Dataset Information

Functional trait space and the latitudinal diversity gradient.

ABSTRACT: The processes causing the latitudinal gradient in species richness remain elusive. Ecological theories for the origin of biodiversity gradients, such as competitive exclusion, neutral dynamics, and environmental filtering, make predictions for how functional diversity should vary at the alpha (within local assemblages), beta (among assemblages), and gamma (regional pool) scales. We test these predictions by quantifying hypervolumes constructed from functional traits representing major axes of plant strategy variation (specific leaf area, plant height, and seed mass) in tree assemblages spanning the temperate and tropical New World. Alpha-scale trait volume decreases with absolute latitude and is often lower than sampling expectation, consistent with environmental filtering theory. Beta-scale overlap decays with geographic distance fastest in the temperate zone, again consistent with environmental filtering theory. In contrast, gamma-scale trait space shows a hump-shaped relationship with absolute latitude, consistent with no theory. Furthermore, the overall temperate trait hypervolume was larger than the overall tropical hypervolume, indicating that the temperate zone permits a wider range of trait combinations or that niche packing is stronger in the tropical zone. Although there are limitations in the data, our analyses suggest that multiple processes have shaped trait diversity in trees, reflecting no consistent support for any one theory.

SUBMITTER: Lamanna C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4183280 | biostudies-other | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Functional trait space and the latitudinal diversity gradient.

Lamanna Christine C Blonder Benjamin B Violle Cyrille C Kraft Nathan J B NJ Sandel Brody B Šímová Irena I Donoghue John C JC Svenning Jens-Christian JC McGill Brian J BJ Boyle Brad B Buzzard Vanessa V Dolins Steven S Jørgensen Peter M PM Marcuse-Kubitza Aaron A Morueta-Holme Naia N Peet Robert K RK Piel William H WH Regetz James J Schildhauer Mark M Spencer Nick N Thiers Barbara B Wiser Susan K SK Enquist Brian J BJ

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 20140915 38

The processes causing the latitudinal gradient in species richness remain elusive. Ecological theories for the origin of biodiversity gradients, such as competitive exclusion, neutral dynamics, and environmental filtering, make predictions for how functional diversity should vary at the alpha (within local assemblages), beta (among assemblages), and gamma (regional pool) scales. We test these predictions by quantifying hypervolumes constructed from functional traits representing major axes of pl ...[more]

PMID: 25225365

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Functional trait space and the latitudinal diversity gradient.

Publications

Functional trait space and the latitudinal diversity gradient.

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