Do ecological specialization and functional traits explain the abundance–frequency relationship? Arable weeds as a case study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillaume Fried ◽  
Laura Armengot ◽  
Jonathan Storkey ◽  
Bérenger Bourgeois ◽  
Sabrina Gaba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Traits ◽  
Ecological Specialization ◽  
Arable Weeds ◽  
Frequency Relationship

scholarly journals Integrating dark diversity and functional traits to enhance nature conservation of epiphytic lichens: a case study from Northern Italy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Pires Ferraz Trindade ◽  
Meelis Pärtel ◽  
Carlos Pérez Carmona ◽  
Tiina Randlane ◽  
Juri Nascimbene
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Nature Conservation ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Growth Form ◽  
Northern Italy ◽  
Epiphytic Lichens ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
High Elevations ◽  
Harsh Conditions

AbstractMountains provide a timely opportunity to examine the potential effects of climate change on biodiversity. However, nature conservation in mountain areas have mostly focused on the observed part of biodiversity, not revealing the suitable but absent species—dark diversity. Dark diversity allows calculating the community completeness, indicating whether sites should be restored (low completeness) or conserved (high completeness). Functional traits can be added, showing what groups should be focused on. Here we assessed changes in taxonomic and functional observed and dark diversity of epiphytic lichens along elevational transects in Northern Italy spruce forests. Eight transects (900–1900 m) were selected, resulting in 48 plots and 240 trees, in which lichens were sampled using four quadrats per tree (10 × 50 cm). Dark diversity was estimated based on species co-occurrence (Beals index). We considered functional traits related to growth form, photobiont type and reproductive strategy. Linear and Dirichlet regressions were used to examine changes in taxonomic metrics and functional traits along gradient. Our results showed that all taxonomic metrics increased with elevation and functional traits of lichens differed between observed and dark diversity. At low elevations, due to low completeness and harsh conditions, both restoration and conservation activities are needed, focusing on crustose species. Towards high elevations, conservation is more important to prevent species pool losses, focusing on macrolichens, lichens with Trentepohlia and sexual reproduction. Finally, dark diversity and functional traits provide a novel tool to enhance nature conservation, indicating particular threatened groups, creating windows of opportunities to protect species from both local and regional extinctions.

scholarly journals Analyzing free variation with harmony – A case study of verb-cluster serialization

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 407-437
Author(s):  
Markus Bader
Keyword(s):  
Native Speakers ◽  
Initial Position ◽  
Experimental Results ◽  
Modal Verbs ◽  
Weighted Constraints ◽  
Corpus Data ◽  
Frequency Relationship ◽  
Zero Frequency ◽  
Free Variation

Abstract In German, a verb selected by another verb normally precedes the selecting verb. Modal verbs in the perfect tense provide an exception to this generalization because they require the perfective auxiliary to occur in cluster-initial position according to prescriptive grammars. Bader and Schmid (2009b) have shown, however, that native speakers accept the auxiliary in all positions except the cluster-final one. Experimental results as well as corpus data indicate that verb cluster serialization is a case of free variation. I discuss how this variation can be accounted for, focusing on two mismatches between acceptability and frequency: First, slight acceptability advantages can turn into strong frequency advantages. Second, syntactic variants with basically zero frequency can still vary substantially in acceptability. These mismatches remain unaccounted for if acceptability is related to frequency on the level of whole sentence structures, as in Stochastic OT (Boersma and Hayes2001). However, when the acceptability-frequency relationship is modeled on the level of individual weighted constraints, using harmony as link (see Pater2009, for different harmony based frameworks), the two mismatches follow given appropriate linking assumptions.

scholarly journals Analysis of the Similarity between in Silico Ideotypes and Phenotypic Profiles to Support Cultivar Recommendation—A Case Study on Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1733
Author(s):  
Livia Paleari ◽  
Fosco M. Vesely ◽  
Riccardo A. Ravasi ◽  
Ermes Movedi ◽  
Sofia Tartarini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Traits ◽  
In Silico ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Time Factors ◽  
Functional Trait ◽  
Light Extinction ◽  
Sowing Time ◽  
Light Extinction Coefficient ◽  
Context Specific

Cultivar recommendation is a key factor in cropping system management. Classical approaches based on comparative multi-environmental trials can hardly explore the agro-climatic and management heterogeneity farmers may have to face. Moreover, they struggle to keep up with the number of genotypes commercially released each year. We propose a new approach based on the integration of in silico ideotyping and functional trait profiling, with the common bean (Phaseoulus vulgaris L.) in Northern Italy as a case study. Statistical distributions for six functional traits (light extinction coefficient, radiation use efficiency, thermal time to first pod and maturity, seed weight, plant height) were derived for 24 bean varieties. The analysis of soil, climate and management in the study area led us to define 21 homogeneous contexts, for which ideotypes were identified using the crop model STICS (Simulateur mulTIdisciplinaire pour les Cultures Standard), the E-FAST (Extended Fourier Amplitude Sensitivity Test) sensitivity analysis method, and the distributions of functional traits. For each context, the 24 cultivars were ranked according to the similarity (weighted Euclidean distance) with the ideotype. Context-specific ideotypes mainly differed for phenological adaptation to specific combinations of climate and management (sowing time) factors, and this reflected in the cultivar recommendation for the different contexts. Feedbacks from bean technicians in the study area confirmed the reliability of the results and, in turn, of the proposed methodology.

scholarly journals Plantemateriale frå jordprøver: uviss alder og ubrukt potensial?

AmS-Varia ◽  
2016 ◽  
pp. 5-20
Author(s):  
Maria Sture
Keyword(s):  
Iron Age ◽  
Knowledge Production ◽  
Method Development ◽  
Chenopodium Album ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Cereal Grains ◽  
Arable Weeds ◽  
Plant Remains ◽  
Preservation Conditions

The aim of this paper is to assess the assumptions we make about the age of carbonized and uncarbonized plant materialsfrom soil samples. By questioning the age and origin of plant remains, we investigate an unexploited potential of possiblearchaeological interpretations. As a case study, carbonized and uncarbonized plant remains from a house that dates to thetransition between the Pre-Roman Iron Age and the Roman Iron Age at Hove-Sørbø in Southwestern Norway are investigated. As opposed to the original assumptions based on the preservation conditions at the locality, a total of 1 062 uncarbonized seeds of the arable weeds fat-hen (Chenopodium album) and corn spurrey (Spergula arvensis) are shown to be contemporary with the house. This is a unique find in Norway, and it is assumed that the seeds are a by-product of crop processing, most likely residues from fine sieving of cereal grains. The literature discussing macro analysis and interpretation relevant for Norwegian archaeological contexts is scarce. This is partly due to the fact that analysis of macro remains from such contexts is inherently interdisciplinary, and therefore dependent upon the involvement of archaeologists as well as palaeobotanists for further method development and knowledge production. 

scholarly journals Intraspecific variability in functional traits matters: case study of Scots pine

Oecologia ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 175 (4) ◽  
pp. 1337-1348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabelle Laforest-Lapointe ◽  
Jordi Martínez-Vilalta ◽  
Javier Retana
Keyword(s):  
Functional Traits ◽  
Scots Pine ◽  
Intraspecific Variability

scholarly journals Linking species functional traits of terrestrial vertebrates and environmental filters: A case study in temperate mountain systems

PLoS ONE ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. e0211760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula García-Llamas ◽  
Thiago Fernando Rangel ◽  
Leonor Calvo ◽  
Susana Suárez-Seoane
Keyword(s):  
Functional Traits ◽  
Environmental Filters ◽  
Terrestrial Vertebrates ◽  
Mountain Systems

scholarly journals Threshold Responses in the Taxonomic and Functional Structure of Fish Assemblages to Land Use and Water Quality: A Case Study from the Taizi River

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 661 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Zhang ◽  
Xiao-Ning Wang ◽  
Hai-Yu Ding ◽  
Yang Dai ◽  
Sen Ding ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Sensitive Species ◽  
Fish Conservation ◽  
Threshold Response ◽  
Taizi River ◽  
Functional Metrics

Biological functional traits help to understand specific stressors that are ignored intaxonomic data analysis. A combination of biological functional traits and taxonomic data ishelpful in determining specific stressors which are of significance for fish conservation and riverbasin management. In the current study, the Taizi River was used as a case study to understand therelationships between the taxonomic and functional structure of fish and land use and waterquality, in addition to determining the thresholds of these stressors. The results showed thattaxonomic structure was significantly affected by the proportion of urban land and specificconductivity levels, while functional metrics were influenced by the proportions of farmland andforest. Threshold indicator taxa analysis found that Phoxinus lagowskii, Barbatula barbatula nuda,Odontobutis obscura, and Cobitis granoei had negative threshold responses along the gradients ofurban developments and specific conductivity. There was a significant change in fish taxonomiccomposition when the proportion of urban land exceeded a threshold of 2.6–3.1%, or specificconductivity exceeded a threshold of 369.5–484.5 μS/cm. Three functional features—habitatpreference, tolerance to disturbances, and spawning traits—showed threshold responses to theproportion of farmland and forest. The abundance of sensitive species should be monitored as partof watershed management, as sensitive species exhibit an earlier and stronger response to stressorsthan other functional metrics. Sensitive species had a positive threshold response to the proportionof forest at 80.1%. These species exhibited a negative threshold response to the proportion offarmland at 13.3%. The results of the current study suggest that the taxonomic and functionalstructure of fish assemblages are affected by land use and water quality. These parameters shouldbe integrated into routine monitoring for fish conservation and river basin management in the TaiziRiver. In addition, corresponding measures for improving river habitat and water quality shouldbe implemented according to the thresholds of these parameters.

Ecological specialization matters: long-term trends in butterfly species richness and assemblage composition depend on multiple functional traits

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 792-802 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Eskildsen ◽  
Luísa G. Carvalheiro ◽  
W. Daniel Kissling ◽  
Jacobus C. Biesmeijer ◽  
Oliver Schweiger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Butterfly Species ◽  
Ecological Specialization ◽  
Assemblage Composition ◽  
Long Term Trends
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