson
- Department of Plant Biology and Center for Ecology Southern Illinois University Carbondale 1263 Lincoln Drive Carbondale Illinois 62901 USA
| | - Sara G. Baer
- Department of Plant Biology and Center for Ecology Southern Illinois University Carbondale 1263 Lincoln Drive Carbondale Illinois 62901 USA
| | - Jason E. Willand
- Biology Department Missouri Southern State University 3950 Newman Road Joplin Missouri 64801 USA
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Mensah S, Veldtman R, Assogbadjo AE, Glèlè Kakaï R, Seifert T. Tree species diversity promotes aboveground carbon storage through functional diversity and functional dominance. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:7546-7557. [PMID: 28725419 PMCID: PMC5513275 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2016] [Revised: 09/01/2016] [Accepted: 09/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem function has increasingly been debated as the cornerstone of the processes behind ecosystem services delivery. Experimental and natural field-based studies have come up with nonconsistent patterns of biodiversity-ecosystem function, supporting either niche complementarity or selection effects hypothesis. Here, we used aboveground carbon (AGC) storage as proxy for ecosystem function in a South African mistbelt forest, and analyzed its relationship with species diversity, through functional diversity and functional dominance. We hypothesized that (1) diversity influences AGC through functional diversity and functional dominance effects; and (2) effects of diversity on AGC would be greater for functional dominance than for functional diversity. Community weight mean (CWM) of functional traits (wood density, specific leaf area, and maximum plant height) were calculated to assess functional dominance (selection effects). As for functional diversity (complementarity effects), multitrait functional diversity indices were computed. The first hypothesis was tested using structural equation modeling. For the second hypothesis, effects of environmental variables such as slope and altitude were tested first, and separate linear mixed-effects models were fitted afterward for functional diversity, functional dominance, and both. Results showed that AGC varied significantly along the slope gradient, with lower values at steeper sites. Species diversity (richness) had positive relationship with AGC, even when slope effects were considered. As predicted, diversity effects on AGC were mediated through functional diversity and functional dominance, suggesting that both the niche complementarity and the selection effects are not exclusively affecting carbon storage. However, the effects were greater for functional diversity than for functional dominance. Furthermore, functional dominance effects were strongly transmitted by CWM of maximum plant height, reflecting the importance of forest vertical stratification for diversity-carbon relationship. We therefore argue for stronger complementary effects that would be induced also by complementary light-use efficiency of tree and species growing in the understory layer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvanus Mensah
- Department of Forest and Wood ScienceStellenbosch UniversityMatielandSouth Africa
- Laboratoire de Biomathématiques et d'Estimations ForestièresUniversité d'Abomey‐CalaviCotonouBénin
| | - Ruan Veldtman
- South African National Biodiversity InstituteKirstenbosch Research CentreClaremontSouth Africa
- Department of Conservation Ecology and EntomologyStellenbosch UniversityMatielandSouth Africa
| | | | - Romain Glèlè Kakaï
- Laboratoire de Biomathématiques et d'Estimations ForestièresUniversité d'Abomey‐CalaviCotonouBénin
| | - Thomas Seifert
- Department of Forest and Wood ScienceStellenbosch UniversityMatielandSouth Africa
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