Low levels of intraspecific trait variation in a keystone invertebrate group.

ABSTRACT: The trait-based approach to ecology promises to provide a mechanistic understanding of species distributions and ecosystem functioning. Typically, trait analyses focus on average species trait values and assume that intraspecific variation is small or negligible. Recent work has shown, however, that intraspecific trait variation can often contribute substantially to total trait variation. Whilst many studies have investigated intraspecific variation in plants, very few have done so for invertebrates. There is no research on the level of intraspecific trait variation in ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), despite the fact that there is a growing body of literature using ant morphological trait data and demonstrating that these insects play important roles in many ecosystems and food webs. Here,

SUBMITTER: Gaudard CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6704090 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature