The what, how, and why of trait‐based analyses in ecology

Ecography, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Апрель 8, 2025

Functional diversity is increasingly used alongside taxonomic to describe populations and communities in ecology. Indeed, functional metrics allow researchers summarise complex occupancy patterns space and/or time across response various stressors. In other words, investigating what, how, why something changing an ecosystem by looking at changes of under a certain process through specific mechanism. However, as the methods increases, it often not directly clear which metric more readily appropriate for question. We studied ability different recover signals from processes linked common assembly mechanisms community ecology, such environmental filtering, competitive exclusion, equalising fitness, facilitation. Using both simulated data empirical dataset affected nuanced mechanisms, we tested effectiveness or changes. show that perform differently when trying capture approximations relative no mechanism all (null). For example, competition was harder disentangle null compared facilitation our simulations. This emphasises importance using one‐size‐fits‐all metric. Instead, should carefully consider test whether particular will be effective capturing pattern interest.

Язык: Английский

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The complex effects of mass extinctions on morphological disparity

Evolution, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 74(10), С. 2207 - 2220

Опубликована: Авг. 10, 2020

Studies of biodiversity through deep time have been a staple for biologists and paleontologists over 60 years. Investigations species richness (diversity) revealed that at least five mass extinctions punctuated the last half billion years, each seeing rapid demise large proportion contemporary taxa. In contrast to diversity, response morphological diversity (disparity) is unclear. Generally, disparity are decoupled, such may decline as increases, vice versa. Here, we develop simulations model changes across using continuous traits birth-death trees. We find no simple null change following extinction but do observe general patterns. The range trait values decreases either random or trait-selective extinctions, whereas variance density morphospace occupation only events. General trends differentiate methods struggle identify selectivity. Long-term effects selectivity support phylogenetic comparative away from simulated Brownian motion toward Ornstein-Uhlenbeck Early Burst models. best studied by quantifying multiple aspects occupation.

Язык: Английский

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N‐dimensional hypervolumes in trait‐based ecology: Does occupancy rate matter?

Functional Ecology, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 37(7), С. 1802 - 1814

Опубликована: Май 7, 2023

Abstract Many methods for estimating the functional diversity of biological communities rely on measuring geometrical properties n‐dimensional hypervolumes in a trait space. To date, these are calculated from individual or their pairwise combinations. Our capacity to detect patterns due overlap multiple is, thus, limited. Here, we propose new approach set hypervolumes. We concept occupancy rate, defined as mean absolute number enclosing given point Furthermore, describe permutation test identify regions space which rate two sets differs. illustrate utility our over existing with examples aquatic macroinvertebrates. The first example shows how relates stability utilisation increased flow intermittency and allows identification taxa low rates. second based rates can differences river morphology variation even high degree among input newly developed is particularly suitable analysis when investigating emphasise need consider analyses into estimation. Read free Plain Language Summary this article Journal blog.

Язык: Английский

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Ecospace occupancy and disparity in Pleistocene large carnivorans of Europe and implications for hominin dispersal and ecological role

Quaternary Science Reviews, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 329, С. 108562 - 108562

Опубликована: Фев. 29, 2024

The evolution of large mammal faunas during the Pleistocene Europe has been widely investigated using taxonomical and/or ecological-functional categories, with special emphasis on implications for reconstructing hominin dispersal and ecological role. Here, an ecospace modelling approach is first time applied to carnivorans Europe. Examining occupancy disparity through effectively conveys major aspects faunal dynamics, while offering new insights into species relationships from a trait-space-explicit perspective. Several replacements occurred within-family concerned similar functional role, but between-family competition was also important, especially hyaenids. When hominins dispersed Early Pleistocene, middle size that are deemed either highly social active hunters or primarily scavengers were both lacking, substantial vacuum could have filled by newcomers. Hominins then became widespread since Middle when decrease density documented. This suggests adaptability, mainly behavioural hominins, ecomorphological other species, might key survival, in more unstable conditions encountered latest Pleistocene. uncertainty categorising ecology extinct limitation shared previous studies, reducing this multidimensional problem one facilitates addressing main pattern future assessment.

Язык: Английский

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The stem-archosaur evolutionary radiation in South America

Journal of South American Earth Sciences, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 105, С. 102935 - 102935

Опубликована: Окт. 7, 2020

Язык: Английский

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