The dimensionality and structure of species trait spaces

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 24(9), P. 1988 - 2009

Published: May 20, 2021

Abstract Trait‐based ecology aims to understand the processes that generate overarching diversity of organismal traits and their influence on ecosystem functioning. Achieving this goal requires simplifying complexity in synthetic axes defining a trait space cluster species based while identifying those with unique combinations traits. However, so far, we know little about dimensionality, robustness omission structure these spaces. Here, propose unified framework synthesis across 30 datasets representing broad variety taxa, ecosystems spatial scales show common trade‐off between quality operationality appears three six dimensions. The is generally low but highly variable among datasets. We also highlight invariant scaling relationships, whatever complexity, number clusters, dominant total richness. When richness increases, saturates, whereas tend disproportionately pack richest cluster. Based results, some rules thumb build spaces estimate subsequent functional indices.

Language: Английский

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Fishing for fish environmental DNA: Ecological applications, methodological considerations, surveying designs, and ways forward

Molecular Ecology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 31(20), P. 5132 - 5164

Published: Aug. 16, 2022

Abstract Vast global declines of freshwater and marine fish diversity population abundance pose serious threats to both ecosystem sustainability human livelihoods. Environmental DNA (eDNA)‐based biomonitoring provides robust, efficient, cost‐effective assessment species occurrences trends in diverse aquatic environments. Thus, it holds great potential for improving conventional surveillance frameworks facilitate conservation fisheries management. However, the many technical considerations rapid developments underway eDNA arena can overwhelm researchers practitioners new field. Here, we systematically analysed 416 studies summarize research terms investigated targets, aims, study systems, reviewed applications, rationales, methodological considerations, limitations methods with an emphasis on research. We highlighted how technology may advance our knowledge behaviour, distributions, genetics, community structures, ecological interactions. also synthesized current several important concerns, including qualitative quantitative power has recover biodiversity abundance, spatial temporal representations respect its sources. To applications implementing techniques, recent literature was summarized generate guidelines effective sampling lentic, lotic, habitats. Finally, identified gaps limitations, pointed out newly emerging avenues eDNA. As optimization standardization improve, should revolutionize monitoring promote management that transcends geographic boundaries.

Language: Английский

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Hotspots for social and ecological impacts from freshwater stress and storage loss

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 13(1)

Published: Jan. 21, 2022

Abstract Humans and ecosystems are deeply connected to, through, the hydrological cycle. However, impacts of change on social ecological systems infrequently evaluated together at global scale. Here, we focus potential for from freshwater stress storage loss. We find basins with existing drying (losing storage) disproportionately, exacerbating challenges facing water stressed versus non-stressed world. map gradient in social-ecological vulnerability to loss identify hotspot prioritization ( n = 168). These most-vulnerable encompass over 1.5 billion people, 17% food crop production, 13% gross domestic product, hundreds significant wetlands. There thus substantial benefits reducing basins, which can be achieved through hydro-diplomacy, adaptive capacity building, integrated resources management practices.

Language: Английский

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Freshwater Fish Invasions: A Comprehensive Review

Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 53(1), P. 427 - 456

Published: Sept. 3, 2022

Freshwater fish have been widely introduced worldwide, and freshwater ecosystems are among those most affected by biological invasions. Consequently, invasions one of the documented animal taxa, with much information available about invasive species, their characteristics, invaded regions, invasion pathways, impacts, management. While existing reviews address specific aspects invasions, there is still a gaping lack comprehensive assessments that simultaneously pivotal connected elements process. Here, we provide holistic review, together quantitative assessments, divided into four major parts: ( a) introduction b) characteristics nonnative species andinvaded explain successful processes, c) impacts mechanisms, d) We highlight data gaps biases in current databases basic understanding several In addition, recommendations for future studies.

Language: Английский

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Biotic homogenisation and differentiation as directional change in beta diversity: synthesising driver–response relationships to develop conceptual models across ecosystems

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 98(4), P. 1388 - 1423

Published: April 18, 2023

ABSTRACT Biotic homogenisation is defined as decreasing dissimilarity among ecological assemblages sampled within a given spatial area over time. differentiation, in turn, increasing Overall, changes the dissimilarities (termed ‘beta diversity’) an increasingly recognised feature of broader biodiversity change Anthropocene. Empirical evidence biotic and differentiation remains scattered across different ecosystems. Most meta‐analyses quantify prevalence direction beta diversity, rather than attempting to identify underlying drivers such changes. By conceptualising mechanisms that contribute or composition space, environmental managers conservation practitioners can make informed decisions about what interventions may be required sustain predict potential outcomes future disturbances. We systematically reviewed synthesised published empirical for terrestrial, marine, freshwater realms derive conceptual models explain diversity. pursued five key themes our review: ( i ) temporal change; ii disturbance regime; iii connectivity alteration species redistribution; iv habitat v trophic interactions. Our first model highlights how occur function local (alpha) diversity regional (gamma) independently invasions losses due occurrence assemblages. Second, magnitude depends on interaction between variation (patchiness) (synchronicity) events. Third, context redistribution, divergent have dispersal characteristics, associated with also strongly alpha gamma prior invasion. Fourth, positively linked variability, when heterogeneity decreases increases, respectively. Fifth, interactions influence via modification, disease, consumption (trophic dynamics), competition, by altering ecosystem productivity. synthesis multitude cause more less spatially similar (taxonomically, functionally, phylogenetically) through consider studies should aim enhance collective understanding systems clarifying driving focusing only reporting per se .

Language: Английский

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Rural depopulation has reshaped the plant diversity distribution pattern in China

Resources Conservation and Recycling, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 215, P. 108054 - 108054

Published: Dec. 12, 2024

Language: Английский

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Meta-analysis reveals global variations in plant diversity effects on productivity

Nature, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 8, 2025

Language: Английский

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The global human impact on biodiversity

Nature, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 26, 2025

Abstract Human activities drive a wide range of environmental pressures, including habitat change, pollution and climate resulting in unprecedented effects on biodiversity 1,2 . However, despite decades research, generalizations the dimensions extent human impacts remain ambiguous. Mixed views persist trajectory at local scale 3 even more so biotic homogenization across space 4,5 We compiled 2,133 publications covering 97,783 impacted reference sites, creating an unparallelled dataset 3,667 independent comparisons all main organismal groups, habitats five most predominant pressures 1,6 For comparisons, we quantified three key measures to assess how these shifts composition biological communities changes diversity, respectively. show that distinctly shift community decrease diversity terrestrial, freshwater marine ecosystems. Yet, contrary long-standing expectations, there is no clear general communities. Critically, direction magnitude vary organisms scales which they are studied. Our exhaustive global analysis reveals impact mediating factors can benchmark conservation strategies.

Language: Английский

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Assemblage-based biomonitoring of freshwater ecosystem health via multimetric indices: A critical review and suggestions for improving their applicability

Water Biology and Security, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 1(3), P. 100054 - 100054

Published: May 29, 2022

Freshwater biota are more comprehensive and direct indicators of biological impacts, meaningful to the public than water quality or physical habitat surrogates. biotic data multiple developed from them offer a much richer array for assessing impacts pollution controls limited set chemical measures. In recent decades, assemblage-based assessments by ecologists, environmental scientists, agencies have been employed globally determining condition of, threats to, freshwater ecosystems. A key step in this advance has development multimetric indices (MMIs) integrity (IBIs) based on quantitative algae, macrophyte, macroinvertebrate, fish riparian bird assemblages. Europe, where assemblages mandated ecosystem health, many multimetric. However, proliferation MMIs not always occurred through application rigorous study designs monitoring protocols, nor they effectively incorporated functional metrics, stressor assessments, statistical analyses. Therefore, review, we discuss eleven major concerns with (including logistical limitations) encourage widely applicable (transferable) MMI use implementation. Specifically, our focus reference conditions; sampling effort, methods, season; trophic guild definition; metric comprehensiveness, options, screening scoring; validation. could also benefit increased attention ecological mechanisms development, further improve understanding anthropogenic as well rehabilitation effects ecosystems globally. Paying closer designs, should better facilitate degraded ecosystems, aiding conservation healthy

Language: Английский

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Biodiversity dynamics in the Anthropocene: how human activities change equilibria of species richness

Ecography, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 2022(4)

Published: Aug. 29, 2021

We are living in a time of rapid environmental changes caused by anthropogenic pressures. Besides direct human exploitation plant and animal populations habitat transformation, biodiversity the Anthropocene affected less trivial processes including spreading non‐native species, emergence novel communities modifications ecosystem functioning due to changing nutrient cycles climate changes. These so complex that confident predictions effective conservation cannot be obtained without suitable theory dynamics. argue such dynamics have particular attractors, i.e. stable equilibria, determined conditions. equilibria set limits, carrying capacities for biodiversity, from local global scales. point out evidence limits at various spatiotemporal scales show, using new equilibrium (ETBD), how diversity depend on non‐linear relationships between number community abundance population size‐dependent species extinction origination (speciation or colonization). show effects can lead multiple tipping points. Various activities, introductions, appropriation primary production trophic downgrading, change local, regional affecting levels. The existence out‐of‐equilibrium states has important implications conservation, restoration reconciliation ecology. It highlights need more effectively intentionally balance historical focus preservation natural habitats with management specifically directed towards responsible long‐term maintenance equilibria. represents unique situation which people make decisions concerning world, we ecological requires wisely deciding alternative worth maintaining.

Language: Английский

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