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Reinforcing loose foundation stones in trait-based plant ecology

Shipley, Bill
Author Shipley, Bill Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, J1K 2R1, Canada. Bill.Shipley@USherbrooke.ca
De Bello, Francesco
Author De Bello, Francesco FdB Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Dukelská 135, 379 82, Třeboň, Czech Republic Department of Botany, University of South Bohemia, Na Zlaté Stoce 1, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
Cornelissen, J Hans C
Author Cornelissen, J Hans C Systems Ecology, Department of Ecological Science, FALW, VU University, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Laliberté, Etienne
Author Laliberté, Etienne Institut de Recherche en Biologie Végétale (IRBV), Université de Montréal, 4101 Sherbrooke Est, Montréal, QC, H1X 2B1, Canada
Laughlin, Daniel C
Author Laughlin, Daniel C Environmental Research Institute and School of Science, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand
Reich, Peter B
Author Reich, Peter B Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, University of Western Sydney, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia

Oecologia. 2016 Apr ; 180 (4) : 923-31. [epub] 20160121

ISSN 1432-1939 | 0029-8549
Source

Language English Country Germany Media print-electronic

Document type Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Persistent link https://www.medvik.cz/link/pmid26796410

PubMed 26796410
DOI 10.1007/s00442-016-3549-x
PII: 10.1007/s00442-016-3549-x
Knihovny.cz E-resources

Keywords
Comparative ecology, Environmental gradients, Functional ecology, Intraspecific variation,
MeSH
Species Specificity MeSH
Ecology * MeSH
Phenotype MeSH
Plants * MeSH
Environment MeSH
Publication type
Journal Article MeSH
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

The promise of "trait-based" plant ecology is one of generalized prediction across organizational and spatial scales, independent of taxonomy. This promise is a major reason for the increased popularity of this approach. Here, we argue that some important foundational assumptions of trait-based ecology have not received sufficient empirical evaluation. We identify three such assumptions and, where possible, suggest methods of improvement: (i) traits are functional to the degree that they determine individual fitness, (ii) intraspecific variation in functional traits can be largely ignored, and (iii) functional traits show general predictive relationships to measurable environmental gradients.

Département de Biologie Université de Sherbrooke Sherbrooke QC J1K 2R1 Canada

Department of Botany University of South Bohemia Na Zlaté Stoce 1 370 05 České Budějovice Czech Republic

Department of Forest Resources University of Minnesota St Paul MN 55108 USA

Environmental Research Institute and School of Science University of Waikato Private Bag 3105 Hamilton 3240 New Zealand

FdB Institute of Botany Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Dukelská 135 379 82 Třeboň Czech Republic

Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment University of Western Sydney Penrith NSW 2751 Australia

Institut de Recherche en Biologie Végétale Université de Montréal 4101 Sherbrooke Est Montréal QC H1X 2B1 Canada

Systems Ecology Department of Ecological Science FALW VU University De Boelelaan 1085 1081 HV Amsterdam The Netherlands

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