Final Activity Report Summary - TRAIT-ENV DIVERSITY (Relationship between the diversity of habitat, species, and biological traits at multiple spatial and temporal scales in streams)
The goal of the 'Relationship between the diversity of habitat, species, and biological traits at multiple spatial and temporal scales in streams' (TRAIT-ENV DIVERSITY) project was to determine the influence of various environmental factors on the biodiversity of stream invertebrates at large spatial scales. In particular, the research team was interested in two main issues:
(1) What is the relationship between environmental diversity and biological diversity? and
(2) Can we use such biological diversity in a tool for assessing ecosystem health?
To examine these issues, biological traits of the organisms were used, because it was hypothesised that these traits (e.g. life span, morphology, food eaten, behaviour) would have an important impact on their distributions and abundance, and thereby on the biodiversity patterns. First, the research team examined the influence of environmental factors (size, diversity, and condition of the stream habitat) on biological diversity at multiple spatial scales. Then, there was a comparison among trait patterns of communities across continents (United States and Europe) to determine whether biological traits could be used at a large spatial scale to compare communities made up of different species. Lastly, the potential of biological traits to be used as a bio-monitoring tool was examined, particularly for assessing the effects of multiple impacts at a given site.
Overall, it was found that trait composition is relatively stable across large spatial scales (even cross-continent) in natural or semi-natural conditions. Conforming to the expectations, it was also found that environmental factors at multiple spatial scales influence both trait and taxonomic composition of communities (i.e. there are 'filters' at continental, regional, landscape, and local scales that influence the composition of communities). Furthermore, it was found that traits provide a promising tool for linking species responses to multiple impacts in river ecosystems. In conclusion, this project shows that the biological trait approach provides an intellectual link between theoretical and applied ecology that is not limited to running water ecosystems.
(1) What is the relationship between environmental diversity and biological diversity? and
(2) Can we use such biological diversity in a tool for assessing ecosystem health?
To examine these issues, biological traits of the organisms were used, because it was hypothesised that these traits (e.g. life span, morphology, food eaten, behaviour) would have an important impact on their distributions and abundance, and thereby on the biodiversity patterns. First, the research team examined the influence of environmental factors (size, diversity, and condition of the stream habitat) on biological diversity at multiple spatial scales. Then, there was a comparison among trait patterns of communities across continents (United States and Europe) to determine whether biological traits could be used at a large spatial scale to compare communities made up of different species. Lastly, the potential of biological traits to be used as a bio-monitoring tool was examined, particularly for assessing the effects of multiple impacts at a given site.
Overall, it was found that trait composition is relatively stable across large spatial scales (even cross-continent) in natural or semi-natural conditions. Conforming to the expectations, it was also found that environmental factors at multiple spatial scales influence both trait and taxonomic composition of communities (i.e. there are 'filters' at continental, regional, landscape, and local scales that influence the composition of communities). Furthermore, it was found that traits provide a promising tool for linking species responses to multiple impacts in river ecosystems. In conclusion, this project shows that the biological trait approach provides an intellectual link between theoretical and applied ecology that is not limited to running water ecosystems.