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Cryptic function loss in animal populations.

Kim R McConkey1, Georgina O'Farrill2

  • 1School of Natural Sciences and Engineering, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science Campus, Bangalore 560012, India.

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|February 14, 2015
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Species functional roles are lost with local extinction, threatening ecosystems. This study introduces a framework to identify

Keywords:
ecosystem stabilityfunctional diversityfunctional extinctionglobal changepopulation declinespecies interactions

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Conservation Biology
  • Ecosystem Function

Background:

  • Local extinction of animal species leads to loss of essential ecosystem functions and functional diversity.
  • Existing ecological theories linking function, diversity, and stability do not adequately address function loss in persistent populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a framework for identifying scenarios of 'cryptic' function loss in persistent animal populations.
  • To highlight the threat of cryptic function loss to global ecosystem stability.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a conceptual framework to analyze function loss beyond local extinction.
  • Identification of conditions leading to cryptic function loss, including population changes and behavioral adaptations.

Main Results:

  • Function loss can occur in species with persistent populations, termed 'cryptic' function loss.
  • Scenarios include population increases, declines (functional extinction), and behavioral adaptations to environmental changes.

Conclusions:

  • Cryptic function loss represents a significant, underappreciated threat to ecosystem stability.
  • The proposed framework aids in recognizing and potentially mitigating widespread function loss in ecosystems.