Presentación plenaria inaugural: Theophrastus in the tangled bank: searching for generality underpinning plant functional trait diversity

DÍAZ S

Londres

Congreso; 11 International INTECOL Meeting; 2013

INTECOL (Asociación Internacional de Ecología)

Theophrastus in the tangled bank: searching for generality underpinning plant functional trait diversity Sandra Díaz Plenary presentation ? 11th INTECOL Meeting ? 19 August 2013, London ABSTRACT The functional traits of organisms are at the core of their responses to the environment and their effects on ecosystem properties. Because of this, functional trait diversity (the kind, range, distribution and relative abundance of the functional traits of the organisms present in a system) is increasingly used as a way to understand the role of the biota in ecosystem properties, and its fate in the face of rapid environmental change. An approach based on functional traits is expected to enhance mechanistic insight into, and predictive power over the role and fate of the world?s biodiversity. However, the overwhelming variety of form and function of living organisms poses a formidable challenge and calls for generalization and formalization. First, fundamental recurrent patterns of trait specialization, a long-standing field of ecological investigation, need to involve the whole body and life cycle of organisms, and be applicable to the widest possible range of ecosystem types and biotas. Second, information on fundamental traits needs to be available for sufficient species worldwide. Third, conceptual scaffolding and analytical methods are needed to dissect functional diversity into its different components and assess the importance of the latter in concrete field situations, so it will be possible to move from ?biodiversity matters? to ?what components matter to what properties, and to what people?. Fourth, internally consistent conceptual frameworks are needed linking functional diversity, evolution and the shaping of biotas by different human societies in the search for ecosystem services. For plants, these four requirements are now being met, or are on their way to being met to varying degrees. This is arguably bringing about a turning point in the development of biodiversity science.