Can entropy maximization use functional traits to explain species abundances? A comprehensive evaluation

Phylogeny-based and functional trait-based analyses are two principle ways to study community assembly and underlying ecological processes. In principle, knowing all information about species traits would make phylogenetic information redundant, at least that component of phylogenetic signal in the distribution of species among communities that is caused by phylogenetically related species sharing similar traits. In reality, phylogenies may contain more information than a set of singular, discretely measured traits because we cannot measure all species traits and may misjudge which are most important. The extent to which functional trait information makes phylogenetic information redundant, however, has not been explicitly studied with empirical data in community ecology. Here, we use phylogenetic linear mixed models to analyze community assembly of 55 understory plant species in 30 forest sites in central Wisconsin. These communities show strong phylogenetic attraction, yet variation among sites in 20 environmental variables could not account for this pattern. Most of the 15 functional traits we measured had strong phylogenetic signal, but only three varied strongly among sites in ways that affected species' abundances. These three traits explained only 19% of variation in phylogenetic patterns of species co-occurrence. Thus, phylogenies appear to provide considerably more information about community assembly than the functional traits measured in this study, demonstrating the value of phylogeny in studying of community assembly processes even with abundant functional traits.

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Environmental filtering and deforestation shape frog assemblages in Amazonia: An empirical approach assessing species abundances and functional traits

Biotropica ◽

10.1111/btp.13053 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kelly Torralvo ◽

Rafael Fraga ◽

Albertina P. Lima ◽

Jussara Dayrell ◽

William E. Magnusson

Keyword(s):

Functional Traits ◽

Environmental Filtering ◽

Empirical Approach ◽

Species Abundances

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Plant Functional Traits on Tropical Ultramafic Habitats Affected by Fire and Mining: Insights for Reclamation

Diversity ◽

10.3390/d12060248 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 248

Author(s):

Celestino Quintela-Sabarís ◽

Michel-Pierre Faucon ◽

Rimi Repin ◽

John B. Sugau ◽

Reuben Nilus ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Traits ◽

Plant Cover ◽

Lateral Spreading ◽

Growth Strategy ◽

Ultramafic Soils ◽

As Species ◽

First Choice ◽

Species Abundances ◽

Number Of Stems ◽

In Fire

Biodiversity-rich tropical ultramafic areas are currently being impacted by land clearing and particularly by mine activities. The reclamation of ultramafic degraded areas requires a knowledge of pioneer plant species. The objective of this study is to highlight the functional traits of plants that colonize ultramafic areas after disturbance by fire or mining activities. This information will allow trait-assisted selection of candidate species for reclamation. Fifteen plots were established on ultramafic soils in Sabah (Borneo, Malaysia) disturbed by recurrent fires (FIRE plots) or by soil excavation and quarrying (MINE plots). In each plot, soil samples were collected and plant cover as well as species abundances were estimated. Fifteen functional traits related to revegetation, nutrient improvement, or Ni phytomining were measured in sampled plants. Vegetation of both FIRE and MINE plots was dominated by perennials with lateral spreading capacity (mainly by rhizomes). Plant communities displayed a conservative growth strategy, which is an adaptation to low nutrient availability on ultramafic soils. Plant height was higher in FIRE than in MINE plots, whereas the number of stems per plant was higher in MINE plots. Perennial plants with lateral spreading capacity and a conservative growth strategy would be the first choice for the reclamation of ultramafic degraded areas. Additional notes for increasing nutrient cycling, managing competition, and implementing of Ni-phytomining are also provided.

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A new dataset on plant occurrences on small islands, including species abundances and functional traits across different spatial scales

Biodiversity Data Journal ◽

10.3897/bdj.8.e55275 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Julian Schrader ◽

Soetjipto Moeljono ◽

Junus Tambing ◽

Cornelia Sattler ◽

Holger Kreft

Keyword(s):

Functional Traits ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Functional Trait ◽

Small Islands ◽

Species Dispersal ◽

Competitive Strategies ◽

New Information ◽

Species Abundances ◽

Species Area ◽

Species Occurrences

We introduce a new dataset of woody plants on 60 small tropical islands located in the Raja Ampat archipelago in Indonesia. The dataset includes incidence, abundance and functional trait data for 57 species. All islands were sampled using a standardised transect and plot design providing detailed information on plant occurrences at different spatial scales ranging from the local (plot and transect scale) to the island scale. In addition, the dataset includes information on key plant functional traits linked to species dispersal, resource acquisition and competitive strategies. The dataset can be used to address ecological questions connected to the species-area relationship and community assembly processes on small islands and in isolated habitats. The dataset yields detailed information on plant community structure and links incidence, abundance and functional trait data at different spatial scales. Furthermore, this is the first plant-island dataset for the Raja Ampat archipelago, a remote and poorly studied region, and provides important new information on species occurrences.

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Morpho-Functional Traits Reveal Differences in Size Fractionated Phytoplankton Communities but Do Not Significantly Affect Zooplankton Grazing

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms10010182 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 182

Author(s):

Jessica Titocci ◽

Melanie Bon ◽

Patrick Fink

Keyword(s):

Functional Traits ◽

Comprehensive Evaluation ◽

Functional Trait ◽

Zooplankton Grazing ◽

Filter Feeder ◽

Freshwater Phytoplankton ◽

Composition And Structure ◽

Phytoplankton Communities ◽

Recent Emergence

The recent emergence of approaches based on functional traits allows a more comprehensive evaluation of the role of functions and interactions within communities. As phytoplankton size and shape are the major determinants of its edibility to herbivores, alteration or loss of some morpho-functional phytoplankton traits should affect zooplankton grazing, fitness and population dynamics. Here, we investigated the response of altered phytoplankton morpho-functional trait distribution to grazing by zooplankton with contrasting food size preferences and feeding behaviors. To test this, we performed feeding trials in laboratory microcosms with size-fractionated freshwater phytoplankton (3 size classes, >30 µm; 5–30 µm and <5 µm) and two different consumer types: the cladoceran Daphnia longispina, (generalist unselective filter feeder) and the calanoid copepod Eudiaptomus sp. (selective feeder). We observed no significant changes in traits and composition between the controls and grazed phytoplankton communities. However, community composition and structure varied widely between the small and large size fractions, demonstrating the key role of size in structuring natural phytoplankton communities. Our findings also highlight the necessity to combine taxonomy and trait-based morpho-functional approaches when studying ecological dynamics in phytoplankton-zooplankton interactions.

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Linking functional traits and demography to model species-rich communities

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-021-22630-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Loïc Chalmandrier ◽

Florian Hartig ◽

Daniel C. Laughlin ◽

Heike Lischke ◽

Maximilian Pichler ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Traits ◽

Large Scale ◽

Functional Trait ◽

Ecological Systems ◽

New Method ◽

Volterra Model ◽

Mountain Grassland ◽

Species Abundances ◽

Process Based Models

AbstractIt has long been anticipated that relating functional traits to species demography would be a cornerstone for achieving large-scale predictability of ecological systems. If such a relationship existed, species demography could be modeled only by measuring functional traits, transforming our ability to predict states and dynamics of species-rich communities with process-based community models. Here, we introduce a new method that links empirical functional traits with the demographic parameters of a process-based model by calibrating a transfer function through inverse modeling. As a case study, we parameterize a modified Lotka–Volterra model of a high-diversity mountain grassland with static plant community and functional trait data only. The calibrated trait–demography relationships are amenable to ecological interpretation, and lead to species abundances that fit well to the observed community structure. We conclude that our new method offers a general solution to bridge the divide between trait data and process-based models in species-rich ecosystems.

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