The more things change, the more they stay the same? When is trait variability important for stability of ecosystem function in a changing environment

Wright, Justin P.; Ames, Gregory M.; Mitchell, Rachel M.

doi:10.1098/rstb.2015.0272

Cited by 52 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…This article poses central questions which need to be addressed in order to understand whether species with greater trait variability will enhance temporal stability in their population dynamics and thus stabilize ecosystem functioning. Most central is whether species with high levels of variation for one trait regulating the response to environmental change also possess high variability in traits regulating their effect on ecosystem processes [65]. Interestingly, these three studies highlight that environmental conditions have direct as well as indirect (via changes in species richness or population traits) effects on ecosystem functions.…”

Section: Issue (2): Non-equilibrium Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Often, variation of environmental conditions in space or time causes genetic heterogeneity within populations leading to species with variable traits. One article studies the variability of traits within populations for BEF relationships [65]. This article poses central questions which need to be addressed in order to understand whether species with greater trait variability will enhance temporal stability in their population dynamics and thus stabilize ecosystem functioning.…”

Section: Issue (2): Non-equilibrium Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functimentioning

confidence: 99%

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Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in dynamic landscapes

Brose

Hillebrand

2016

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

179

168

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One contribution of 17 to a theme issue 'Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in dynamic landscapes'. The relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (BEF) and its consequence for ecosystem services has predominantly been studied by controlled, short-term and small-scale experiments under standardized environmental conditions and constant community compositions. However, changes in biodiversity occur in real-world ecosystems with varying environments and a dynamic community composition. In this theme issue, we present novel research on BEF in such dynamic communities. The contributions are organized in three sections on BEF relationships in (i) multi-trophic diversity, (ii) non-equilibrium biodiversity under disturbance and varying environmental conditions, and (iii) large spatial and long temporal scales. The first section shows that multi-trophic BEF relationships often appear idiosyncratic, while accounting for species traits enables a predictive understanding. Future BEF research on complex communities needs to include ecological theory that is based on first principles of species-averaged body masses, stoichiometry and effects of environmental conditions such as temperature. The second section illustrates that disturbance and varying environments have direct as well as indirect (via changes in species richness, community composition and species' traits) effects on BEF relationships. Fluctuations in biodiversity (species richness, community composition and also trait dominance within species) can severely modify BEF relationships. The third section demonstrates that BEF at larger spatial scales is driven by different variables. While species richness per se and community biomass are most important, species identity effects and community composition are less important than at small scales. Across long temporal scales, mass extinctions represent severe changes in biodiversity with mixed effects on ecosystem functions. Together, the contributions of this theme issue identify new research frontiers and answer some open questions on BEF relationships in dynamic communities of real-world landscapes.

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Section: Issue (2): Non-equilibrium Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functimentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Issue (2): Non-equilibrium Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functimentioning

confidence: 99%

Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in dynamic landscapes

Brose

Hillebrand

2016

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

179

168

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“…High intraspecific variability should mean a high probability of maintaining populations in a changing environment (Wright et al. ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, interior populations of Pseudotsuga menziesii characterized by hot, dry summers and cold winters may exhibit a relatively higher ability to tolerate drought than populations in coastal areas, which could alleviate some of the pressure to migrate (Bansal et al 2015). High intraspecific variability should mean a high probability of maintaining populations in a changing environment (Wright et al 2016).…”

Section: Limitations and The Way Forwardmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tree vulnerability to climate change: improving exposure‐based assessments using traits as indicators of sensitivity

et al. 2018

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Projected changes in climate conditions vary widely across Canada's 350 M ha of forests, and so does the capacity of forest species to cope with these changes (sensitivity). Development and prioritization of adaptation strategies for sustainable forest management will depend on integrated assessments of relative stand vulnerability. We developed species‐specific indices of sensitivity to (1) drought‐induced mortality and (2) migration failure, based on traits for 22 of the most abundant tree species in Canada. By combining this information with stand composition data and spatially explicit climate change projections, we were able to map Canadian forest vulnerability to drought and migration failure. Our maps show forest vulnerability changing rapidly under a high carbon emission scenario (RCP 8.5) between short‐ (2011–2040), medium‐ (2041–2070), and long‐term projections (2071–2100). Several zones of special concern emerged based on the biomass involved, stand sensitivity, and vulnerability trends across time. Boreal forests in the central regions of Alberta and Saskatchewan appeared most vulnerable to drought‐induced mortality in the mid to long term. In the short term, distance to suitable habitat is projected to shift quickly along latitudinal gradients, particularly in Central Canada, while zones of vulnerability to migration failure appeared across the Rockies region in the long term as suitable conditions disappear from mountainous areas. This spatial assessment of vulnerability, which integrates species‐specific sensitivity, highlights important regional contrasts between vulnerability to drought (from high exposure, high proportion of sensitive species, or both) and to migration failure. By affecting either species’ ability to persist in place or to migrate, different climate change impacts can yield distinct biotic responses, with important implications for regional climate change adaptation strategies. Multi‐faceted vulnerability assessments, integrating both exposure and sensitivity indices specific to expected impacts of climate change, have the potential to provide crucial information to managers. We discuss some of these implications, explore the current limitations of our approach, and suggest a path forward.

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“…, Swenson and Enquist , Wright et al. ). Some plant functional groups have low variation in % leaf N (e.g., conifers), whereas others have higher variation (e.g., woody climbers and herbs) (Reich et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High interspecific variation in nutrient excretion within a guild of closely related caddisfly species

et al. 2018

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Abstract. Understanding the amount of variation in functional traits between closely related species within guilds is critical for understanding links between community composition and ecosystem processes. Nutrient excretion is an important link between animals and their environments, and aquatic invertebrate communities can supply a considerable proportion of ecosystem nutrient demand via excretion. We quantified nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) excretion rates of 10 species of larval caddisflies that inhabit high-elevation ponds and wetlands to determine the magnitude of variation in nutrient excretion within this guild. We found considerable interspecific variation in biomass-specific excretion of nitrogen (eightfold differences), phosphorus (sevenfold differences), and the stoichiometric N:P ratios (fivefold differences). Through a meta-analysis, we compared the variation within this guild to the variation found in other family-level species assemblages to determine the overall range in the variation of nutrient excretion that could be expected across guilds and to determine whether the variation in this caddisfly guild is comparatively extreme, average, or low. The meta-analysis revealed a large range in variation among guilds, and comparatively, the variation within this caddisfly guild is high for N excretion and intermediate for P excretion. The considerable variation within guilds revealed by our metaanalysis suggests that functional redundancy among guild members is difficult to predict. Thus, some natural or human-caused species gains or losses within biological groupings such as guilds and trophic levels could have little or no effect on ecosystem processes, whereas others could have very large effects.

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The more things change, the more they stay the same? When is trait variability important for stability of ecosystem function in a changing environment

Cited by 52 publications

References 53 publications

Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in dynamic landscapes

Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in dynamic landscapes

Tree vulnerability to climate change: improving exposure‐based assessments using traits as indicators of sensitivity

High interspecific variation in nutrient excretion within a guild of closely related caddisfly species

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