What do you mean "functional" in ecology? Patterns versus processes

Ecology and Evolution
Florence VolaireSylvain Delzon

Abstract

Use of the term "functional" trait has increased exponentially in ecology. Although accounting for numerous ecological questions, this concept raises several issues. We propose that the term "functional" could be misleading because (1) no rigorous criteria exist to identify "functional" traits and (2) it suggests that only some traits ("functional" ones) can inform our understanding of species functioning, whatever the scale or discipline. Hence, the concept of "functional" trait in ecology is starting to be challenged and it remains unclear why some traits should be considered functional, whereas other traits should not. We argue that the most used "functional" traits are meaningful because they reflect important differences between populations or species, based on synchronic comparisons, that is, irrespective of time (hereafter "pattern" traits). Hence, they are useful for identifying trade-offs and strategies across large numbers of observations, usually at rather coarse scales, and are most often used in analyses of "big data." However, given that many ecological processes occur across short time scales and narrow gradients of climate and resource availability, the efficacy of these traits to inform us about these ecologica...Continue Reading

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Citations

Apr 4, 2021·Journal of Environmental Management·Sterling B TebbettDavid R Bellwood
May 18, 2021·Trends in Plant Science·Mar Sobral
Jun 19, 2021·Ecology and Evolution·Guilherme Silva ModoloMarciel José Ferreira
Jul 25, 2021·Tree Physiology·Olivier Jean Leonce ManziClément Stahl

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