Response-effect trait overlap and correlation in riparian plant communities suggests sensitivity of ecosystem functioning and services to environmental change

Portela, Ana Paula; Durance, Isabelle; Vieira, Cristiana; Honrado, João P.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160549

Cited by 6 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 81 publications

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“…Prioritising use of the term functional trait could promote consistency among disciplines as well as collaborative interdisciplinary research (e.g., Carmona et al., 2021). Although the response–effect trait framework represents an informative approach, its implementation in freshwater organisms could be challenging due to the limited knowledge of traits explaining the role of most freshwater taxa in ecosystem processes and the potential overlap between response and effect traits (Portela et al., 2022). Nonetheless, the use of the overarching term functional trait accommodates progressive adoption of response and effect trait terms in freshwater science for a range of organisms (Bruno et al., 2016; Engelhardt, 2006; Hose et al., 2022), which could enable a fuller realisation of the potential of trait‐based approaches.…”

Section: Recommendations For the Use Of Trait Terminology In Freshwat...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of trait concepts and terminology in freshwater ecology: Historic, current, and future perspectives

Gutiérrez‐Cánovas,

Stubbington,

von Schiller

et al. 2024

Freshwater Biology

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Trait‐based approaches have received increasing interest among freshwater scientists given their capacity to predict community structure and biodiversity effects on ecosystem functioning. However, the inconsistent development and use of trait concepts and terms across freshwater scientific disciplines may have limited realisation of the potential of traits. Here, we reviewed trait definitions and terms use to provide recommendations for their consistent application in freshwater science. To do so, we first reviewed literature to identify established trait definitions, historical and current use of trait terms and challenges restricting the application of trait‐based approaches in freshwater science. Next, we surveyed 414 freshwater researchers from 54 countries to assess variability in the current use of trait terminology in relation to respondent characteristics (i.e., professional experience, geographical region, research discipline, and focal freshwater ecosystem, biotic group, and ecosystem function). Our literature review identified two well‐established trait definitions, which emphasise individual phenotypic characteristics that influence either eco‐evolutionary aspects (i.e., organism performance and fitness) or ecosystem dynamics and processes (i.e., responses to the environment and/or effects on ecosystem functioning). Publications used a range of trait‐related terms and their frequency of use varied among scientific fields. The term functional trait dominated fields such as biodiversity conservation, environmental sciences and ecology, plant sciences and microbiology. In contrast, the terms biological trait, functional trait, and species trait were used with similar frequencies in fields such as entomology, fisheries, marine and freshwater biology, and zoology. We also found that well‐established trait definitions are difficult to apply to freshwater unicellular organisms, colonial multicellular organisms, genomic information, and cultural traits. Our survey revealed highly inconsistent use of trait terms among freshwater researchers. Terms including biological trait, functional trait, structural measure, and ecosystem function were commonly used to describe the same traits or functions. Variability in the use of terms was generally explained by research discipline, geographical region, and focal biotic group and ecosystem functions. We propose making the trait concept flexible enough to be applicable to all freshwater biota and their characteristics, while keeping and integrating links to eco‐evolutionary and ecosystem aspects. Specifically, our new definition expands the established functional trait definition by considering also supra‐individual scales of trait measurement (colonial‐ or community‐mean traits), genotypic traits (e.g., functional gene markers of enzymes) and cultural traits (e.g., feeding behaviours, communication skills). To reduce terminological ambiguity, we also recommend that researchers define trait terms, prioritising the use of functional trait as an overarching term over alternative terms (e.g., biological trait), and restricting specific terms (e.g., morphological trait) to situations in which such precision is desirable. The findings of our integrative study could help to improve terminological consistency across freshwater disciplines and to better recognise the potential of traits to elucidate the mechanisms behind ecological patterns.

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Section: Recommendations For the Use Of Trait Terminology In Freshwat...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of trait concepts and terminology in freshwater ecology: Historic, current, and future perspectives

Gutiérrez‐Cánovas,

Stubbington,

von Schiller

et al. 2024

Freshwater Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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Riparian plant-soil-microbial C:N:P stoichiometry: are they conserved at plant functional group level?

Li,

Liu,

Chen

et al. 2024

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Impact of abandonment on leaf morphology traits and nutrient utilization strategies of dominant tree seedlings in Moso bamboo forests

Zhang,

Guo,

Chen

et al. 2024

Global Ecology and Conservation

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Response-effect trait overlap and correlation in riparian plant communities suggests sensitivity of ecosystem functioning and services to environmental change

Cited by 6 publications

References 81 publications

Use of trait concepts and terminology in freshwater ecology: Historic, current, and future perspectives

Use of trait concepts and terminology in freshwater ecology: Historic, current, and future perspectives

Riparian plant-soil-microbial C:N:P stoichiometry: are they conserved at plant functional group level?

Impact of abandonment on leaf morphology traits and nutrient utilization strategies of dominant tree seedlings in Moso bamboo forests

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