Phylogenetic and phenotypic originality and abundance in a cerrado plant community

Abstract

The originality of a species is how much that species contributes to the rarity of traits in a community. Here we tested the relation between abundance and both phylogenetic and phenotypic originality. We measured nine traits associated with defence against herbivory, as well as phylogenetic information and abundance for woody plant species in a woodland cerrado in southeastern Brazil. About 90% of the species accounted for about 50% of the phylogenetic and phenotypic originality: most woody species had low originality. Abundance was related to tougher leaves, lower specific leaf area and lower originality based on nutritional quality. Our results suggest that herbivory may reduce the abundance of species with low resistance to herbivory and with different nutritional quality. Nevertheless, abundance was not related to either phylogenetic or phenotypic originality, so extinction of rare species may not endanger overall community function as long as more abundant species are retained.We argue that this is a consequence of the low complementarity of a large number of woody species.

Loss of phylogenetic and functional originalities of woody cerrado species in simulated extinction scenarios

“…This pattern was similar to that found when evaluating traits related to protection against herbivory in another cerrado community (Silva et al . ). Whereas it is generally assumed that traits are retained during the evolution of plant species lineages (Ackerly ), a positive phylogenetic signal – the tendency of related species to share similar attributes – is absent for many traits of the plant species (Cavender‐Bares et al .…”

“…; Silva et al . ). Taken together, these measures could elucidate how environmental conditions affect biotic interactions, changing community composition and resource use (Pavoine & Bonsall ).…”

Reconciling the concepts and measures of diversity, rarity and originality in ecology and evolution

“…Grenié et al, ). Instead, it is usually evaluated at the regional and local levels, as species' characteristics are directly related to ecosystem functioning and depend mostly on field data (Da Silva , Silva & Batalha, ; Mouillot et al, ; Rosatti et al , ). Several of these studies have underlined the potential vulnerability of functionally original species (Mouillot et al, ) and the negative impact of human disturbance on these species, with potential consequences on the sustainability of ecosystems (Rosatti et al , ).…”

“…Several of these studies have underlined the potential vulnerability of functionally original species (Mouillot et al, ) and the negative impact of human disturbance on these species, with potential consequences on the sustainability of ecosystems (Rosatti et al , ). However, these conclusions may depend on the taxa, traits and geographic areas analysed (Da Silva et al , ; Brandl et al, ).…”

“…The skewness of an abundance curve is thus inversely related to species diversity, with the latter increasing with an increase in abundance evenness. A hollow curve can also describe the distribution of species' originality in the case of many redundant and few original species (Da Silva et al , ). Both species abundance and originality could thus be described by the same tool: a hollow curve.…”