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Alves CM, Gomes MA, Troncoso JS, Gomes PT. Environmental influence on the functional ecological structure of benthic macrofaunal communities of the northwest Iberian coast. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 201:106712. [PMID: 39213894 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2024] [Revised: 08/16/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Evaluating the functional structure of benthic macrofaunal communities provides insights into how environmental drivers shape the ecosystem and establishes a baseline knowledge of the communities' dynamics and functioning. This understanding allows the prediction of responses to environmental changes and the implementation of efficient conservation and management strategies. Here we examine the structures and functions of benthic macrofaunal communities on the Northwest Iberian coast concerning environmental factors such as depth, hydrodynamic energy, and bottom type. The results suggest that the community assemblages and their function are structured by factors which influence food availability and habitat heterogeneity. The different sites exhibited different trait compositions and functional structures, indicating that distinct functions are performed according to environmental conditions. The communities found in sandy bottom areas with low hydrodynamic conditions presented frail functionality and demonstrated high vulnerability to alterations in their environment. Conversely, the communities found in rocky bottoms with high hydrodynamic conditions exhibited a fulfilled functional niche space, rendering them more resilient to such changes and less prone to loss of function. Although the analyses did not reveal significant differences in the factor depth, its influence on several factors seems relevant in shaping the functional structure of the communities. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the impact of local environmental conditions on ecosystem functioning, to effectively implement monitoring, management, and conservation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina M Alves
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal; ECOCOST Lab, Marine Research Centre (CIM-UVIGO), Department of Ecology and Animal Biology University of Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Spain.
| | - Marisa A Gomes
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal; ECOCOST Lab, Marine Research Centre (CIM-UVIGO), Department of Ecology and Animal Biology University of Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Spain
| | - Jesus S Troncoso
- ECOCOST Lab, Marine Research Centre (CIM-UVIGO), Department of Ecology and Animal Biology University of Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Spain
| | - Pedro T Gomes
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
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2
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Brzana R, Peschke MB, Janas U. Biodiversity and functioning of benthic macrofauna associated with natural and artificial hard substrate in the Gulf of Gdańsk (Baltic sea). MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 199:106592. [PMID: 38905866 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Radosław Brzana
- University of Gdańsk, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, Al. Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378, Gdynia, Poland.
| | - Marta Beata Peschke
- University of Gdańsk, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, Al. Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378, Gdynia, Poland.
| | - Urszula Janas
- University of Gdańsk, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, Al. Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378, Gdynia, Poland.
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Kendzierska H, Janas U. Functional diversity of macrozoobenthos under adverse oxygen conditions in the southern Baltic Sea. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8946. [PMID: 38637621 PMCID: PMC11026434 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59354-3] [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: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Oxygen deficiency is a major problem in the Baltic Sea. To study the impact of hypoxia on the functional diversity of benthic fauna and the possibility of macrozoobenthos recovery, data were analyzed in a gradient of oxygen conditions in the Gdańsk Basin. The research conducted on the basis of biological traits analysis enabled us to analyze the number, type and spatial distribution of biological traits-a proxy for functions performed by macrozoobenthos. A significant depletion of macrofauna was already observed under conditions of reduced oxygen above the bottom, both in terms of functional diversity and biomass. Although taxa observed in hypoxia (DO < 2 mL L-1) perform a number of functions, the remaining species do not form complex structures in the sediments or cause deep bioturbation and bioirrigation. Moreover, their extremely low biomass plays an irrelevant role in benthic-pelagic coupling. Thus, benthic fauna under hypoxia is not an element that ensures the functioning of the ecosystem. We assess that traits important for species dispersal and the presence of taxa resistant to short-term hypoxia in the oxic zone above the halocline provide a "backup" for ecosystem functioning under altered diverse oxygen conditions below the halocline after cessation of hypoxia in the southern Baltic Sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Halina Kendzierska
- Department of Marine Ecology, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdańsk, Al. Marszałka Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378, Gdynia, Poland.
| | - Urszula Janas
- Department of Marine Ecology, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdańsk, Al. Marszałka Piłsudskiego 46, 81-378, Gdynia, Poland
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Liu F, Zi F, Wang X, Zeng H, Huo B, Wang C, Ge J, Chen S, Wang B. Assessing the Impact of Anthropic Pressures on Aquatic Macroinvertebrates: A Functional Trait Approach in the Irtysh River Watershed. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1315. [PMID: 37887025 PMCID: PMC10604692 DOI: 10.3390/biology12101315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Little is known about how changes in the biodiversity and functional traits of macroinvertebrates in rivers respond to the responses of anthropic pressures and their driving factors. Macroinvertebrates were sampled at 17 sites in the Irtysh River Basin and classified macroinvertebrates into 10 traits and 38 categories between May and August 2022. Then, we performed R-mode linked to Q-mode (RLQ) analysis and calculated functional richness, evenness, divergence, and Rao's quadratic entropy (RaoQ) for each site and community-weighted means for each trait category. Our results indicated that there were pronounced alterations in species variability in the urban region. Functional divergence indicated fierce competition among species and considerable niche overlap in the urban region. Functional evenness indicated that species abundance distribution and interspecific functional distance were not uniform in the urban region. Functional richness indicated that the urban region was the strongest region in terms of niche occupation, resource utilization, and buffering capacity for environmental fluctuations. Rao's quadratic entropy showed that the trait difference of macroinvertebrates was the largest in all regions, which was caused by the gradient environmental difference. Research has revealed that urbanization significantly influences the evolutionary trajectory of macroinvertebrate fauna, culminating in an upsurge in pollution-tolerant species and a convergence of functional traits. We recommend strengthening the control of urban and industrial pollution and wise planning and management of land and water resources to mitigate the impact of anthropogenic destruction on habitat fragmentation in the Irtysh River Basin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Liu
- Tarim Research Center of Rare Fishes, College of Life Sciences and Technology, Tarim University, Alar 843300, China
| | - Fangze Zi
- Tarim Research Center of Rare Fishes, College of Life Sciences and Technology, Tarim University, Alar 843300, China
| | - Xinyue Wang
- Tarim Research Center of Rare Fishes, College of Life Sciences and Technology, Tarim University, Alar 843300, China
| | - Honghui Zeng
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Bin Huo
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Chengxin Wang
- Tarim Research Center of Rare Fishes, College of Life Sciences and Technology, Tarim University, Alar 843300, China
| | - Jianmin Ge
- Tarim Research Center of Rare Fishes, College of Life Sciences and Technology, Tarim University, Alar 843300, China
| | - Shengao Chen
- Tarim Research Center of Rare Fishes, College of Life Sciences and Technology, Tarim University, Alar 843300, China
| | - Baoqiang Wang
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
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Weigel B, Kotamäki N, Malve O, Vuorio K, Ovaskainen O. Macrosystem community change in lake phytoplankton and its implications for diversity and function. GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY : A JOURNAL OF MACROECOLOGY 2023; 32:295-309. [PMID: 37081858 PMCID: PMC10107180 DOI: 10.1111/geb.13626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Aim We use lake phytoplankton community data to quantify the spatio-temporal and scale-dependent impacts of eutrophication, land-use and climate change on species niches and community assembly processes while accounting for species traits and phylogenetic constraints. Location Finland. Time period 1977-2017. Major taxa Phytoplankton. Methods We use hierarchical modelling of species communities (HMSC) to model metacommunity trajectories at 853 lakes over four decades of environmental change, including a hierarchical spatial structure to account for scale-dependent processes. Using a "region of common profile" approach, we evaluate compositional changes of species communities and trait profiles and investigate their temporal development. Results We demonstrate the emergence of novel and widespread community composition clusters in previously more compositionally homogeneous communities, with cluster-specific community trait profiles, indicating functional differences. A strong phylogenetic signal of species responses to the environment implies similar responses among closely related taxa. Community cluster-specific species prevalence indicates lower taxonomic dispersion within the current dominant clusters compared with the historically dominant cluster and an overall higher prevalence of smaller species sizes within communities. Our findings denote profound spatio-temporal structuring of species co-occurrence patterns and highlight functional differences of lake phytoplankton communities. Main conclusions Diverging community trajectories have led to a nationwide reshuffling of lake phytoplankton communities. At regional and national scales, lakes are not single entities but metacommunity hubs in an interconnected waterscape. The assembly mechanisms of phytoplankton communities are strongly structured by spatio-temporal dynamics, which have led to novel community types, but only a minor part of this reshuffling could be linked to temporal environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Weigel
- Research Centre for Ecological Change, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | | | - Olli Malve
- Finnish Environment InstituteHelsinkiFinland
| | | | - Otso Ovaskainen
- Research Centre for Ecological Change, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of BiologyNorwegian University of Science and TechnologyTrondheimNorway
- Department of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
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6
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Vesal SE, Nasi F, Pazzaglia J, Ferrante L, Auriemma R, Relitti F, Bazzaro M, Del Negro P. Assessing the sewage discharge effects on soft-bottom macrofauna through traits-based approach. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 173:113003. [PMID: 34628343 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113003] [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: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We assessed the effect of sewage-derived materials on the structural and functional attributes of the soft-bottom macrofauna at an increasing distance from the entire diffusion area. Our results showed clear spatial changes of macrofaunal density and biomass along the distance gradient from the main outfall. High values of biodiversity, species composition, and species linked to organic enrichment near the duct suggested that moderate organic stress affected this community. The traits analysis abundance-based, compared to biomass-based one, distinguished most clearly sewage contamination conditions. Functional diversity displayed spatial patterns with higher values in the less impacted sites and was significantly related to species numbers and the biotic indices (like M-AMBI). This approach is ideal for detecting macrofaunal functional changes due to sewage contamination. Thus, we infer that traits analyses could offer great potential for environmental assessment and monitoring of coastal areas influenced by human activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Ehsan Vesal
- National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics - OGS, via A. Piccard 54, I-34151 Trieste, Italy; Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Federica Nasi
- National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics - OGS, via A. Piccard 54, I-34151 Trieste, Italy.
| | - Jessica Pazzaglia
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy; Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121 Napoli, Italy
| | - Larissa Ferrante
- National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics - OGS, via A. Piccard 54, I-34151 Trieste, Italy
| | - Rocco Auriemma
- National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics - OGS, via A. Piccard 54, I-34151 Trieste, Italy
| | - Federica Relitti
- National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics - OGS, via A. Piccard 54, I-34151 Trieste, Italy
| | - Matteo Bazzaro
- National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics - OGS, via A. Piccard 54, I-34151 Trieste, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, della Terra e dell'Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Siena, Strada Laterina, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Paola Del Negro
- National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics - OGS, via A. Piccard 54, I-34151 Trieste, Italy
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Sivadas SK, Gupta GVM, Kumar S, Ingole BS. Trait-based and taxonomic macrofauna community patterns in the upwelling ecosystem of the southeastern Arabian sea. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 170:105431. [PMID: 34364059 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2021.105431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Coastal upwelling that occurs in the eastern Arabian Sea (EAS) drive the complex dynamics of the food chain. Macrofauna plays a key role in the functioning of coastal ecosystems, but few studies explored the taxonomic and functional patterns of macrofaunal communities under the influence of upwelling. These patterns have been investigated in this study by sampling macrofauna and environmental variables during March-December 2012 across six depths (13-100 m) over the continental shelf off Kochi, south EAS. Upwelling, set over outer shelf prior to March, occupies the entire shelf by May, peaked during June-July and withdrew rapidly by September. A total of 203 macrofaunal taxa were collected in this study. Multivariate analysis revealed that the macrofaunal composition showed a spatiotemporal variation. Taxonomic diversity increases from nearshore to mid shelf whereas abundance and biomass decreased. Macrobenthic functioning, assessed through Biological Trait Analyses, displayed similar trait modalities between depths and seasons but abundance driven differences in trait expression revealed important habitat filtering. Increase in organic matter and decrease in dissolved oxygen influenced by upwelling and the spatial variation in sediment texture were the strongest drivers of the macrofaunal taxonomic pattern. We suggest that taxonomic and biological trait information needs to be considered in ecological studies as it provides a better understanding of how biodiversity responds to and interacts with environmental changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanitha K Sivadas
- National Centre for Coastal Research, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Chennai, India; CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, India.
| | - G V M Gupta
- Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Kochi, India.
| | | | - Baban S Ingole
- CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, India; ESSO-National Centre for Polar & Ocean Research, Vasco-da-Gama, Goa, India.
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8
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Gómez‐Gras D, Linares C, Dornelas M, Madin JS, Brambilla V, Ledoux J, López‐Sendino P, Bensoussan N, Garrabou J. Climate change transforms the functional identity of Mediterranean coralligenous assemblages. Ecol Lett 2021; 24:1038-1051. [PMID: 33728823 PMCID: PMC8252474 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Quantifying changes in functional community structure driven by disturbance is critical to anticipate potential shifts in ecosystem functioning. However, how marine heatwaves (MHWs) affect the functional structure of temperate coral-dominated communities is poorly understood. Here, we used five long-term (> 10 years) records of Mediterranean coralligenous assemblages in a multi-taxa, trait-based analysis to investigate MHW-driven changes in functional structure. We show that, despite stability in functional richness (i.e. the range of species functional traits), MHW-impacted assemblages experienced long-term directional changes in functional identity (i.e. their dominant trait values). Declining traits included large sizes, long lifespans, arborescent morphologies, filter-feeding strategies or calcified skeletons. These traits, which were mostly supported by few sensitive and irreplaceable species from a single functional group (habitat-forming octocorals), disproportionally influence certain ecosystem functions (e.g. 3D-habitat provision). Hence, MHWs are leading to assemblages that are deficient in key functional traits, with likely consequences for the ecosystem functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Gómez‐Gras
- Departament de Biologia MarinaInstitut de Ciències del Mar (CSIC)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Cristina Linares
- Departament de Biologia EvolutivaEcologia i Ciències AmbientalsInstitut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBIO)Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Maria Dornelas
- Centre for Biological Diversity and Scottish Oceans InstituteSchool of BiologyUniversity of StAndrews, St AndrewsUK
| | - Joshua S. Madin
- Hawai‘i Institute of Marine BiologyUniversity of Hawai‘i at MānoaKaneoheHIUSA
| | - Viviana Brambilla
- Centre for Biological Diversity and Scottish Oceans InstituteSchool of BiologyUniversity of StAndrews, St AndrewsUK
| | - Jean‐Baptiste Ledoux
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental (CIIMAR)PortoPortugal
| | - Paula López‐Sendino
- Departament de Biologia MarinaInstitut de Ciències del Mar (CSIC)BarcelonaSpain
| | | | - Joaquim Garrabou
- Departament de Biologia MarinaInstitut de Ciències del Mar (CSIC)BarcelonaSpain
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9
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López DP, Freestone AL. History of co‐occurrence shapes predation effects on functional diversity and structure at low latitudes. Funct Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Diana P. López
- Department of Biology Temple University Philadelphia PA USA
| | - Amy L. Freestone
- Department of Biology Temple University Philadelphia PA USA
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Edgewater MD USA
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Panama City Panama
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10
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Hillebrand H, Jacob U, Leslie HM. Integrative research perspectives on marine conservation. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020; 375:20190444. [PMID: 33131441 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Whereas the conservation and management of biodiversity has become a key issue in environmental sciences and policy in general, the conservation of marine biodiversity faces additional challenges such as the challenges of accessing field sites (e.g. polar, deep sea), knowledge gaps regarding biodiversity trends, high mobility of many organisms in fluid environments, and ecosystem-specific obstacles to stakeholder engagement and governance. This issue comprises contributions from a diverse international group of scientists in a benchmarking volume for a common research agenda on marine conservation. We begin by addressing information gaps on marine biodiversity trends through novel approaches and technologies, then linking such information to ecosystem functioning through a focus on traits. We then leverage the knowledge of these relationships to inform theory aiming at predicting the future composition and functioning of marine communities. Finally, we elucidate the linkages between marine ecosystems and human societies by examining economic, management and governance approaches that contribute to effective marine conservation in practice. This article is part of the theme issue 'Integrative research perspectives on marine conservation'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helmut Hillebrand
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of Marine Environments [ICBM], Carl-von-Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Schleusenstrasse 1, 26382 Wilhelmshaven, Germany.,Helmholtz-Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity at the University of Oldenburg [HIFMB], Ammerländer Heerstrasse 231, 26129 Oldenbburg, Germany.,Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Ute Jacob
- Helmholtz-Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity at the University of Oldenburg [HIFMB], Ammerländer Heerstrasse 231, 26129 Oldenbburg, Germany.,Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Heather M Leslie
- Darling Marine Center and School of Marine Sciences, University of Maine, 193 Clarks Cove Road, Walpole, ME 04573, USA
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Meyer J, Kröncke I. Shifts in trait-based and taxonomic macrofauna community structure along a 27-year time-series in the south-eastern North Sea. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0226410. [PMID: 31851700 PMCID: PMC6919609 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Current research revealed distinct changes in ecosystem functions, and thus in ecosystem stability and resilience, caused by changes in community structure and diversity loss. Benthic species play an important role in benthic-pelagic coupling, such as through the remineralization of deposited organic material, and changes to benthic community structure and diversity have associated with changes in ecosystem functioning, ecosystem stability and resilience. However, the long-term variability of traits and functions in benthic communities is largely unknown. By using abundance and bioturbation potential of macrofauna samples, taken along a transect from the German Bight towards the Dogger Bank in May 1990 and annually from 1995 to 2017, we analysed the taxonomic and trait-based macrofauna long-term community variability and diversity. Taxonomic and trait-based diversity remained stable over time, while three different regimes were found, characterised by changes in taxonomic and trait-based community structure. Min/max autocorrelation factor analysis revealed the climatic variables sea surface temperature (SST) and North Atlantic Oscillation Index (NAOI), nitrite, and epibenthic abundance as most important environmental drivers for taxonomic and trait-based community changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Meyer
- Marine Research, Senckenberg am Meer, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, Benthic Ecology, Oldenburg, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Ingrid Kröncke
- Marine Research, Senckenberg am Meer, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, Benthic Ecology, Oldenburg, Germany
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12
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Bejarano S, Pardede S, Campbell SJ, Hoey AS, Ferse SCA. Herbivorous fish rise as a destructive fishing practice falls in an Indonesian marine national park. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2019; 29:e01981. [PMID: 31349375 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Revised: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Securing ecosystem functions is challenging, yet common priority in conservation efforts. While marine parks aim to meet this challenge by regulating fishing through zoning plans, their effectiveness hinges on compliance levels and may respond to changes in fishing practices. Here we use a speciose assemblage of nominally herbivorous reef fish in Karimunjawa National Park (zoned since 1989) to investigate whether areas subject to a restrictive management regime sustained higher biomass over seven years compared to areas where moderate and permissive regulations apply. Using a trait-based approach we characterize the functional space of the entire species pool and ask whether changes in biomass translate into changes in functional structure. We track changes in predator biomass, benthic community structure, and fishing practices that could influence herbivore trajectories. Overall herbivore biomass doubled in 2012 compared to 2006-2009 and remained high in 2013 across all management regimes. We found no evidence that this biomass build-up resulted from predator depletion or increased food availability but suggest it emerged in response to a park-wide cessation of fishing with large drive nets known as muroami. The biomass increase was accompanied by a modest increase in taxonomic richness and a slight decrease in community-scale rarity that did not alter functional redundancy levels. Subtle changes in both functional specialization and identity of assemblages emerged as generalist species with low intrinsic vulnerability to fishing recovered sooner than more vulnerable specialists. While this implies a recovery of mechanisms responsible for the grazing of algal turfs and detritus, restoring other facets of herbivory (e.g., macroalgal consumption) may require more time. An increase in the cost-benefit ratio per journey of muroami fishing facilitated a ban on muroami nets that met minimal resistance. Similar windows of opportunity may emerge elsewhere in which gear-based regulations can supplement zoning plans, especially when compliance is low. This does not advocate for implementing such regulations once a fishery has become unprofitable. Rather, it underlines their importance for breaking the cycle of resource depletion and low compliance to zoning, thus alleviating the resulting threats to food security and ecosystem integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Bejarano
- Reef Systems Research Group, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Fahrenheitstraße 6, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - Shinta Pardede
- Indonesia Marine Programme, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bogor, 16151, West Java, Indonesia
| | - Stuart J Campbell
- Indonesia Marine Programme, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bogor, 16151, West Java, Indonesia
- Rare Indonesia, Jalan Gunung Gede 1 No. 6, Taman Kencana, Bogor, 16151, West Java, Indonesia
| | - Andrew S Hoey
- ARC Centre of Excellence of Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - Sebastian C A Ferse
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Fahrenheitstraße 6, 28359, Bremen, Germany
- Faculty of Biology and Chemistry (FB2), University of Bremen, Bibliothekstraße 1, 28359, Bremen, Germany
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Graham SI, Kinnaird MF, O'Brien TG, Vågen TG, Winowiecki LA, Young TP, Young HS. Effects of land-use change on community diversity and composition are highly variable among functional groups. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2019; 29:e01973. [PMID: 31306541 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2018] [Revised: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In order to understand how the effects of land-use change vary among taxa and environmental contexts, we investigate how three types of land-use change have influenced phylogenetic diversity (PD) and species composition of three functionally distinct communities: plants, small mammals, and large mammals. We found large mammal communities were by far the most heavily impacted by land-use change, with areas of attempted large wildlife exclusion and intense livestock grazing, respectively, containing 164 and 165 million fewer years of evolutionary history than conserved areas (~40% declines). The effects of land-use change on PD varied substantially across taxa, type of land-use change, and, for most groups, also across abiotic conditions. This highlights the need for taxa-specific or multi-taxa evaluations, for managers interested in conserving specific groups or whole communities, respectively. It also suggests that efforts to conserve and restore PD may be most successful if they focus on areas of particular land-use types and abiotic conditions. Importantly, we also describe the substantial species turnover and compositional changes that cannot be detected by alpha diversity metrics, emphasizing that neither PD nor other taxonomic diversity metrics are sufficient proxies for ecological integrity. Finally, our results provide further support for the emerging consensus that conserved landscapes are critical to support intact assemblages of some lineages such as large mammals, but that mosaics of disturbed land-uses, including both agricultural and pastoral land, do provide important habitats for a diverse array of plants and small mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart I Graham
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology and the Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106, USA
| | - Margaret F Kinnaird
- World Wide Fund for Nature International, P.O. Box 62440-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Timothy G O'Brien
- Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Blvd, Bronx, New York, 10460, USA
| | - Tor-G Vågen
- World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), P.O. Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Truman P Young
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, 95616, USA
| | - Hillary S Young
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology and the Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106, USA
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Chen H, Huang Y, He K, Qi Y, Li E, Jiang Z, Sheng Z, Li X. Temporal intraspecific trait variability drives responses of functional diversity to interannual aridity variation in grasslands. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:5731-5742. [PMID: 31160994 PMCID: PMC6540671 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Revised: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Interannual climate variation alters functional diversity through intraspecific trait variability and species turnover. We examined these diversity elements in three types of grasslands in northern China, including two temperate steppes and an alpine meadow. We evaluated the differences in community-weighted means (CWM) of plant traits and functional dispersion (FDis) between 2 years with contrasting aridity in the growing season. Four traits were measured: specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), leaf nitrogen concentration (LNC), and the maximum plant height (H). CWM for SLA of the alpine meadow increased in the dry year while that of the temperate steppe in Qinghai showed opposing trends. CWM of LDMC in two temperate steppes became higher and CWM of LNC in all grasslands became lower in the dry year. Compared with the wet year, FDis of LDMC in the alpine meadow and FDis of LNC in the temperate steppe in Qinghai decreased in the dry year. FDis of H was higher in the dry year for two temperate steppes. Only in the temperate steppe in Qinghai did the multi-FDis of all traits experience a significant increase in the dry year. Most of the changes in CWM and FDis between 2 years were explained by intraspecific trait variation rather than shifts in species composition. This study highlights that temporal intraspecific trait variation contributes to functional responses to environmental changes. Our results also suggest it would be necessary to consider habitat types when modeling ecosystem responses to climate changes, as different grasslands showed different response patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiying Chen
- Faculty of Geographical Science, State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, School of Natural ResourcesBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Yongmei Huang
- Faculty of Geographical Science, State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, School of Natural ResourcesBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Kejian He
- School of Resource Environment and Earth ScienceYunnan UniversityKunmingChina
| | - Yu Qi
- Inner Mongolia Environment Sciences AcademyHohhotChina
| | - Engui Li
- Faculty of Geographical Science, State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, School of Natural ResourcesBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Zhiyun Jiang
- School of GeographySouth China Normal UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Zhilu Sheng
- Faculty of Geographical Science, State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, School of Natural ResourcesBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Xiaoyan Li
- Faculty of Geographical Science, State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, School of Natural ResourcesBeijing Normal UniversityBeijingChina
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15
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Törnroos A, Pecuchet L, Olsson J, Gårdmark A, Blomqvist M, Lindegren M, Bonsdorff E. Four decades of functional community change reveals gradual trends and low interlinkage across trophic groups in a large marine ecosystem. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2019; 25:1235-1246. [PMID: 30570820 PMCID: PMC6850384 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Revised: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The rate at which biological diversity is altered on both land and in the sea, makes temporal community development a critical and fundamental part of understanding global change. With advancements in trait-based approaches, the focus on the impact of temporal change has shifted towards its potential effects on the functioning of the ecosystems. Our mechanistic understanding of and ability to predict community change is still impeded by the lack of knowledge in long-term functional dynamics that span several trophic levels. To address this, we assessed species richness and multiple dimensions of functional diversity and dynamics of two interacting key organism groups in the marine food web: fish and zoobenthos. We utilized unique time series-data spanning four decades, from three environmentally distinct coastal areas in the Baltic Sea, and assembled trait information on six traits per organism group covering aspects of feeding, living habit, reproduction and life history. We identified gradual long-term trends, rather than abrupt changes in functional diversity (trait richness, evenness, dispersion) trait turnover, and overall multi-trait community composition. The linkage between fish and zoobenthic functional community change, in terms of correlation in long-term trends, was weak, with timing of changes being area and trophic group specific. Developments of fish and zoobenthos traits, particularly size (increase in small size for both groups) and feeding habits (e.g. increase in generalist feeding for fish and scavenging or predation for zoobenthos), suggest changes in trophic pathways. We summarize our findings by highlighting three key aspects for understanding functional change across trophic groups: (a) decoupling of species from trait richness, (b) decoupling of richness from density and (c) determining of turnover and multi-trait dynamics. We therefore argue for quantifying change in multiple functional measures to help assessments of biodiversity change move beyond taxonomy and single trophic groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Törnroos
- Environmental and Marine BiologyÅbo Akademi UniversityTurkuFinland
- Centre for Ocean Life, DTU‐AquaKngs. LyngbyDenmark
| | - Laurene Pecuchet
- Environmental and Marine BiologyÅbo Akademi UniversityTurkuFinland
- Centre for Ocean Life, DTU‐AquaKngs. LyngbyDenmark
| | - Jens Olsson
- Department of Aquatic ResourcesSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesÖregrundSweden
| | - Anna Gårdmark
- Department of Aquatic ResourcesSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesÖregrundSweden
| | | | | | - Erik Bonsdorff
- Environmental and Marine BiologyÅbo Akademi UniversityTurkuFinland
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16
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Weigel B, Bonsdorff E. Trait-based predation suitability offers insight into effects of changing prey communities. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5899. [PMID: 30416889 PMCID: PMC6225838 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 10/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing environmental pressures and human impacts are reshaping community structures and species interactions throughout all trophic levels. The morphological and behavioural characteristics of species communities contain key ecological information on why prey species appear attractive to predators but are rarely applied when exploring predator-prey (PP) relationships. Expanding our knowledge on how changing prey communities can alter the food resource suitability (RS) for predators is vital for understanding PP dynamics in changing ecosystems. Detailed predator diet data are commonly restricted to commercially important species and often not available over long temporal scales. To find out whether structural changes of prey communities impact the food RS for predator communities over space and time, we apply a novel framework to describe and interpret changes in predator diet-suitability based on predation-relevant traits of prey. We use information on described feeding links from the literature to compile the prey spectrum for each predator and subsequently translate the prey-species into a prey-trait spectrum. For each predator, we then calculate a frequency-based prey-trait affinity score and relate it to the available food resource pool, the community weighted means of prey traits, resulting in a prey-suitability measure. We aim to reveal whether a described multi-decadal change in the community structure of zoobenthos had an impact on the food suitability for the benthic-feeding fish in a coastal system of the Baltic Sea. We assess the direction of change in resource quality from the perspective of benthic-feeding fish and describe predator-specific responses to examine which species are likely to profit or be disadvantaged by changes in their prey spectrum. Furthermore, we test the relationship between functional diversity of prey communities and food suitability for predators, and whether predation linkage-structures are affected through prey community-changes. Our results show that changes in zoobenthic communities had a positive effect on the food suitability for most benthic-feeding fish, implying more suitable food resources. Species-specific responses of predators suggest varying plasticity to cope with prey assemblages of different trait compositions. Additionally, the functional diversity of zoobenthos had a positive effect on the food suitability for predator fish. The changing trait compositions of prey influenced the PP linkage-structure, indicating varying specialisation of benthic feeding fish towards available food resources. Our findings suggest that changing morphological characteristics of prey can impact food RS features for its predators. This approach enables long-term evaluation of prey quality characteristics where no detailed diet data is available and allows for cross-system comparison as it is not relying on taxonomic identities per se.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Weigel
- Environmental and Marine Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.,Research Centre for Ecological Change, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Erik Bonsdorff
- Environmental and Marine Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
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17
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Ilarri MI, Amorim L, Souza AT, Sousa R. Physical legacy of freshwater bivalves: Effects of habitat complexity on the taxonomical and functional diversity of invertebrates. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 634:1398-1405. [PMID: 29710639 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.04.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Revised: 04/05/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Bivalves may play a major role in structuring aquatic communities. This may be especially relevant in aquatic communities dominated by non-native invasive bivalves, which can contribute to the increase of habitat homogenization. In this study, we assess how habitat homogenization, through the reduction of empty bivalve shells identities, influences the macroinvertebrate assemblages. Towards this end, a manipulative experiment with the empty shells of two native (Potomida littoralis and Unio delphinus) and one non-native (Corbicula fluminea) species was performed. Seven treatments were prepared, three of them consisting of homogeneous substrates using shells of one species, and four of them consisting in heterogeneous substrates using more than one species. The associated fauna colonizing different treatments was analyzed through taxonomic and trait-based approaches. Our results showed that the substrate complexity influenced the density of macroinvertebrates, with the heterogeneous treatments significantly yielding more dense assemblages. Also, the trait patterns differed among the levels of habitat heterogeneity, influencing mainly organisms that feed on microphytes of both small and big sizes, that inhabit areas with slow to moderate water flow, and that have short and long live cycles. Further, the functional diversity was not influenced by the substrate heterogeneity. Therefore, the habitat homogenization, through the accumulation of non-native C. fluminea empty shells in the river bottom, did not affect the functional diversity of the macroinvertebrate assemblages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina I Ilarri
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR), University of Porto, Novo Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal.
| | - Luís Amorim
- CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Allan T Souza
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Na Sádkách 7, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Ronaldo Sousa
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR), University of Porto, Novo Edifício do Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos, s/n, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
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18
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Nasi F, Nordström MC, Bonsdorff E, Auriemma R, Cibic T, Del Negro P. Functional biodiversity of marine soft-sediment polychaetes from two Mediterranean coastal areas in relation to environmental stress. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2018; 137:121-132. [PMID: 29551408 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2018.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2017] [Revised: 03/04/2018] [Accepted: 03/08/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Biological Traits Analysis (BTA) was used to identify functional features of infaunal polychaete assemblages associated with contamination in two Italian coastal areas: the harbour of Trieste (Adriatic Sea) and the Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Ionian Sea). The analysis was performed on 103 taxa, collected at four stations in each area. The two areas differed in species composition. The low diversity and the presence of stress-tolerant species in more polluted sites were not reflected in functional diversity, due to species contributing little to community functions or being functionally redundant. Sand and clay fractions were significant drivers of trait category expressions, however other environmental parameters (depth, total organic carbon and nitrogen, and Hg in sediments) influenced traits composition. Motile was the prevalent trait in environments with coarse sediments, and tube-builder were related to fine-grained ones. Motile, endobenthic and burrower were essential traits for living in contaminated sediments. Epibenthic and sessile polychaetes dominated at stations subjected to high organic loads. BTA offers an integrative approach to detect functional adaptations to contaminated sediments and multiple anthropogenic stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Nasi
- Sezione di Oceanografia, Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale - OGS, I-34151 Trieste, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze Della Vita, Università degli Studi di Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
| | - M C Nordström
- Åbo Akademi University, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Environmental and Marine Biology, FI-20500 Turku, Finland
| | - E Bonsdorff
- Åbo Akademi University, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Environmental and Marine Biology, FI-20500 Turku, Finland
| | - R Auriemma
- Sezione di Oceanografia, Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale - OGS, I-34151 Trieste, Italy
| | - T Cibic
- Sezione di Oceanografia, Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale - OGS, I-34151 Trieste, Italy
| | - P Del Negro
- Sezione di Oceanografia, Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale - OGS, I-34151 Trieste, Italy
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19
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Villnäs A, Hewitt J, Snickars M, Westerbom M, Norkko A. Template for using biological trait groupings when exploring large-scale variation in seafloor multifunctionality. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2018; 28:78-94. [PMID: 28940452 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2017] [Revised: 06/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/03/2017] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Understanding large-scale spatial variation in ecosystem properties and associated functionality is key for successful conservation of ecosystems. This study provides a template for how to estimate differences in ecosystem functionality over large spatial scales by using groupings of biological traits. We focus on trait groupings that describe three important benthic ecosystem properties, namely bioturbation, community stability, and juvenile dispersal. Recognizing that groups of traits interact and are constrained within an organism, we statistically define important functional trait subgroups that describe each ecosystem property. The sub-groups are scored according to their weighted ecological impact to gain an overall estimation of the cumulative expression of each ecosystem property at individual sites. Furthermore, by assigning each property a value relative to its observed maximum, and by summing up the individual property values, we offer an estimate of benthic ecosystem multifunctionality. Based on a spatially extensive benthic data set, we were able to identify coastal areas with high and low potential for the considered benthic ecosystem properties and the measure of ecosystem multifunctionality. Importantly, we show that a large part of the spatial variation in functional trait sub-groups and in benthic ecosystem multifunctionality was explained by environmental change. Our results indicate that through this simplification it is possible to estimate the functionality of the seafloor. Such information is vital in marine spatial planning efforts striving to balance the utilization with the preservation of natural resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Villnäs
- Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, J.A. Palménin tie 260, FI-10900, Hanko, Finland
| | - Judi Hewitt
- Marine Ecology Department Hamilton, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Hamilton, 3251, New Zealand
| | - Martin Snickars
- Department of Biosciences, Environmental and Marine Biology, Åbo Akademi University, FI-20520, Turku, Finland
| | - Mats Westerbom
- Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, J.A. Palménin tie 260, FI-10900, Hanko, Finland
- Metsähallitus, Parks & Wildlife Finland, PO Box 94, FI-01301, Vantaa, Finland
| | - Alf Norkko
- Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, J.A. Palménin tie 260, FI-10900, Hanko, Finland
- Baltic Sea Centre, Stockholm University, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
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20
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Chaffin BC, Garmestani AS, Angeler DG, Herrmann DL, Stow CA, Nyström M, Sendzimir J, Hopton ME, Kolasa J, Allen CR. Biological invasions, ecological resilience and adaptive governance. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2016; 183:399-407. [PMID: 27377866 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.04.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2015] [Revised: 04/09/2016] [Accepted: 04/21/2016] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
In a world of increasing interconnections in global trade as well as rapid change in climate and land cover, the accelerating introduction and spread of invasive species is a critical concern due to associated negative social and ecological impacts, both real and perceived. Much of the societal response to invasive species to date has been associated with negative economic consequences of invasions. This response has shaped a war-like approach to addressing invasions, one with an agenda of eradications and intense ecological restoration efforts towards prior or more desirable ecological regimes. This trajectory often ignores the concept of ecological resilience and associated approaches of resilience-based governance. We argue that the relationship between ecological resilience and invasive species has been understudied to the detriment of attempts to govern invasions, and that most management actions fail, primarily because they do not incorporate adaptive, learning-based approaches. Invasive species can decrease resilience by reducing the biodiversity that underpins ecological functions and processes, making ecosystems more prone to regime shifts. However, invasions do not always result in a shift to an alternative regime; invasions can also increase resilience by introducing novelty, replacing lost ecological functions or adding redundancy that strengthens already existing structures and processes in an ecosystem. This paper examines the potential impacts of species invasions on the resilience of ecosystems and suggests that resilience-based approaches can inform policy by linking the governance of biological invasions to the negotiation of tradeoffs between ecosystem services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian C Chaffin
- Department of Society & Conservation, College of Forestry & Conservation, University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT 59812, USA.
| | - Ahjond S Garmestani
- National Risk Management Research Laboratory, United States Environmental Protection Agency, 26 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA.
| | - David G Angeler
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7050, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Dustin L Herrmann
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Research Participant Program with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, 26 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA.
| | - Craig A Stow
- Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 4840 S. State Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48108-9719, USA.
| | - Magnus Nyström
- Stockholm Resilience Center, Stockholm University, Kräftriket 2B, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Jan Sendzimir
- Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Science (BOKU), Max Emanuel-Strasse 17, A-1180, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Matthew E Hopton
- National Risk Management Research Laboratory, United States Environmental Protection Agency, 26 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA.
| | - Jurek Kolasa
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada.
| | - Craig R Allen
- U.S. Geological Survey, Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Unit, University of Nebraska 423 Hardin Hall, 3310 Holdrege Street, Lincoln, NE 68583-0984, USA.
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