The world‐wide ‘fast–slow’ plant economics spectrum: a traits manifesto

Journal of Ecology, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 102(2), P. 275 - 301

Published: Feb. 19, 2014

Summary The leaf economics spectrum (LES) provides a useful framework for examining species strategies as shaped by their evolutionary history. However, that spectrum, originally described, involved only two key resources (carbon and nutrients) one of three economically important plant organs. Herein, I evaluate whether the idea can be broadly extended to water – third resource –stems, roots entire plants individual, community ecosystem scales. My overarching hypothesis is strong selection along trait trade‐off axes, in tandem with biophysical constraints, results convergence any taxon on uniformly fast, medium or slow strategy (i.e. rates acquisition processing) all organs resources. Evidence economic spectra exists stems well leaves, traits related carbon nutrients. These apply generally within across scales (within communities, climate zones, biomes lineages). There are linkages coupling among resources, resulting an integrated whole‐plant spectrum. Species capable moving rapidly have low tissue density, short life span high flux at organ individual reverse true strategy. Different may different conditions, but being fast respect requires others, general feature species. Economic influence performance fitness consistent trait‐based theory about underlying adaptive mechanisms. Traits help explain differences growth survival gradients thus distribution assembly communities light, nutrient gradients. scale up associated faster processes such decomposition primary productivity, process rates. Synthesis . matter. A single ‘fast–slow’ integrates universe helps ecological strategies, functioning ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Community assembly, coexistence and the environmental filtering metaphor

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 29(5), P. 592 - 599

Published: Sept. 16, 2014

Summary One of the most pervasive concepts in study community assembly is metaphor environmental filter, which refers to abiotic factors that prevent establishment or persistence species a particular location. The has its origins change during succession and plant dynamics, although it gained considerable attention recently as part surge interest functional trait phylogenetic‐based approaches communities. While filtering clear utility some circumstances, been challenging reconcile concept with recent developments ecological theory related coexistence. These advances suggest evidence used many studies assess insufficient distinguish from outcome biotic interactions. We re‐examine perspective coexistence theory. In an effort move discussion forward, we present simple framework for considering role environment shaping membership, review literature document typically highlight research challenges address coming years. current usage term empirical likely overstates tolerances play structure. recommend ‘environmental filtering’ only be refer cases where prevents absence interactions, 15% our presented such evidence. Finally, urge ecologists consider additional mechanisms aside by can shape pattern.

Language: Английский

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Rethinking Community Assembly through the Lens of Coexistence Theory

Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics, Journal Year: 2012, Volume and Issue: 43(1), P. 227 - 248

Published: Aug. 30, 2012

Although research on the role of competitive interactions during community assembly began decades ago, a recent revival interest has led to new discoveries and opportunities. Using contemporary coexistence theory that emphasizes stabilizing niche differences relative fitness differences, we evaluate three empirical approaches for studying assembly. We show experimental manipulations abiotic or biotic environment, assessments trait-phylogeny-environment relationships, investigations frequency-dependent population growth all suggest strong influences outcome plant Nonetheless, due limitations these applied in isolation, still have poor understanding which axes traits determine competition structure. Combining current represents our best chance achieving this goal, is fundamental conceptual ecology management communities under global change.

Language: Английский

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Disentangling the Drivers of β Diversity Along Latitudinal and Elevational Gradients

Science, Journal Year: 2011, Volume and Issue: 333(6050), P. 1755 - 1758

Published: Sept. 22, 2011

Understanding spatial variation in biodiversity along environmental gradients is a central theme ecology. Differences species compositional turnover among sites (β diversity) occurring are often used to infer the processes structuring communities. Here, we show that sampling alone predicts changes β diversity caused simply by sizes of pools. For example, forest inventories sampled latitudinal and elevational well-documented pattern higher tropics at low elevations. However, after correcting for pooled richness (γ diversity), these differences disappear. Therefore, there no need invoke mechanisms community assembly temperate versus tropical systems explain global-scale patterns diversity.

Language: Английский

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Should Environmental Filtering be Abandoned?

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 32(6), P. 429 - 437

Published: March 29, 2017

Language: Английский

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Relationships between phyllosphere bacterial communities and plant functional traits in a neotropical forest

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 111(38), P. 13715 - 13720

Published: Sept. 15, 2014

The phyllosphere--the aerial surfaces of plants, including leaves--is a ubiquitous global habitat that harbors diverse bacterial communities. Phyllosphere communities have the potential to influence plant biogeography and ecosystem function through their on fitness hosts, but host attributes drive community assembly in phyllosphere are poorly understood. In this study we used high-throughput sequencing quantify structure leaves 57 tree species neotropical forest Panama. We tested for relationships between functional traits, taxonomy, phylogeny hosts. Bacterial tropical were diverse; from individual trees more than 400 taxa. dominated by core microbiome taxa Actinobacteria, Alpha-, Beta-, Gammaproteobacteria, Sphingobacteria. Host taxonomic identity, phylogeny, growth mortality rates, wood density, leaf mass per area, nitrogen phosphorous concentrations correlated with leaves. relative abundances several suites traits related major axes trait variation, economics spectrum density-growth/mortality tradeoff. These correlations diversity growth, mortality, suggest incorporating information plant-microbe associations will improve our ability understand drivers variation function.

Language: Английский

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Phylogenetic diversity and the functioning of ecosystems

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2012, Volume and Issue: 15(7), P. 637 - 648

Published: May 15, 2012

Phylogenetic diversity (PD) describes the total amount of phylogenetic distance among species in a community. Although there has been substantial research on factors that determine community PD, exploration consequences PD for ecosystem functioning is just beginning. We argue may be useful predicting functions range communities, from single-trophic to complex networks. Many traits show signal, suggesting can estimate functional trait space community, and thus functioning. Phylogeny also determines interactions species, so could help predict how extinctions cascade through ecological networks impact functions. initial evidence available suggests patterns consistent with these predictions, we caution utility depends critically strength signals both interactions. advocate synthetic approach incorporates deeper understanding are shaped by evolution, outline key areas future research. If complexities incorporated into studies, relationships between function bear promise conceptually unifying evolutionary biology ecology.

Language: Английский

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Trait‐based tests of coexistence mechanisms

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2013, Volume and Issue: 16(10), P. 1294 - 1306

Published: Aug. 4, 2013

Abstract Recent functional trait studies have shown that differences may favour certain species (environmental filtering) while simultaneously preventing competitive exclusion (niche partitioning). However, phenomenological trait‐dispersion analyses do not identify the mechanisms generate niche partitioning, trait‐based prediction of future changes in biodiversity. We argue such predictions require linking traits with recognised coexistence involving spatial or temporal environmental heterogeneity, resource partitioning and natural enemies. first demonstrate limitations approaches using simulations, then (1) propose tests coexistence, (2) hypotheses about which plant are likely to interact particular (3) review literature for evidence these hypotheses. Theory data suggest all four classes could act on variation, but some will be stronger more widespread than others. The highest priority research is interactions between heterogeneity variation measure variables at within‐community scales quantify species' responses environment absence competition. Evidence similar operate many ecosystems would simplify biodiversity forecasting represent a rare victory generality over contingency community ecology.

Language: Английский

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Endemism and functional convergence across the North American soil mycobiome

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 111(17), P. 6341 - 6346

Published: April 14, 2014

Significance Microbes control vital ecosystem processes like carbon storage and nutrient recycling. Although megadiversity is a hallmark of microbial communities in nature, we still do not know how diversity determines function. We addressed this issue by isolating different geographic local hypothesized to shape fungal community composition activity pine forests across the continental United States. soil enzyme varied soils according resource availability, was similar communities. These observations indicate that much plays an equal role biogeochemical cycles. However, vary dramatically space, indicating individual species are endemic bioregions within North American continent.

Language: Английский

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Community assembly along a soil depth gradient: contrasting patterns of plant trait convergence and divergence in a Mediterranean rangeland

Journal of Ecology, Journal Year: 2012, Volume and Issue: 100(6), P. 1422 - 1433

Published: Oct. 19, 2012

Summary Understanding how environmental factors drive plant community assembly remains a major challenge in ecology. The strength of different processes along gradients, such as filtering and functional niche differentiation, can be quantified by analysing trait distributions communities. While affects species occurrence among communities, divergence or convergence is strongly related to abundances within which few studies have taken into account. We examine the trait‐mediated effect these two stress‐resource gradient. measured eight traits vegetative regenerative phases communities gradient soil depth resource availability Mediterranean rangelands. filtering, defined local restriction range, divergence, based on abundance‐weighted variance, using two‐step approach with specifically designed null models. Communities presented clear response gradient, evidenced strong trends community‐weighted means. detected at both ends suggesting that, contrary widespread expectations, may not necessarily result abiotic under harsh conditions but could likely also from biotic interactions productive habitats. found marked shifts abundance Vegetative (e.g. leaf dry matter content) diverged shallow soils, reflecting coexistence distinct water‐ nutrient‐use strategies constrained habitats converged increasing availability. By contrast, seed mass) tended diverge towards deeper while reproductive heights all Synthesis : Our study highlights combination data capturing niches critical detection complex responses gradients. demonstrate that patterns are contingent environment there no expectation simple trend decreasing

Language: Английский

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