The influence of variability in species trait data on community-level ecological prediction and inference.

ABSTRACT: Species trait data have been used to predict and infer ecological processes and the responses of biological communities to environmental changes. It has also been suggested that, in lieu of trait, data niche differences can be inferred from phylogenetic distance. It remains unclear how variation in trait data may influence the strength and character of ecological inference. Using species-level trait data in community ecology assumes intraspecific variation is small in comparison with interspecific variation. Intraspecific variation across species ranges or within populations may lead to variability in trait data derived from different scales (i.e., local or regional) and methods (i.e., mean or maximum values). Variation in trait data across species can affect community-level relationships.

SUBMITTER: Alofs KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5016654 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature