Concepts and applications in functional diversity

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 35(9), P. 1869 - 1885

Published: July 16, 2021

Abstract The use of functional diversity analyses in ecology has grown exponentially over the past two decades, broadening our understanding biological and its change across space time. Virtually all ecological sub‐disciplines recognise critical value looking at species communities from a perspective, this led to proliferation methods for estimating contrasting dimensions diversity. Differences between these their development generated terminological inconsistencies confusion about selection most appropriate approach addressing any particular question, hampering potential comparative studies, simulation exercises meta‐analyses. Two general mathematical frameworks are prevailing: those based on dissimilarity matrices (e.g. Rao entropy, dendrograms) relying multidimensional spaces, constructed as either convex hulls or probabilistic hypervolumes. We review frameworks, discuss strengths weaknesses provide an overview main R packages performing calculations. In parallel, we propose way organising metrics unified scheme quantify richness, divergence regularity individuals under each framework. This offers roadmap confidently approaching both theoretically practically. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within Supporting Information article.

Language: Английский

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The recovery of European freshwater biodiversity has come to a halt

Nature, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 620(7974), P. 582 - 588

Published: Aug. 9, 2023

Owing to a long history of anthropogenic pressures, freshwater ecosystems are among the most vulnerable biodiversity loss

Language: Английский

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Embracing mountain microbiome and ecosystem functions under global change

New Phytologist, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 234(6), P. 1987 - 2002

Published: Feb. 25, 2022

Mountains are pivotal to maintaining habitat heterogeneity, global biodiversity, ecosystem functions and services humans. They have provided classic model natural systems for plant animal diversity gradient studies over 250 years. In the recent decade, exploration of microorganisms on mountainsides has also achieved substantial progress. Here, we review literature microbial across taxonomic groups types mountains. Microbial community shows climatic zonation with orderly successions along elevational gradients, which largely consistent traditional hypotheses. However, patterns complicated species richness without general rules in terrestrial aquatic environments driven mainly by deterministic processes caused abiotic biotic factors. We see a major shift from documenting biodiversity towards identifying mechanisms that shape biogeographical how these vary under change inclusion novel ecological theories, frameworks approaches. thus propose key questions cutting-edge perspectives advance future research mountain biogeography focusing hypotheses, incorporating meta-ecosystem framework drivers, adapting recently developed approaches trait-based ecology manipulative field experiments, disentangling biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships finally modelling predicting their responses.

Language: Английский

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funspace: An R package to build, analyse and plot functional trait spaces

Diversity and Distributions, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 30(4)

Published: Feb. 21, 2024

Abstract Aim Functional trait space analyses are pivotal to describe and compare organisms' functional diversity across the tree of life. Yet, there is no single application that streamlines many sometimes‐troublesome steps needed build analyse spaces. Innovation To fill this gap, we propose funspace , an R package easily handle bivariate multivariate analyses. The six functions constitute can be grouped in three modules: ‘Building exploring’, ‘Mapping’ ‘Plotting’. building exploring module defines main features a (e.g. metrics) by leveraging kernel density‐based methods. mapping uses general additive models map how target variable distributes within space. plotting provides options for creating flexible publication‐ready figures representing outputs obtained from previous modules. We provide worked example demonstrate complete workflow. Main Conclusions will researchers working with traits life new tool explore: (i) any space, (ii) relationship between other biological or non‐biological factor might contribute shaping species' diversity.

Language: Английский

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Vulnerability of benthic trait diversity across the Mediterranean Sea following mass mortality events

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16(1)

Published: Feb. 12, 2025

Abstract Unraveling the functional future of marine ecosystems amid global change poses a pressing challenge. This is particularly critical in Mediterranean Sea, which highly impacted by and local drivers. Utilizing extensive mass mortality events (MMEs) datasets spanning from 1986 to 2020 across we investigated trait vulnerability benthic species that suffered MMEs induced nine distinct By analyzing changes ten ecological traits 389 species—constituting an compendium date—we identified 228 entities (FEs), defined as groups sharing same values. Our findings indicate these 55 FEs were MMEs, accentuating heightened within specific categories. Notably, more than half records showed severe impacts on calcifying larger with slower growth mostly account for tree-like massive forms. Altogether, highlight 29 extreme mortality, leading maximum increase 19.1% volume over 35 years. We also reveal 10.8% may have been temporarily lost last five years, emphasizing risk rapid transformation Sea.

Language: Английский

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A protocol for reproducible functional diversity analyses

Ecography, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 2022(11)

Published: Aug. 30, 2022

The widespread use of species traits in basic and applied ecology, conservation biogeography has led to an exponential increase functional diversity analyses, with > 10 000 papers published 2010–2020, 1800 only 2021. This interest is reflected the development a multitude theoretical methodological frameworks for calculating diversity, making it challenging navigate myriads options report detailed accounts trait‐based analyses. Therefore, discipline ecology would benefit from existence general guideline standard reporting good practices We devise eight‐step protocol guide researchers conducting overarching goal increasing reproducibility, transparency comparability across studies. based on: 1) identification research question; 2) sampling scheme study design; 3–4) assemblage data matrices; 5) exploration preprocessing; 6) computation; 7) model fitting, evaluation interpretation; 8) data, metadata code provision. Throughout protocol, we provide information on how best select questions, designs, trait compute interpret results discuss ways ensure reproducibility results. To facilitate implementation this template, further develop interactive web‐based application ( stepFD ) form checklist workflow, detailing all steps allowing user produce final ‘reproducibility report' upload alongside paper. A thorough transparent analyses ensures that ecologists can incorporate others' findings into meta‐analyses, shared be integrated larger databases consensus available reused by other researchers. All these elements are key pushing forward vibrant fast‐growing field research.

Language: Английский

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How to improve scaling from traits to ecosystem processes

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 38(3), P. 228 - 237

Published: Nov. 23, 2022

Language: Английский

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Assessing the conservation priority of freshwater lake sites based on taxonomic, functional and environmental uniqueness

Diversity and Distributions, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 28(9), P. 1966 - 1978

Published: July 2, 2022

Abstract Aim We propose a novel approach that considers taxonomic uniqueness, functional uniqueness and environmental show how it can be used in guiding conservation planning. illustrate the using data for lake biota environment. Location Lake Puruvesi, Finland. Methods sampled macrophytes macroinvertebrates from same 18 littoral sites. By adapting original “ecological uniqueness” approach, we distance‐based methods to calculate measures of (LCBD– t ), f ) (LCEH) each site. also considered numbers locations sites needed protect up 70% total variation taxonomic, or features studied part lake. Results Relationships between were generally weak, only relationship macrophyte LCBD– was statistically significant. Overall, however, if whole biotic dataset considered, macroinvertebrate values showed consistent positive with . Depending on measure site one‐third one half could help ecological Puruvesi. Main conclusions Although examined originated large system, proposed here applied different ecosystems at various spatial scales. An important consideration is set has been methods, resulting species matrices analysed methodological here. This framework easily grid‐based data, sets islands forest fragments. suggest based will useful tool nature ecosystem management, especially associated meta‐system ideas network thinking.

Language: Английский

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Plant Strategies

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: July 27, 2023

Abstract Plants have evolved a remarkable array of adaptive solutions to the existential problem survival and reproduction in world where disturbances can be deadly, resources are scarce, competition is cutthroat. inherited phenotypic traits that increased their chance success, these indicators strategies for establishment survival. A plant strategy thought as “how species sustains population” (Westoby, 1998, p. 214) because all successful must positive demographic outcomes habitats which they adapted. This book aims articulate coherent framework studying unifies demography with functional ecology advance prediction ecology. Central this traits: heritable morphological, physiological, phenological attributes plants influence therefore drive fitness differences among species.

Language: Английский

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Functional changes across marine habitats due to ocean acidification

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 30(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Global environmental change drives diversity loss and shifts in community structure. A key challenge is to better understand the impacts on ecosystem function connect species trait of assemblages with properties that are turn linked functioning. Here we quantify composition associated ocean acidification (OA) by using field measurements at marine CO

Language: Английский

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