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Less lineages - more trait variation: phylogenetically clustered plant communities are functionally more diverse
Andreas Prinzing1, Reineke Reiffers, Wim G Braakhekke
1Department Ecology, Radboud University, Toernooiveld 1, 6525ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands. andreas.prinzing@univ-rennes1.fr
Ecology Letters
|May 1, 2008
Summary
Communities with many related species show less functional diversity than expected, indicating that interactions between species, not random assembly, shape ecosystem functioning. This highlights the role of evolutionary and present-day interactions in maintaining biodiversity.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Plant Community Ecology
Background:
- Functional diversity influences ecosystem functioning.
- Understanding factors driving functional diversity is crucial for ecological studies.
- Species interactions and phylogenetic relatedness are key considerations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between phylogenetic diversity and functional diversity in plant communities.
- To determine if species assembly is random or influenced by interactions within lineages.
- To identify the drivers of functional trait variation in communities.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a large dataset (>9000 descriptions) of Dutch plant communities.
- Incorporated a species-level phylogeny and data on 16 functional traits, including dispersal traits.
- Analyzed trait conservation within lineages and variation across communities with differing phylogenetic diversity.
Main Results:
- Traits were conserved within phylogenetic lineages.
- Communities with more lineages exhibited less variation in most trait-states, including dispersal traits.
- Species assembly within lineages was non-random, contradicting Neutral Theory.
Conclusions:
- Past and present interactions between related species within lineages drive functional diversity.
- Evidence suggests evolutionary divergence and mutual exclusion among related species.
- Non-random assembly and species interactions are critical for shaping community functional diversity.
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