Life History Strategies Drive Meso-Scale Distribution Patterns in Coastal Benthic Macroinvertebrates.

ABSTRACT: The environment shapes the spatial distribution of species, but species also comprise suites of traits which may indicate their adaptability to a specific environment. This forms the basis of trait biogeography studies. We thus examined how a species distribution is not only influenced by its environment and traits, but by interactions among its traits. Trait information was collected for 150 intertidal macroinvertebrates along a 3000 km environmental and biogeographic gradient on the South African coast. This information was analysed, as functional entities (FEs) were species performing similar functions that have the same trait values and were further condensed into two trait domains (Reproduction and Lifestyle). We then defined Life History Strategies (LHS) as specific combinations of L

SUBMITTER: Gusha MNC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11502938 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature