Macrofaunal production and biological traits: Spatial relationships along the UK continental shelf

Bolam, Stefan G.; Eggleton, J.D.

doi:10.1016/j.seares.2014.01.001

Cited by 62 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…A possible explanation for this is that they do not encompass the full array of key macrobenthic functional traits that underpin ecosystem functioning and efficiency processes. Yet another more targeted approach, which focuses on biological traits analysis and has been proposed for the study of functional diversity (Bremner et al, 2003;Bremner, 2008;Bolam and Eggleton, 2014), also entails some limitations since our understanding of benthic functional diversity is still scant (Bolam et al, 2010). Furthermore, identification of the traits that have a direct and indirect functional role in ecosystems is highly problematic (Pakeman, 2011).…”

Section: Area Codementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since functional diversity provides a direct mechanistic link between diversity and ecosystem functioning, a growing amount of research is being devoted to assessing the effect of functional-rather than taxon-diversity on ecosystem functioning (Petchey et al, 2004;Reiss et al, 2009). Numerous independent variables of functional traits, including feeding guilds, reproduction strategy, bioturbation mode and/or body shape (e.g., Ieno et al, 2006;Carvalho et al, 2013;Pape et al, 2013;Piot et al, 2014;Quéiros et al, 2015), and biological traits analysis (e.g., Bremner et al, 2003;Bolam and Eggleton, 2014) have been applied to express functional diversity. Nevertheless, there is currently no universally accepted methodology for selecting the most appropriate traits for a given study (Bolam, 2013), and quite often the selection is heavily affected by the limited biological information that is available for benthic invertebrate taxa (Bremner, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exploring the Relationship between Macrofaunal Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning in the Deep Sea

et al. 2017

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The global scale of the biodiversity crisis has stimulated research into the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (BEF). Even though the deep sea is the largest biome on Earth, BEF studies in deep-sea benthic ecosystems are scant. Moreover, the small number of recent studies, which mostly focus on meiobenthic nematodes, report conflicting results that range from a very clear positive relationship to none at all. In this BEF study, the deep-sea macrofauna were used as a model to investigate the structural and functional diversity of macrofauna assemblages at three depths (1,200, 1,900, and 3,000 m) in seven open-slope systems from the North-Eastern Atlantic Ocean to the Central-Eastern Mediterranean Sea. The presence and nature of BEF relationships were studied considering two spatial scales, the large and the basin scale, in different environmental settings. Total benthic biomass and macrofaunal predator biomass were used as proxies to assess ecosystem functioning. Ecosystem efficiency was expressed as macrofaunal biomass to biopolymeric carbon content ratio, macrofaunal biomass to prokaryotic biomass ratio, macrofaunal biomass to meiofaunal biomass ratio, and meiofaunal biomass to prokaryotic biomass ratio. On both large and basin spatial scales, some significant relationships between macrofaunal diversity and ecosystem functioning and efficiency were reported. When significant, the nature of BEF relations was positive and exponential or linear supporting the general idea that a higher diversity can enhance ecosystem functioning. Other BEF relationships were explained by the effect of environmental variables. More data from different deep-sea systems are needed, to better elucidate the consequences of biodiversity loss on the ocean floor.

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Section: Area Codementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the Relationship between Macrofaunal Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning in the Deep Sea

et al. 2017

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“…The analyses were done on trait groups rather than by species abundances (Bolam and Eggleton, 2014), in order to analyse the effect of the exclusion of fisheries on the ecological functions and properties of the benthic community. The results indicate that less than 4% of the variation in trait groups and their corresponding modalities between the closed area and the surrounding fished area can be explained by fisheries.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…De gebruikte database is binnen het BENTHIS project ontwikkeld met als doel effecten van visserijdruk op het functioneren van het benthisch ecosysteem inzichtelijk te maken (Bolam and Eggleton, 2014). Deze database bevat informatie voor meer dan 850 taxa (op genus niveau) voor 10 verschillende modaliteiten welke de levensgeschiedenis, gedrag en morfologie van soorten beschrijven, zoals bijvoorbeeld levensverwachting, mobiliteit en voedselvoorkeur.…”

Section: Samenvattingunclassified

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Benthic development around a gas platform in the North Sea -: a small scale closure for fisheries : a trait based approach

Glorius¹,

Onderzoeksformatie²,

Hal³

et al. 2016

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Template for using biological trait groupings when exploring large‐scale variation in seafloor multifunctionality

Villnäs

Hewitt

Snickars

et al. 2017

Ecological Applications

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Abstract. Understanding large-scale spatial variation in ecosystem properties and associated functionality is key for successful conservation of ecosystems. This study provides a template for how to estimate differences in ecosystem functionality over large spatial scales by using groupings of biological traits. We focus on trait groupings that describe three important benthic ecosystem properties, namely bioturbation, community stability, and juvenile dispersal. Recognizing that groups of traits interact and are constrained within an organism, we statistically define important functional trait subgroups that describe each ecosystem property. The sub-groups are scored according to their weighted ecological impact to gain an overall estimation of the cumulative expression of each ecosystem property at individual sites. Furthermore, by assigning each property a value relative to its observed maximum, and by summing up the individual property values, we offer an estimate of benthic ecosystem multifunctionality. Based on a spatially extensive benthic data set, we were able to identify coastal areas with high and low potential for the considered benthic ecosystem properties and the measure of ecosystem multifunctionality. Importantly, we show that a large part of the spatial variation in functional trait sub-groups and in benthic ecosystem multifunctionality was explained by environmental change. Our results indicate that through this simplification it is possible to estimate the functionality of the seafloor. Such information is vital in marine spatial planning efforts striving to balance the utilization with the preservation of natural resources.

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Macrofaunal production and biological traits: Spatial relationships along the UK continental shelf

Cited by 62 publications

References 64 publications

Exploring the Relationship between Macrofaunal Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning in the Deep Sea

Exploring the Relationship between Macrofaunal Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning in the Deep Sea

Benthic development around a gas platform in the North Sea -: a small scale closure for fisheries : a trait based approach

Template for using biological trait groupings when exploring large‐scale variation in seafloor multifunctionality

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