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The ecological causes of functional distinctiveness in communities
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Christopher A. Klausmeier ,
Pierre Gaüzère ,
Gaurav Kandlikar ,
Elena Litchman ,
Nicolas Mouquet,
Annette Ostling,
Wilfried Thuiller ,
Adam C. Algar ,
Arnaud Auber,
Marc W. Cadotte ,
Léo Delalandre,
Pierre Denelle,
Brian J. Enquist ,
Claire Fortunel ,
Matthias Grenié ,
Nicolas Loiseau ,
Lucie Mahaut,
Anthony Maire ,
David Mouillot ,
Catalina Pimiento ,
Cyrille Violle,
Nathan J. B. Kraft
Ecology Letters, Volume: 26, Issue: 8
Swansea University Author:
Catalina Pimiento
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DOI (Published version): 10.1111/ele.14265
Abstract
Recent work has shown that evaluating functional trait distinctiveness, the average trait distance of a species to other species in a community offers promising insights into biodiversity dynamics and ecosystem functioning. However, the ecological mechanisms underlying the emergence and persistence...
| Published in: | Ecology Letters |
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| ISSN: | 1461-023X 1461-0248 |
| Published: |
Wiley
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| Online Access: |
Check full text
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa63733 |
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| Abstract: |
Recent work has shown that evaluating functional trait distinctiveness, the average trait distance of a species to other species in a community offers promising insights into biodiversity dynamics and ecosystem functioning. However, the ecological mechanisms underlying the emergence and persistence of functionally distinct species are poorly understood. Here, we address the issue by considering a heterogeneous fitness landscape whereby functional dimensions encompass peaks representing trait combinations yielding positive population growth rates in a community. We identify four ecological cases contributing to the emergence and persistence of functionally distinct species. First, environmental heterogeneity or alternative phenotypic designs can drive positive population growth of functionally distinct species. Second, sink populations with negative population growth can deviate from local fitness peaks and be functionally distinct. Third, species found at the margin of the fitness landscape can persist but be functionally distinct. Fourth, biotic interactions (positive or negative) can dynamically alter the fitness landscape. We offer examples of these four cases and guidelines to distinguish between them. In addition to these deterministic processes, we explore how stochastic dispersal limitation can yield functional distinctiveness. Our framework offers a novel perspective on the relationship between fitness landscape heterogeneity and the functional composition of ecological assemblages. |
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| Keywords: |
Coexistence, community, assembly, ecological interactions, fitness, landscape, functional traits, source-sink dynamics |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Funders: |
This research is supported by the Fondation pour la Recherche sur la Biodiversité (FRB) and Electricité de France (EDF) in the context of the CESAB project ‘Causes and consequences of functional rarity from local to global scales’ (FREE). NJBK acknowledges support from NSF DEB 1644641 and 2022810. |
| Issue: |
8 |