Chemical phenotype as important and dynamic niche dimension of plants

New Phytologist, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 234(4), P. 1168 - 1174

Published: March 17, 2022

Niche theory considering the traits of species and individuals provides a powerful tool to integrate ecology evolution species. In plant ecology, morphological physiological are commonly considered as niche dimensions, whereas phytochemical mostly neglected in this context despite their pivotal functions responses environment mediating interactions. The diversity phytochemicals can thus mediate three key processes: choice, conformance construction. Here, we frameworks from with chemical argue that plants use individual-specific (chemodiversity) for different realization processes. Our concept has important implications ecosystem processes stability increases predictive ability ecology.

Language: Английский

---

Why do plants silicify?

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 38(3), P. 275 - 288

Published: Nov. 23, 2022

Language: Английский

---

Understanding and predicting harmful algal blooms in a changing climate: A trait‐based framework

Limnology and Oceanography Letters, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 8(2), P. 229 - 246

Published: Dec. 8, 2022

Abstract The worldwide proliferation of harmful algal blooms (HABs) both in freshwater and marine ecosystems make understanding predicting their occurrence urgent. Trait‐based approaches, where the focus is on functional traits, have been successful explaining community structure dynamics diverse but not applied extensively to HABs. existing trait compilations suggest that HAB taxa differ from non key traits determine responses major environmental drivers. Multi‐trait comparisons between HAB‐forming other phytoplankton taxa, as well within groups characterize interspecific intraspecific differences will help better define ecological niches different develop trait‐based mechanistic models, identify conditions would likely lead Building databases using them statistical models increase our ability predict occurrence, composition, severity under changing conditions, including anthropogenic global change.

Language: Английский

---

Species phylogeny, ecology, and root traits as predictors of root exudate composition

New Phytologist, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 239(4), P. 1212 - 1224

Published: July 8, 2023

Summary Root traits including root exudates are key factors affecting plant interactions with soil and thus play an important role in determining ecosystem processes. The drivers of their variation, however, remain poorly understood. We determined the relative importance phylogeny species ecology analyzed extent to which exudate composition can be predicted by other traits. measured different morphological biochemical (including profiles) 65 grown a controlled system. tested phylogenetic conservatism disentangled individual overlapping effects on also using Phylogenetic signal differed greatly among traits, strongest phenol content tissues. Interspecific variation was partly explained ecology, but more most cases. Species could specific length, dry matter content, biomass, diameter, large part remained unexplained. In conclusion, exudation cannot easily based comparative data needed understand diversity.

Language: Английский

---

The Evolutionary Ecology of Plant Chemical Defenses: From Molecules to Communities

Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 54(1), P. 107 - 127

Published: Aug. 4, 2023

Classic theory relates herbivore pressure to the ecology and evolution of plant defenses. Here, we summarize current trends in study plant–herbivore interactions how they shape chemical defenses, host choice, community composition diversity. Inter- intraspecific variation defense investment is driven by resource availability. The defenses at deeper nodes phylogeny conserved, yet are highly labile tips. On an ecological timescale, while greater specialization tropical herbivores enhances local diversity reducing performance plants with similar temperate ecosystems more generalist herbivores, rare profiles a disadvantage. evolutionary choice largely determined rather than phylogeny, leading tracking cocladogenesis. interplay between shapes both origin maintenance

Language: Английский

---

Integrating functional traits into trophic rewilding science

Journal of Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 112(5), P. 936 - 953

Published: April 6, 2024

Abstract Trophic rewilding is gaining rapid momentum as a means of restoration across the world. Advances in research are elucidating wide‐ranging effects trophic and megafauna re‐establishment on ecosystem properties processes including resilience, nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, productivity plant richness. A substantial gap remains how affects frequency expression functional traits, key hypothesised avenue by which can affect biodiversity processes. Yet, there extensive literature examining mammal herbivory exclusion traits from we may infer potential reintroductions. Here, synthesise to show multifaceted ways that composition responds mammalian explore these responses modulated density identity herbivores well resource availability, historical contingency. We further interactions quantitative analysis European species. In addition, link broad patterns between invasions predict be able reduce invasive dominance, ecosystems around world transitioning towards novel states, occupied mix native introduced Expanding current herbivore (and their implications for rewilding) beyond species richness measurable help assess quantify were not previously possible. Trait approaches test mechanistic hypotheses top‐down impacts large communities reveal links properties. Synthesis . Given rapid, much‐needed expansion activities world, trait‐based ecology offers pathway generalisable predictions rewilding, particularly context both unique landscape associated with (e.g. scale spatiotemporal variability, dispersal) widely emerging ecosystems.

Language: Английский

---

Metabolite-driven mechanisms reveal chemical ecology of Lehmann Lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana) invasion in North American semi-arid ecosystems

Communications Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 8(1)

Published: March 4, 2025

Invasive plants threaten global ecosystems, yet traditional analyses of functional traits cannot fully explain their dominance over co-occurring natives. Metabolomics offers insights into plant invasions, but single-technique studies often miss critical biochemical mechanisms. We employ a multimodal metabolomics approach (¹H NMR, LC MS/MS, FT-ICR-MS, and MALDI-MSI) to investigate the basis Lehmann lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana) invasion in semi-arid North America, comparing it with native grass, Arizona cottontop (Digitaria californica). Our analysis reveals three metabolomic compared cottontop: Enhanced nitrogen allocation shoots, reduced defensive metabolites root layers; increased exudate modulation under stress conditions. These suggest succeeds through adaptation increasing aridity rather than direct competition, demonstrating nutrient-poor environments high phenotypic plasticity response aridity. This integrated provides new mechanistic ecology environmental change.

Language: Английский

---

Quantifying chemodiversity considering biochemical and structural properties of compounds with the R package chemodiv

New Phytologist, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 237(6), P. 2478 - 2492

Published: Dec. 17, 2022

Summary Plants produce large numbers of phytochemical compounds affecting plant physiology and interactions with their biotic abiotic environment. Recently, chemodiversity has attracted considerable attention as an ecologically evolutionary meaningful way to characterize the phenotype a mixture compounds. Currently used measures diversity, related dissimilarity, generally do not take structural or biosynthetic properties into account. Such can be indicative compounds' function inform about (in)dependence, should therefore included in calculations these measures. We introduce R package chemodiv , which retrieves biochemical from databases provides functions for calculating visualizing chemical diversity dissimilarity phytochemicals other types Our enables that takes richness, relative abundance – most importantly and/or illustrate use examples on simulated real datasets. By providing quantifying multiple aspects chemodiversity, we hope facilitate investigations how varies across levels biological organization, its importance ecology evolution plants organisms.

Language: Английский

---

Ten (mostly) simple rules to future‐proof trait data in ecological and evolutionary sciences

Methods in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 14(2), P. 444 - 458

Published: Nov. 22, 2022

Abstract Traits have become a crucial part of ecological and evolutionary sciences, helping researchers understand the function an organism's morphology, physiology, growth life history, with effects on fitness, behaviour, interactions environment ecosystem processes. However, measuring, compiling analysing trait data comes data‐scientific challenges. We offer 10 (mostly) simple rules, some detailed extensions, as guide in making critical decisions that consider entire cycle data. This article is particularly motivated by its last rule, is, to propagate good practice. It has intention bringing awareness how traits organisms can be collected managed for reuse research community. Trait observations are relevant broad interdisciplinary community field biologists, synthesis ecologists, computer scientists database managers. hope these basic guidelines useful starter active communication disseminating such integrative knowledge make future‐proof. invite scientific participate this effort at http://opentraits.org/best‐practices.html .

Language: Английский

---

Phytochemical diversity impacts herbivory in a tropical rainforest tree community

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 26(11), P. 1898 - 1910

Published: Sept. 30, 2023

Metabolomics provides an unprecedented window into diverse plant secondary metabolites that represent a potentially critical niche dimension in tropical forests underlying species coexistence. Here, we used untargeted metabolomics to evaluate chemical composition of 358 tree and its relationship with phylogeny variation light environment, soil nutrients, insect herbivore leaf damage rainforest plot. We report no phylogenetic signal most compound classes, indicating rapid diversification metabolomes. found locally co-occurring were more chemically dissimilar than random local dispersion metabolite diversity associated lower herbivory, especially specialist herbivores. Our results highlight the role mediating plant-herbivore interactions their potential facilitate differentiation manner contributes Furthermore, our findings suggest pressure is important mechanism promoting phytochemical forests.

Language: Английский

---