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.

• Klíčová slova
• Comparative ecology, Environmental gradients, Functional ecology, Intraspecific variation,
• MeSH
• druhová specificita MeSH
• ekologie * MeSH
• fenotyp MeSH
• rostliny * MeSH
• životní prostředí MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Trait based ecology has developed fast in the last decades, aiming to both explain mechanisms of community assembly, and predict patterns in nature, such as the effects of biodiversity shifts on key ecosystem processes. This body of work has stimulated the development of several conceptual frameworks and analytical methods, as well as the production of trait databases covering a growing number of taxa and organizational levels (from individuals to guilds). However, this breeding ground of novel concepts and tools currently lacks a general and coherent framework, under which functional traits can help ecologists organize their research aims, and serve as the common currency to unify several scientific disciplines. Specifically, we see a need to bridge the gaps between community ecology, ecosystem ecology, and evolutionary biology, in order to address the most pressing environmental issues of our time. To achieve this integration goal, we define a trait-integration continuum, which reconciles alternative trait definitions and approaches in ecology. This continuum outlines a coherent progression of biological scales, along which traits interact and hierarchically integrate from genetic information, to whole organism fitness-related traits, to trait syndromes and functional groups. Our conceptual scheme proposes that lower-level trait integration is closer to the inference of ecoevolutionary mechanisms determining population and community properties, whereas higher-level trait integration is most suited to the prediction of ecosystem processes. Within these two extremes, trait integration varies on a continuous scale, which relates directly to the inductive-deductive loop that should characterize the scientific method. With our proposed framework, we aim to facilitate scientists in contextualising their research based on the trait-integration levels that matter most to their specific goals. Explicitly acknowledging the existence of a trait-integration continuum is a promising way for framing the appropriate questions, thus obtaining reliable answers and results that are comparable across studies and disciplines.

• Klíčová slova
• biological scales, community assembly mechanisms, ecosystem processes, functional trait interactions, inference, interdisciplinarity, performance, prediction,
• MeSH
• biodiverzita MeSH
• biologická evoluce MeSH
• ekologie * MeSH
• ekosystém * MeSH
• fenotyp MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Functional diversity (FD) has the potential to address many ecological questions, from impacts of global change on biodiversity to ecological restoration. There are several methods estimating the different components of FD. However, most of these methods can only be computed at limited spatial scales and cannot account for intraspecific trait variability (ITV), despite its significant contribution to FD. Trait probability density (TPD) functions (which explicitly account for ITV) reflect the probabilistic nature of niches. By doing so, the TPD approach reconciles existing methods for estimating FD within a unifying framework, allowing FD to be partitioned seamlessly across multiple scales (from individuals to species, and from local to global scales), and accounting for ITV. We present methods to estimate TPD functions at different spatial scales and probabilistic implementations of several FD concepts, including the primary components of FD (functional richness, evenness, and divergence), functional redundancy, functional rarity, and solutions to decompose beta FD into nested and unique components. The TPD framework has the potential to unify and expand analyses of functional ecology across scales, capturing the probabilistic and multidimensional nature of FD. The R package TPD (https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=TPD) will allow users to achieve more comparative results across regions and case studies.

• Klíčová slova
• functional diversity, functional trait, niche, probability density function, redundancy, uniqueness,
• MeSH
• biodiverzita * MeSH
• ekologie * MeSH
• fenotyp MeSH
• pravděpodobnostní funkce MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Understanding the circadian rhythms of bark and ambrosia beetles (Scolytinae) is crucial for assessing their dispersal strategies, trophic specialisation, and microhabitat preferences. This study investigated circadian rhythms in Scolytinae communities using flight interception traps in an oak forest in the southern part of Czechia. Ordination biplot revealed a flight activity gradient, with nocturnal dispersers distinct from diurnal species. Species richness gradually decreased from the 20:00-24:00 interval through to the 12:00-16:00 interval, with the most notable decline observed between the 08:00-12:00 and 12:00-16:00 intervals. A combination of fourth-corner and partial canonical correspondence analyses identified tribal affiliation, trophic specialisation, and microhabitat preference as key drivers of flight structuring. Members of the tribe Xyleborini showed negative association to the 16:00-20:00 interval. Xylomycetophagous species, such as Xyleborinus saxesenii exhibited multimodal activity peaks, with increased flight from nighttime to early morning. In contrast, species that feed in the phloem such as Scolytus intricatus showed no significant association with any specific time interval. Several species that utilise stumps as potential breeding substrates showed significantly reduced flight activity during the crepuscular period, which supports the hypothesis that microhabitat preference contributes to diel periodicity. Our findings show the complex interplay between abiotic and biotic factors in shaping circadian flight periodicity, which leads to distinct flight activity patterns between Scolytini bark and Xyleborini ambrosia beetles. These results emphasise the ecological significance of maintaining heterogeneous forest structures that provide a balance of shaded and sun-exposed deadwood habitats to support diverse assemblages.

• Klíčová slova
• flight activity, forest insect monitoring, temporal species diversity, trait-based dispersal,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

The study of insular systems has a long history in ecology and biogeography. Island plants often differ remarkably from their noninsular counterparts, constituting excellent models for exploring eco-evolutionary processes. Trait-based approaches can help to answer important questions in island biogeography, yet plant trait patterns on islands remain understudied. We discuss three key hypotheses linking functional ecology to island biogeography: (i) plants in insular systems are characterized by distinct functional trait syndromes (compared with noninsular environments); (ii) these syndromes differ between true islands and terrestrial habitat islands; and (iii) island characteristics influence trait syndromes in a predictable manner. We are convinced that implementing trait-based comparative approaches would considerably further our understanding of plant ecology and evolution in insular systems.

• Klíčová slova
• colonization, eco-evolutionary processes, functional island biogeography, functional traits, island syndrome, persistence,
• MeSH
• biodiverzita * MeSH
• biologická evoluce MeSH
• ekologie * MeSH
• ekosystém MeSH
• ostrovy MeSH
• rostliny MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• ostrovy MeSH

In the context of a recent massive increase in research on plant root functions and their impact on the environment, root ecologists currently face many important challenges to keep on generating cutting-edge, meaningful and integrated knowledge. Consideration of the below-ground components in plant and ecosystem studies has been consistently called for in recent decades, but methodology is disparate and sometimes inappropriate. This handbook, based on the collective effort of a large team of experts, will improve trait comparisons across studies and integration of information across databases by providing standardised methods and controlled vocabularies. It is meant to be used not only as starting point by students and scientists who desire working on below-ground ecosystems, but also by experts for consolidating and broadening their views on multiple aspects of root ecology. Beyond the classical compilation of measurement protocols, we have synthesised recommendations from the literature to provide key background knowledge useful for: (1) defining below-ground plant entities and giving keys for their meaningful dissection, classification and naming beyond the classical fine-root vs coarse-root approach; (2) considering the specificity of root research to produce sound laboratory and field data; (3) describing typical, but overlooked steps for studying roots (e.g. root handling, cleaning and storage); and (4) gathering metadata necessary for the interpretation of results and their reuse. Most importantly, all root traits have been introduced with some degree of ecological context that will be a foundation for understanding their ecological meaning, their typical use and uncertainties, and some methodological and conceptual perspectives for future research. Considering all of this, we urge readers not to solely extract protocol recommendations for trait measurements from this work, but to take a moment to read and reflect on the extensive information contained in this broader guide to root ecology, including sections I-VII and the many introductions to each section and root trait description. Finally, it is critical to understand that a major aim of this guide is to help break down barriers between the many subdisciplines of root ecology and ecophysiology, broaden researchers' views on the multiple aspects of root study and create favourable conditions for the inception of comprehensive experiments on the role of roots in plant and ecosystem functioning.

• Klíčová slova
• below-ground ecology, handbook, plant root functions, protocol, root classification, root ecology, root traits, trait measurements,
• MeSH
• databáze faktografické MeSH
• ekologie MeSH
• ekosystém * MeSH
• fenotyp MeSH
• rostliny * MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. MeSH

The use of functional information in the form of species traits plays an important role in explaining biodiversity patterns and responses to environmental changes. Although relationships between species composition, their traits, and the environment have been extensively studied on a case-by-case basis, results are variable, and it remains unclear how generalizable these relationships are across ecosystems, taxa and spatial scales. To address this gap, we collated 80 datasets from trait-based studies into a global database for metaCommunity Ecology: Species, Traits, Environment and Space; "CESTES". Each dataset includes four matrices: species community abundances or presences/absences across multiple sites, species trait information, environmental variables and spatial coordinates of the sampling sites. The CESTES database is a live database: it will be maintained and expanded in the future as new datasets become available. By its harmonized structure, and the diversity of ecosystem types, taxonomic groups, and spatial scales it covers, the CESTES database provides an important opportunity for synthetic trait-based research in community ecology.

• MeSH
• biodiverzita MeSH
• ekologie MeSH
• rostliny MeSH
• společenstvo * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• dataset MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Root traits including root exudates are key factors affecting plant interactions with soil and thus play an important role in determining ecosystem processes. The drivers of their variation, however, remain poorly understood. We determined the relative importance of phylogeny and species ecology in determining root traits and analyzed the extent to which root exudate composition can be predicted by other root traits. We measured different root morphological and biochemical traits (including exudate profiles) of 65 plant species grown in a controlled system. We tested phylogenetic conservatism in traits and disentangled the individual and overlapping effects of phylogeny and species ecology on traits. We also predicted root exudate composition using other root traits. Phylogenetic signal differed greatly among root traits, with the strongest signal in phenol content in plant tissues. Interspecific variation in root traits was partly explained by species ecology, but phylogeny was more important in most cases. Species exudate composition could be partly predicted by specific root length, root dry matter content, root biomass, and root diameter, but a large part of variation remained unexplained. In conclusion, root exudation cannot be easily predicted based on other root traits and more comparative data on root exudation are needed to understand their diversity.

• Klíčová slova
• metabolomics, phylogenetic conservatism, rhizosphere, root exudates, root traits,
• MeSH
• ekologie MeSH
• ekosystém * MeSH
• exsudáty a transsudáty MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• kořeny rostlin * MeSH
• půda chemie   MeSH
• rostliny MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• půda MeSH

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Genome size is known to affect various plant traits such as stomatal size, seed mass, and flower or shoot phenology. However, these associations are not well understood for species with very large genomes, which are laregly represented by geophytic plants. No detailed associations are known between DNA base composition and genome size or species ecology. METHODS: Genome sizes and GC contents were measured in 219 geophytes together with tentative morpho-anatomical and ecological traits. KEY RESULTS: Increased genome size was associated with earliness of flowering and tendency to grow in humid conditions, and there was a positive correlation between an increase in stomatal size in species with extremely large genomes. Seed mass of geophytes was closely related to their ecology, but not to genomic parameters. Genomic DNA GC content showed a unimodal relationship with genome size but no relationship with species ecology. CONCLUSIONS: Evolution of genome size in geophytes is closely related to their ecology and phenology and is also associated with remarkable changes in DNA base composition. Although geophytism together with producing larger cells appears to be an advantageous strategy for fast development of an organism in seasonal habitats, the drought sensitivity of large stomata may restrict the occurrence of geophytes with very large genomes to regions not subject to water stress.

• MeSH
• délka genomu * MeSH
• DNA rostlinná analýza   genetika   MeSH
• ekologie MeSH
• ekosystém MeSH
• genom rostlinný * MeSH
• molekulární evoluce MeSH
• průduchy rostlin anatomie a histologie   MeSH
• roční období MeSH
• rostliny anatomie a histologie   genetika   MeSH
• semena rostlinná anatomie a histologie   MeSH
• zastoupení bazí MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• DNA rostlinná MeSH

Recent studies have shown that accounting for intraspecific trait variation (ITV) may better address major questions in community ecology. However, a general picture of the relative extent of ITV compared to interspecific trait variation in plant communities is still missing. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis of the relative extent of ITV within and among plant communities worldwide, using a data set encompassing 629 communities (plots) and 36 functional traits. Overall, ITV accounted for 25% of the total trait variation within communities and 32% of the total trait variation among communities on average. The relative extent of ITV tended to be greater for whole-plant (e.g. plant height) vs. organ-level traits and for leaf chemical (e.g. leaf N and P concentration) vs. leaf morphological (e.g. leaf area and thickness) traits. The relative amount of ITV decreased with increasing species richness and spatial extent, but did not vary with plant growth form or climate. These results highlight global patterns in the relative importance of ITV in plant communities, providing practical guidelines for when researchers should include ITV in trait-based community and ecosystem studies.

• Klíčová slova
• community ecology, functional diversity, interspecific variation, intraspecific variability, leaf trait, plant functional trait, trait-based ecology,
• MeSH
• biodiverzita * MeSH
• druhová specificita MeSH
• fenotyp * MeSH
• fyziologie rostlin * MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• metaanalýza MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH