Diet tracing in ecology: Method comparison and selection

Methods in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 9(2), P. 278 - 291

Published: Aug. 14, 2017

Abstract Determining diet is a key prerequisite for understanding species interactions, food web structure and ecological dynamics. In recent years, there has been considerable development in both the methodology application of novel more traditional dietary tracing methods, yet no comprehensive synthesis that systematically quantitatively compares different approaches. Here we conceptualise ecology, provide recommendations method selection, illustrate advantages integration. We summarise empirical evidence on how methods quantify mixtures, by contrasting estimates proportions from multiple applied to same consumer‐resource datasets, or experimental studies with known compositions. Our data revealed an urgent need experiential comparisons among methods. The comparison quantifications field observations showed techniques aligned well cases less than six items, but diverged considerably when complex mixtures. Efforts are ongoing further advance estimation, including reliably compound specific stable isotope analyses fatty acid profiles can prey items bulk analyses. Similarly, DNA analyses, which depict trophic interactions at higher resolution any other method, generating new ways better diets differentiate life‐stages prey. Such efforts, combined testing each establishment open repositories data, promise greatly community ecosystem ecology.

Language: Английский

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Traits Without Borders: Integrating Functional Diversity Across Scales

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 31(5), P. 382 - 394

Published: April 25, 2016

Language: Английский

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Hypervolume concepts in niche‐ and trait‐based ecology

Ecography, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 41(9), P. 1441 - 1455

Published: Sept. 22, 2017

Hutchinson's n ‐dimensional hypervolume concept for the interpretation of niches as geometric shapes has provided a foundation research across different fields ecology and evolution. There is now an expanding set applications concepts, well growing statistical methods available to operationalize this with data. The been applied environmental, resource, functional trait, morphometric axes scales, i.e. from individuals, species, communities clades. Further, these have variously interpreted niches, ecological or evolutionary strategy spaces, proxies community structure. This paper highlights applications’ shared mathematical framework, surveys uses fields, discusses key limitations assumptions concepts in general, provides critical guide estimation methods, delineates situations where can be useful.

Language: Английский

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New approaches for delineating n ‐dimensional hypervolumes

Methods in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 9(2), P. 305 - 319

Published: Aug. 10, 2017

Abstract Hutchinson's n ‐dimensional hypervolume concept underlies many applications in contemporary ecology and evolutionary biology. Estimating hypervolumes from sampled data has been an ongoing challenge due to conceptual computational issues. We present new algorithms for delineating the boundaries probability density within hypervolumes. The methods produce smooth that can fit either more loosely (Gaussian kernel estimation) or tightly (one‐classification via support vector machine). Further, accept abundance‐weighted data, resulting be given a probabilistic interpretation projected into geographic space. demonstrate properties of these on large dataset characterises functional traits distribution thousands plants. are available version ≥2.0.7 r package. These provide: (i) robust approach shape hypervolumes; (ii) efficient performance high‐dimensional datasets; (iii) improved measures diversity environmental niche breadth.

Language: Английский

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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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Quantifying the multiple facets of isotopic diversity: New metrics for stable isotope ecology

Ecological Indicators, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 56, P. 152 - 160

Published: May 15, 2015

Language: Английский

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Studying animal niches using bulk stable isotope ratios: an updated synthesis

Oecologia, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 193(1), P. 27 - 51

Published: May 1, 2020

Language: Английский

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Functional diversity metrics using kernel density n‐dimensional hypervolumes

Methods in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 11(8), P. 986 - 995

Published: May 29, 2020

Abstract The use of n ‐dimensional hypervolumes in trait‐based ecology is rapidly increasing. By representing the functional space a species or community as Hutchinsonian niche, abstract Euclidean defined by set independent axes corresponding to individuals traits, these multidimensional techniques show great potential for advance theory. In panorama existing methods delineating spaces, r package hypervolume ( Global Ecology and Biogeography , 23, 2014, 595–609) currently most used. However, functions calculating standard diversity (FD) indices—richness, divergence regularity—have not been developed within framework yet. This gap delaying its full exploitation ecology, meanwhile preventing possibility compare performance with that other methods. We develop calculate FD indices based on hypervolumes, including alpha (richness), beta (and respective components), dispersion, evenness, contribution originality. Altogether, provide coherent explore primary mathematical components setting. These new can work either objects raw data (species presence abundance their traits) input data, are versatile terms parameters options. implemented bat (Biodiversity Assessment Tools), an biodiversity assessments. As corpus common algorithm, it opens fully strengths niche concept research.

Language: Английский

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Trait probability density (TPD): measuring functional diversity across scales based on TPD with R

Ecology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 100(12)

Published: Aug. 31, 2019

Functional diversity (FD) has the potential to address many ecological questions, from impacts of global change on biodiversity restoration. There are several methods estimating different components FD. However, most these can only be computed at limited spatial scales and cannot account for intraspecific trait variability (ITV), despite its significant contribution Trait probability density (TPD) functions (which explicitly ITV) reflect probabilistic nature niches. By doing so, TPD approach reconciles existing FD within a unifying framework, allowing partitioned seamlessly across multiple (from individuals species, local scales), accounting ITV. We present estimate implementations concepts, including primary (functional richness, evenness, divergence), functional redundancy, rarity, solutions decompose beta into nested unique components. The framework unify expand analyses ecology scales, capturing multidimensional R package (https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=TPD) will allow users achieve more comparative results regions case studies.

Language: Английский

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Habitat filtering not dispersal limitation shapes oceanic island floras: species assembly of the Galápagos archipelago

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 20(4), P. 495 - 504

Published: March 10, 2017

Abstract Remote locations, such as oceanic islands, typically harbour relatively few species, some of which go on to generate endemic radiations. Species colonising these locations tend be a non‐random subset from source communities, is thought reflect dispersal limitation. However, colonisation could also result habitat filtering, whereby only continental species can become established. We evaluate the imprints processes Galápagos flora by analysing comprehensive regional phylogeny for ~ 39 000 alongside information strategies and climatic suitability. found that filtering was more important than limitation in determining composition. This finding may help explain why adaptive radiation common archipelagoes – because poor dispersers with specific niche requirements. suggest standard assumption plant communities remote are primarily shaped deserves reconsideration.

Language: Английский

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