TY - JOUR
T1 - How to improve scaling from traits to ecosystem processes
AU - Chacón-Labella, Julia
AU - Hinojo-Hinojo, Cesar
AU - Bohner, Teresa
AU - Castorena, Matiss
AU - Violle, Cyrille
AU - Vandvik, Vigdis
AU - Enquist, Brian J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2023/3
Y1 - 2023/3
N2 - Scaling approaches in ecology assume that traits are the main attributes by which organisms influence ecosystem functioning. However, several recent empirical papers have found only weak links between traits and ecosystem functioning, questioning the usefulness of trait-based ecology (TBE). We argue that these studies often suffer from one or more widespread misconceptions. Specifically, these studies often (i) conflict with the conceptual foundations of TBE, (ii) lack theory- or hypothesis-driven selection and use of traits, (iii) tend to ignore intraspecific variation, and (iv) use experimental or study designs that are not well suited to make strong tests of TBE assumptions. Addressing these aspects could significantly improve our ability to scale from traits to ecosystem functioning.
AB - Scaling approaches in ecology assume that traits are the main attributes by which organisms influence ecosystem functioning. However, several recent empirical papers have found only weak links between traits and ecosystem functioning, questioning the usefulness of trait-based ecology (TBE). We argue that these studies often suffer from one or more widespread misconceptions. Specifically, these studies often (i) conflict with the conceptual foundations of TBE, (ii) lack theory- or hypothesis-driven selection and use of traits, (iii) tend to ignore intraspecific variation, and (iv) use experimental or study designs that are not well suited to make strong tests of TBE assumptions. Addressing these aspects could significantly improve our ability to scale from traits to ecosystem functioning.
KW - biodiversity effects
KW - ecosystem functioning
KW - functional traits
KW - scaling
KW - trait-based ecology
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U2 - 10.1016/j.tree.2022.10.007
DO - 10.1016/j.tree.2022.10.007
M3 - Review article
C2 - 36435672
AN - SCOPUS:85142734030
SN - 0169-5347
VL - 38
SP - 228
EP - 237
JO - Trends in Ecology and Evolution
JF - Trends in Ecology and Evolution
IS - 3
ER -