TRY plant trait database – enhanced coverage and open access

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 26(1), P. 119 - 188

Published: Dec. 31, 2019

Abstract Plant traits—the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants—determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, influence ecosystem properties their benefits detriments people. trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area research spanning from evolutionary biology, community functional ecology, biodiversity conservation, landscape management, restoration, biogeography earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, TRY database plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented coverage under an open access policy is main used by worldwide. Increasingly, also supports new frontiers trait‐based research, including identification gaps subsequent mobilization or measurement data. To support this development, article we evaluate extent compiled analyse emerging patterns representativeness. Best species achieved categorical traits—almost complete ‘plant growth form’. However, most relevant ecology vegetation modelling are characterized continuous intraspecific variation trait–environmental relationships. These have be measured on individual respective environment. Despite coverage, observe humbling lack completeness representativeness these many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing biases remains key challenge requires coordinated approach measurements. This can only collaboration with initiatives.

Language: Английский

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Combatting global grassland degradation

Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 2(10), P. 720 - 735

Published: Sept. 7, 2021

Language: Английский

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Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in naturally assembled communities

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 94(4), P. 1220 - 1245

Published: Feb. 6, 2019

ABSTRACT Approximately 25 years ago, ecologists became increasingly interested in the question of whether ongoing biodiversity loss matters for functioning ecosystems. As such, a new ecological subfield on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning (BEF) was born. This initially dominated by theoretical studies experiments which manipulated, responses ecosystem functions such as biomass production, decomposition rates, carbon sequestration, trophic interactions pollination were assessed. More recently, an increasing number have investigated BEF relationships non‐manipulated ecosystems, but reviews synthesizing our knowledge importance real‐world are still largely missing. I performed systematic review order to assess how drives both terrestrial aquatic, naturally assembled communities, important is compared other factors, including aspects community composition abiotic conditions. The outcomes 258 published studies, reported 726 relationships, revealed that many cases, promotes average production its temporal stability, success. For rates multifunctionality, positive effects outnumbered negative effects, neutral even more common. Similarly, prey pathogen herbivore damage less common than relationships. Finally, there no evidence related soil storage. Most focused taxonomic diversity, however, metrics functional diversity generally stronger predictors functioning. Furthermore, most factors (e.g. presence certain group) drivers per se . While suggest become at larger spatial scales, communities this idea too poorly studied draw general conclusions. In summary, high positively various functions. At same time, strength direction these vary highly among can be driving Thus, promote those underpin human well‐being, conservation should not only , also conditions favouring species with suitable trait combinations.

Language: Английский

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Plant root exudation under drought: implications for ecosystem functioning

New Phytologist, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 225(5), P. 1899 - 1905

Published: Oct. 1, 2019

Root exudates are a pathway for plant-microbial communication and play key role in ecosystem response to environmental change. Here, we collate recent evidence that shows plants of different growth strategies differ their root exudation, can select beneficial soil microbial communities, drought affects the quantity quality exudation. We use this argue central involvement plant propose framework understanding how influence form function during after drought. Specifically, fast-growing modify recruit microbes facilitate regrowth drought, with cascading impacts on abundance functioning. identify outstanding questions methodological challenges need be addressed advance solidify our comprehension importance

Language: Английский

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Human impacts on global freshwater fish biodiversity

Science, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 371(6531), P. 835 - 838

Published: Feb. 19, 2021

No waters left untouched We are increasingly aware of human impacts on biodiversity across our planet, especially in terrestrial and marine systems. know less about fresh waters, including large rivers. Su et al. looked such systems globally, focusing several key measures fish biodiversity. They found that half all river have been heavily affected by activities, with only very tropical basins receiving the lowest levels change. Fragmentation non-native species also led to homogenization rivers, many now containing similar fewer specialized lineages. Science , this issue p. 835

Language: Английский

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Climate change, ecosystems and abrupt change: science priorities

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 375(1794), P. 20190105 - 20190105

Published: Jan. 27, 2020

Ecologists have long studied patterns, directions and tempos of change, but there is a pressing need to extend current understanding empirical observations abrupt changes as climate warming accelerates. Abrupt in ecological systems (ACES)-changes that are fast time or relative their drivers-are ubiquitous increasing frequency. Powerful theoretical frameworks exist, yet applications real-world landscapes detect, explain anticipate ACES lagged. We highlight five insights emerging from studies across diverse ecosystems: (i) show some dimensions not others; (ii) extremes may be more important than mean generating ACES; (iii) interactions among multiple drivers often produce (iv) contingencies, such memory, frequency sequence disturbances, spatial context important; (v) tipping points (but always) associated with ACES. suggest research priorities advance the face change. Progress requires strong integration scientific approaches (theory, observations, experiments process-based models) high-quality data drawn array ecosystems. This article part theme issue 'Climate change threats, opportunities solutions'.

Language: Английский

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Phylogenetic, functional, and taxonomic richness have both positive and negative effects on ecosystem multifunctionality

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 116(17), P. 8419 - 8424

Published: April 4, 2019

Biodiversity encompasses multiple attributes such as the richness and abundance of species (taxonomic diversity), presence different evolutionary lineages (phylogenetic variety growth forms resource use strategies (functional diversity). These biodiversity do not necessarily relate to each other may have contrasting effects on ecosystem functioning. However, how they simultaneously influence provision functions related carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus cycling (multifunctionality) remains unknown. We evaluated taxonomic, phylogenetic, functional dominant (mass ratio effects) subordinate (richness effect) plant multifunctionality 123 drylands from six continents. Our results highlight importance phylogenetic key drivers multifunctionality. In addition a higher taxonomic richness, we found that increasing early diverging redundancy between increased contrast, most recent were weakly correlated with important individual nutrient cycles. By identifying which contribute multifunctionality, our can guide restoration efforts aiming maximize either or particular cycles, critical step combat dryland desertification worldwide.

Language: Английский

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Blind spots in global soil biodiversity and ecosystem function research

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 11(1)

Published: Aug. 3, 2020

Soils harbor a substantial fraction of the world's biodiversity, contributing to many crucial ecosystem functions. It is thus essential identify general macroecological patterns related distribution and functioning soil organisms support their conservation consideration by governance. These analyses need represent diversity environmental conditions that can be found worldwide. Here we characterize existing gaps in taxa data across studies 17,186 sampling sites globe. include important spatial, environmental, taxonomic, functional gaps, an almost complete absence temporally explicit data. We also limitations explore biodiversity-ecosystem relationships, with only 0.3% all having both information about biodiversity function, although different taxonomic groups functions at each site. Based on this information, provide clear priorities expand research. Soil organism contributes but function have not been equivalently studied authors locations, environment types, for which there currently lack literature.

Language: Английский

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A theory of pulse dynamics and disturbance in ecology

Ecology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 100(7)

Published: April 24, 2019

We propose four postulates as the minimum set of logical propositions necessary for a theory pulse dynamics and disturbance in ecosystems: (1) resource characterizes magnitude, rate, duration change caused by events, including continuing changes resources that are result abiotic biotic processes; (2) energy flux flow controls variation rates assimilation across ecosystems; (3) patch distribution patches over space time, resulting patterns diversity, ecosystem structure, cross-scale feedbacks pulses (4) trait diversity evolutionary responses to and, turn, way affects during after events. apply an important class biomass-altering disturbances, derive seven generalizations predict trajectory, rate change, probability, diversification at scales, ecological functional resilience. Ultimately, must define variable combinations dynamic stability, comprising resistance, recovery, adaptation.

Language: Английский

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Synchrony matters more than species richness in plant community stability at a global scale

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 117(39), P. 24345 - 24351

Published: Sept. 8, 2020

Significance The stability of ecological communities under ongoing climate and land-use change is fundamental to the sustainable management natural resources through its effect on critical ecosystem services. Biodiversity hypothesized enhance compensatory effects (decreased synchrony between species). However, relative importance interplay different biotic abiotic drivers remain controversial. By analyzing long-term data from seminatural ecosystems across globe, we found that degree among dominant species was main driver stability, rather than richness per se. These overrode environmental drivers, which influenced by modulating synchrony.

Language: Английский

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