Trait biogeography of marine copepods – an analysis across scales

Brun, Philipp; Payne, Mark; Kiørboe, Thomas

doi:10.1111/ele.12688

Cited by 88 publications

(125 citation statements)

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“…It may be used to obtain an overview over correlations between traits, to investigate the taxonomic and spatiotemporal patterns of trait distributions in copepods (e.g., Brun et al, 2016a), or to inform and validate trait-based marine ecosystem models. However, due to environmental modulation of many quantitative traits and the limited data availability, the database may not always provide robust estimates on the species level, making more detailed comparisons difficult.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We screened the literature for information on marine copepods, mainly pelagic taxa. Particular attention was given to the trait body size, feeding mode, egg size, spawning strategy, myelination, and respiration rate, for some of which we have examined the biogeography elsewhere (Brun et al, 2016a). We present data coverage as well as trait distributions for the most important pelagic copepod families and discuss data collection methods as well as limitations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A trait database for marine copepods

Brun

Payne

Kiørboe

2017

Earth Syst. Sci. Data

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Abstract. The trait-based approach is gaining increasing popularity in marine plankton ecology but the field urgently needs more and easier accessible trait data to advance. We compiled trait information on marine pelagic copepods, a major group of zooplankton, from the published literature and from experts and organized the data into a structured database. We collected 9306 records for 14 functional traits. Particular attention was given to body size, feeding mode, egg size, spawning strategy, respiration rate, and myelination (presence of nerve sheathing). Most records were reported at the species level, but some phylogenetically conserved traits, such as myelination, were reported at higher taxonomic levels, allowing the entire diversity of around 10 800 recognized marine copepod species to be covered with a few records. Aside from myelination, data coverage was highest for spawning strategy and body size, while information was more limited for quantitative traits related to reproduction and physiology. The database may be used to investigate relationships between traits, to produce trait biogeographies, or to inform and validate trait-based marine ecosystem models. The data can be downloaded from PANGAEA,

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A trait database for marine copepods

Brun

Payne

Kiørboe

2017

Earth Syst. Sci. Data

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“…For example, it has been shown that trait diversity can provide a better predictor of primary production as compared to taxonomic diversity (Vogt et al, 2010). Numerous studies indicate that abiotic parameters, such as temperature, precipitation, and nutrient concentrations, can directly influence spatial and temporal trait patterns both at the population and at the community levels (Brun et al, 2016). TBE therefore constitutes a powerful tool linking species functional characteristics to their distributions along environmental gradients, as well as to community interactions and ecosystem function.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

From Elements to Function: Toward Unifying Ecological Stoichiometry and Trait-Based Ecology

Meunier

Boersma

El‐Sabaawi

et al. 2017

Front. Environ. Sci.

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The theories developed in ecological stoichiometry (ES) are fundamentally based on traits. Traits directly linked to cell/body stoichiometry, such as nutrient uptake and storage, as well as the associated trade-offs, have the potential to shape ecological interactions such as competition and predation within ecosystems. Further, traits that indirectly influence and are influenced by nutritional requirements, such as cell/body size and growth rate, are tightly linked to organismal stoichiometry. Despite their physiological and ecological relevance, traits are rarely explicitly integrated in the framework of ES and, currently, the major challenge is to more closely inter-connect ES with trait-based ecology (TBE). Here, we highlight four interconnected nutrient trait groups, i.e., acquisition, body stoichiometry, storage, and excretion, which alter interspecific competition in autotrophs and heterotrophs. We also identify key differences between producer-consumer interactions in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. For instance, our synthesis shows that, in contrast to aquatic ecosystems, traits directly influencing herbivore stoichiometry in forested ecosystems should play only a minor role in the cycling of nutrients. We furthermore describe how linking ES and TBE can help predict the ecosystem consequences of global change. The concepts we highlight here allow us to predict that increasing N:P ratios in ecosystems should shift trait dominances in communities toward species with higher optimal N:P ratios and higher P uptake affinity, while decreasing N retention and increasing P storage.

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“…For instance, body size tends to increase with latitude for many groups such as birds (Ashton 2002), phytoplankton (Barton et al 2013), and zooplankton (Brun et al 2016a). On a global scale, there are indications that some traits follow similar spatial patterns between different taxa.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…More specifically, we aim to answer the following research questions: (1) Is there a consistent spatial pattern in key traits across groups? These traits were selected to cover key biological performances of an organism (such as feeding, growth, and reproduction) and because they are expected to respond to environmental gradients (Brun et al 2016a, Beauchard et al 2017. (3) Do these drivers differ between groups?…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial distribution of life‐history traits and their response to environmental gradients across multiple marine taxa

et al. 2018

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Trait-based approaches enable comparison of community composition across multiple organism groups. Yet, little is known about the degree to which empirical trait responses found for one taxonomic group can be generalized across organisms. In this study, we investigated the spatial variability of marine community-weighted mean traits and compared their environmental responses across multiple taxa and habitats, including pelagic zooplankton (copepods), demersal fish, and benthic infaunal invertebrates. We used extensive, spatially explicit datasets collected from scientific surveys in the North Sea and examined community composition of these groups using a trait-based approach. In order to cover the key biological characteristics of an organism, we considered three life-history traits (adult size, offspring size, and fecundity) and taxon-specific feeding traits. While many of the traits co-varied in space and notably demonstrated a south-north gradient, none of the traits showed a consistent spatial distribution across all groups. However, traits are often correlated as a result of trade-offs. When studying spatial patterns of multiple traits variability in fish and copepods, we showed a high spatial correlation. This also applied to a lesser extent to fish and benthic infauna, whereas no correlation was found between benthic infauna and copepods. The result suggested a decoupling in the community traits between strictly benthic and strictly pelagic species. The strongest drivers of spatial variability for many community traits are the gradients in temperature seasonality, primary productivity, fishing effort, and depth. Spatial variability in benthic traits also co-varied with descriptors of the seabed habitat. Overall, results showed that trait responses to environmental gradients cannot be generalized across organism groups, pointing toward potential complex responses of multi-taxa communities to environmental changes and highlighting the need for cross-habitat multi-trait analyses to foresee how environmental change will affect community structure and biodiversity at large.

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Trait biogeography of marine copepods – an analysis across scales

Cited by 88 publications

References 54 publications

A trait database for marine copepods

A trait database for marine copepods

From Elements to Function: Toward Unifying Ecological Stoichiometry and Trait-Based Ecology

Spatial distribution of life‐history traits and their response to environmental gradients across multiple marine taxa

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