Foundation species such as corals, trees, and bivalves enhance ecosystem function and biodiversity by creating habitat for associated organisms, ameliorating stress, and modifying energy flow. However, theory generally ignores their ecological functions after death. Here we review the traits and functions of dead foundation species relative to their living counterparts, and the processes that control their persistence. We also conduct a meta-analysis to quantify where the effect of dead foundation species on community functions is unique or redundant to their living counterparts. We focus on marine ecosystems due to the greater diversity of foundation species they support and the increasing prevalence of mass-mortality events in these systems. Our study reveals how foundation species continue to provide important functions after death and exhibit new functions that are distinct from when they are alive. We develop a framework using broad, trait-based functional differences among types of dead foundation species to predict whether they will promote stability by enhancing ecosystem resilience or promote shifts to alternate states. Our synthesis establishes how an understanding of the ecological importance of dead foundation species can assist in predicting system trajectories, enhance restoration and conservation efforts, and contribute to ecological theory on habitat heterogeneity and ecosystem function.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.