Functional traits underlie ecosystem services across different trophic levels.

DE BELLO, F.; LAVOREL, S.; DIAZ, S.; HARRINGTON, R; CORNELIESSEN, J.H.C.; BARDGETT, R.D.; BERG, M.P.; CIPRIOTTI, P.A.; FELD, C.K.; HERING, D.; DA SILVA, P.M.; POTTS, S.G.; SANDIN, L.; SOUSA, P.D.; STORKEY, J.; WARDLE, D.A.; HARRISON, P.A

BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION

SPRINGER

Año: 2010 p. 1023 - 1034

0960-3115

Functional traits of organisms can serve as an applied tool for predicting and quantifying ecosystem service delivery in response to biodiversity loss. Published studies collected (>240) prove effects of functional traits on various ecosystem services, and the underlying ecosystem processes, across different trophic levels. The majority of studies considered plants and soil invertebrates, but relationships have also been documented for a range of biota and habitats. Within each trophic level, specific processes and services are affected by a combination of different traits. At the same time, particular traits are involved simultaneously in the control of different processes, resulting in predictable clumps of traits and services. Robust associations exist between those traits of plants and soil organisms that underlie ecosystem nutrient economy, herbivory control and fodder and fibre production. The review demonstrates the need and potential for integrating the functional traits approach into predictive models of ecosystem services, together with (or rather than only) species richness and species composition/identity.