Abstract

Species functional traits provide an important conceptual link between the effects of disturbances on community composition and diversity, and their ultimate outcomes for ecosystem functioning. Across 10 boreal streams covering a gradient of increasing intensity of land-use management, from forested to agricultural sites, we analysed relationships between leaf decomposition, the feeding traits of detritivores and measures of anthropogenic disturbances in two seasons. The direct effect of increasing land-use intensity on decomposition was positive and was associated with increases in nutrient concentrations and current velocities. However, this relationship was countered by negative effects associated with a loss of detritivore functional diversity along the gradient during autumn and shifts in species trait composition during spring, limiting the net change in functioning associated with increasing land-use management overall. Our results highlight the key roles that trait identity and diversity can play in mediating the effects of human disturbance on ecosystem functioning.

Published in

Advances in Ecological Research
2015, Volume: 52, number: 52, pages: 169-200
Title: Trait-Based Ecology - From Structure to Function
ISBN: 9780128024454
Publisher: Elsevier

SLU Authors

• Frainer, André

  • Department of Environmental Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Umeå University

• Mckie, Brendan

  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Ecology
Other Biological Topics


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.aecr.2015.03.002

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/71903