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

Journal of Ecology, Год журнала: 2014, Номер 102(2), С. 275 - 301

Опубликована: Фев. 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.

Язык: Английский

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TRY – a global database of plant traits

Global Change Biology, Год журнала: 2011, Номер 17(9), С. 2905 - 2935

Опубликована: Апрель 26, 2011

Abstract Plant traits – the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants their organs determine how primary producers respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, influence ecosystem processes services provide a link from species richness functional diversity. Trait data thus represent raw material for wide range research evolutionary biology, community ecology biogeography. Here we present global database initiative named TRY, which has united plant trait worldwide gained an unprecedented buy‐in data: so far 93 databases have been contributed. The repository currently contains almost three million entries 69 000 out world's 300 species, with focus on 52 groups characterizing vegetative regeneration stages life cycle, including growth, dispersal, establishment persistence. A first analysis shows that most are approximately log‐normally distributed, widely differing ranges variation across traits. Most is between (interspecific), but significant intraspecific also documented, up 40% overall variation. types (PFTs), as commonly used in vegetation models, capture substantial fraction observed several occurs within PFTs, 75% In context models these would better be represented by state variables rather than fixed parameter values. improved availability unified expected support paradigm shift trait‐based ecology, offer new opportunities synthetic enable more realistic empirically grounded representation terrestrial Earth system models.

Язык: Английский

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Community assembly, coexistence and the environmental filtering metaphor

Functional Ecology, Год журнала: 2014, Номер 29(5), С. 592 - 599

Опубликована: Сен. 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.

Язык: Английский

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Rethinking Community Assembly through the Lens of Coexistence Theory

Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics, Год журнала: 2012, Номер 43(1), С. 227 - 248

Опубликована: Авг. 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.

Язык: Английский

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Functional Traits and Niche-Based Tree Community Assembly in an Amazonian Forest

Science, Год журнала: 2008, Номер 322(5901), С. 580 - 582

Опубликована: Окт. 23, 2008

It is debated whether species-level differences in ecological strategy, which play a key role much of coexistence theory, are important structuring highly diverse communities. We examined the co-occurrence patterns over 1100 tree species 25-hectare Amazonian forest plot relation to field-measured functional traits. Using null model approach, we show that co-occurring trees often less ecologically similar than niche-free (neutral) predicts. Furthermore, find evidence for processes simultaneously drive convergence and divergence aspects plant suggesting at least two distinct niche-based occurring. Our results strategy differentiation among contributes maintenance diversity one most tropical forests world.

Язык: Английский

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Plant functional traits have globally consistent effects on competition

Nature, Год журнала: 2015, Номер 529(7585), С. 204 - 207

Опубликована: Дек. 23, 2015

Язык: Английский

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Using null models to disentangle variation in community dissimilarity from variation in α-diversity

Ecosphere, Год журнала: 2011, Номер 2(2), С. art24 - art24

Опубликована: Фев. 1, 2011

β-diversity represents the compositional variation among communities from site-to-site, linking local (α-diversity) and regional (γ-diversity). Researchers often desire to compare values of across localities or experimental treatments, use this comparison infer possible mechanisms community assembly. However, majority metrics used estimate β-diversity, including most dissimilarity (e.g., Jaccard's Sørenson's index), can vary simply because changes in other two diversity components (α γ-diversity). Here, we overview utility taking a null model approach that allows one discern whether measured results more underlying structure by which vary, instead due difference α-diversity treatments. We illustrate particular approach, originally developed Raup Crick (1979) paleontological literature, creates re-scaled probability metric ranging −1 1, indicating are dissimilar (approaching 1), as 0), less −1), than expected random chance. The value provides some indication assembly, degree deterministic processes create deviate those based on stochastic (null) expectations. demonstrate when compared analyses index with case studies disparate empirical systems (coral reefs freshwater ponds) differ disturbance altered α-diversity, well selectivity acted members community.

Язык: Английский

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Global climatic drivers of leaf size

Science, Год журнала: 2017, Номер 357(6354), С. 917 - 921

Опубликована: Авг. 31, 2017

Leaf size varies by over a 100,000-fold among species worldwide. Although 19th-century plant geographers noted that the wet tropics harbor plants with exceptionally large leaves, latitudinal gradient of leaf has not been well quantified nor key climatic drivers convincingly identified. Here, we characterize worldwide patterns in size. Large-leaved predominate wet, hot, sunny environments; small-leaved typify environments only arid conditions; small leaves are also found high latitudes and elevations. By modeling balance energy inputs outputs, show daytime nighttime leaf-to-air temperature differences to geographic gradients This knowledge can enrich "next-generation" vegetation models which water use during photosynthesis play roles.

Язык: Английский

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How do traits vary across ecological scales? A case for trait‐based ecology

Ecology Letters, Год журнала: 2010, Номер 13(7), С. 838 - 848

Опубликована: Май 12, 2010

Despite the increasing importance of functional traits for study plant ecology, we do not know how variation in a given trait changes across ecological scales, which prevents us from assessing potential scale-dependent aspects variation. To address this deficiency, partitioned variance two key (leaf mass area and leaf dry matter content) six nested scales (site, plot, species, tree, strata leaf) lowland tropical rainforests. In both traits, plot level shows virtually no despite high species turnover among plots size within-species + tree) is comparable with that The lack at brings substantial support to idea trait-based environmental filtering plays central role community assembly. These results finding amount interspecific shift focus species-based ecology.

Язык: Английский

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Revisiting the Holy Grail: using plant functional traits to understand ecological processes

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Год журнала: 2016, Номер 92(2), С. 1156 - 1173

Опубликована: Апрель 22, 2016

ABSTRACT One of ecology's grand challenges is developing general rules to explain and predict highly complex systems. Understanding predicting ecological processes from species' traits has been considered a ‘ H oly G rail’ in ecology. Plant functional are increasingly being used develop mechanistic models that can how communities will respond abiotic biotic perturbations species affect ecosystem function services rapidly changing world; however, significant remain. In this review, we highlight recent work outstanding questions three areas: ( i ) selecting relevant traits; ii describing intraspecific trait variation incorporating into models; iii scaling data community‐ ecosystem‐level processes. Over the past decade, there have advances characterization plant strategies based on relationships, integration multivariate indices community function. However, utility trait‐based approaches ecology benefit efforts demonstrate these influence organismal, community, across vegetation types, which may be achieved through meta‐analysis enhancement databases. Additionally, interactions need incorporated predictive using tools such as Bayesian hierarchical modelling. Finally, existing linking empirically tested for their applicability realized.

Язык: Английский

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