Animal functional traits: Towards a trait‐based ecology for whole ecosystems

Functional Ecology, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 37(1), С. 4 - 12

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2023

Abstract Functional traits and associated trait‐based concepts have driven rapid innovation in ecology over recent years, with most progress based on insights from plants. However, plants are almost entirely restricted to a single trophic level, an over‐reliance plant therefore neglects the complexity importance of biotic interactions across levels. The need expand focus account for has led upsurge attention animal functional emergence new relevant community ecology, macroecology ecosystem science. Recent compilation global trait datasets some taxa opened up possibilities testing ecological theory. In this Special Focus, we explore how can scope investigation multiple levels, these investigations be used upscale understanding local communities biogeographical patterns ultimately help predict impacts change functions. To address key questions, showcase studies diverse ranging size springtails crocodiles spanning levels primary consumers apex predators. This collection shows precise measurements morphological or physiological increase mechanistic assembly particularly mechanisms underpinning large‐scale biodiversity patterns. Furthermore, clearer picture is emerging systematic responses environmental that shape composition affect functioning. articles volume highlight move beyond limits taxonomic boundaries. integration data opens identifying general processes operating at different scales. identification their interplay underpin development whole ecosystems, which could eventually enable predictions ecosystem‐level consequences loss. Read free Plain Language Summary article Journal blog.

Язык: Английский

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Clustered warming tolerances and the nonlinear risks of biodiversity loss on a warming planet

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 380(1917)

Опубликована: Янв. 9, 2025

Anthropogenic climate change is projected to become a major driver of biodiversity loss, destabilizing the ecosystems on which human society depends. As planet rapidly warms, disruption ecological interactions among populations, species and their environment, will likely drive positive feedback loops, accelerating pace magnitude losses. We propose that, even without invoking such amplifying feedback, loss should increase nonlinearly with warming because non-uniform distribution biodiversity. Whether these non-uniformities are uneven populations across species’ thermal niche, or niche limits within an community, we show that in both cases, resulting clustering population tolerances drives nonlinear increases risk discuss how fundamental constraints physiologies geographical distributions give rise clustered tolerances, responses changing climates could variously temper, delay intensify dynamics. argue risks be null expectation under warming, highlight empirical research needed understand causes, commonness consequences better predict where, when why losses occur. This article part discussion meeting issue ‘Bending curve towards nature recovery: building Georgina Mace’s legacy for biodiverse future’.

Язык: Английский

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A trait‐based framework for dung beetle functional ecology

Journal of Animal Ecology, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 92(1), С. 44 - 65

Опубликована: Ноя. 28, 2022

Traits are key for understanding the environmental responses and ecological roles of organisms. Trait approaches to functional ecology well established plants, whereas consistent frameworks animal groups less developed. Here we suggest a framework study animals from trait-based response-effect approach, using dung beetles as model system. Dung group decomposers that important many ecosystem processes. The lack tailored this has limited use traits in beetle ecology. We review which respond environment affect processes, covering wide range spatial, temporal biological scales at they involved. show variation temperature, water, soil properties, trophic resources, light, vegetation structure, competition, predation parasitism. beetles' influence on processes includes trait-mediated effects nutrient cycling, bioturbation, plant growth, seed dispersal, other dung-based organisms parasite transmission, some cases pollination predation. identify 66 either response or effect traits, both, pertaining six main categories: morphology, feeding, reproduction, physiology, activity movement. Several pertain more than one category, particular relocation behaviour during nesting feeding. also 136 trait-response 77 trait-effect relationships beetles. No stressors nor over were related with single category. This highlights interrelationship between shaping body-plans, multi-functionality their role linking ecosystem. Despite current developments ecology, knowledge gaps remain, there biases towards certain functions, taxonomic regions. Our provides foundations thorough development It serves an example taxa.

Язык: Английский

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Tropical forest clearance impacts biodiversity and function, whereas logging changes structure

Science, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 387(6730), С. 171 - 175

Опубликована: Янв. 9, 2025

The impacts of degradation and deforestation on tropical forests are poorly understood, particularly at landscape scales. We present an extensive ecosystem analysis the logging conversion forest to oil palm from a large-scale study in Borneo, synthesizing responses 82 variables categorized into four ecological levels spanning broad suite properties: (i) structure environment, (ii) species traits, (iii) biodiversity, (iv) functions. Responses were highly heterogeneous often complex nonlinear. Variables that directly impacted by physical process timber extraction, such as soil structure, sensitive even moderate amounts logging, whereas measures biodiversity functioning generally resilient but more affected plantation.

Язык: Английский

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Sugar‐Rich Resources Mediate Geographic Morphological Variation in a Dominant, Neotropical Savanna Ant

Journal of Biogeography, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Фев. 18, 2025

ABSTRACT Aim Trait variation across geographic gradients can reveal how species respond to different environmental settings, which is crucial under the growing threat of climate change. Although on basis evolutionary theory, patterns and drivers intraspecific functional remain largely underexplored. In ants, pilosity body size are morphological traits associated thermoregulation heat tolerance, critical concerns in context global warming. Here, we focused dominant ant Camponotus crassus investigate trait its potential a latitudinal gradient Brazilian Cerrado savanna. Location Taxon Mayr, 1862 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Methods We measured mesosoma C. multiple sites, evaluated their relationship with temperature, rainfall, solar radiation, vegetation sugar‐rich resource variables. also assessed genetic covariation search for possible phenotypic plasticity or adaptation . Results Only resources were found significantly influence pilosity. Specifically, negative between (i.e., proportion plants extrafloral nectaries hemipteran trophobionts) was found. No dissimilarities observed, suggesting plasticity. None variables significant predict size, while this positively covaried genetics. Main Conclusions Our findings suggest availability as factor change, hypothesis previously reported literature. emphasise importance examining large scales, particularly scenario rapid change current work covers still poorly investigated aspect tropical eusocial insects, sheds new light geographical major ecosystem.

Язык: Английский

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Causes and consequences of insect decline in tropical forests

Опубликована: Апрель 4, 2025

Язык: Английский

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Fertility loss under thermal stress: males have lower fertility limits but no evidence of sex differences in sensitivity

Oikos, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 2024(4)

Опубликована: Янв. 18, 2024

Climate change models predict that the frequency and intensity of heatwaves are likely to increase, therefore understanding population responses these extreme climatic events will be key in mitigating biodiversity loss. Here, using male dimorphic bulb mite, Rhizoglyphus robini , we investigate compare impact experimental heat stress on survival fertility between females morphs differ expression a sexually selected weapon. We show lethal limits similar among all individuals, but find clear sex differences, although no difference morphs, sub‐lethal temperatures causing sterility: female remains high close limits, whereas both suffer loss at more than 2.5°C below their limits. Contrastingly, when thermal was lower sexes do not sensitivity declines reproductive output comparable. These appear additive as observe greatest were exposed stress. In addition, during assays included an extra treatment allowed individuals two days recover found almost fully recovered low, only partially under most temperatures. The appears temporary with rapidly recovering: whether recovery can negate negative level effects investigated. Our experiments reveal fertility, finding sex‐specific conditions.

Язык: Английский

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Insularization drives physiological condition of Amazonian dung beetles

Ecology and Evolution, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 13(12)

Опубликована: Дек. 1, 2023

Abstract The fragmentation and degradation of otherwise continuous natural landscapes pose serious threats to the health animal populations, consequently impairing their fitness survival. While most ecology studies focus on habitat remnants embedded withinn terrestrial matrices, effects true insularization remains poorly understood. Land‐bridge islands created by major dams leads loss fragmentation, negatively affecting biodiversity. To assess insularization, we conducted a study key aspects dung beetle physiological condition body size throughout Balbina Hydroelectric Reservoir located in Central Amazon. We assessed these traits at population assemblage levels, collecting beetles from both forest areas while analyzing various landscape variables. show that with higher cover positively affected size. Interestingly, responses were species‐dependent; larger tended host individuals Deltochilum aspericole , Canthon triangularis smaller showed sizes. However, mainland than those islands. Moreover, proportion closed‐canopy also impacted attributes. It lipid mass Dichotomius boreus but . These findings contribute better understanding how aquatic matrices affects structure physiology insect assemblages. This is essential formulating effective conservation strategies for preserving biodiversity tropical regions mitigating consequences hydropower infrastructure.

Язык: Английский

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Isopod mouthpart traits respond to a tropical forest recovery gradient

Oecologia, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 204(1), С. 147 - 159

Опубликована: Дек. 27, 2023

Язык: Английский

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Spatio-temporal modelling suggests that some dung beetle species (Coleoptera: Geotrupidae) may respond to global warming by boosting dung removal

The Science of The Total Environment, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 908, С. 168127 - 168127

Опубликована: Окт. 29, 2023

Язык: Английский

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