Ecology and Evolution最新文献

{"title":"Life History Strategies Drive Meso-Scale Distribution Patterns in Coastal Benthic Macroinvertebrates","authors":"Molline Natanah C. Gusha,&nbsp;Christopher D. McQuaid","doi":"10.1002/ece3.70461","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ece3.70461","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The environment shapes the spatial distribution of species, but species also comprise suites of traits which may indicate their adaptability to a specific environment. This forms the basis of trait biogeography studies. We thus examined how a species distribution is not only influenced by its environment and traits, but by interactions among its traits. Trait information was collected for 150 intertidal macroinvertebrates along a 3000 km environmental and biogeographic gradient on the South African coast. This information was analysed, as functional entities (FEs) were species performing similar functions that have the same trait values and were further condensed into two trait domains (Reproduction and Lifestyle). We then defined Life History Strategies (LHS) as specific combinations of Lifestyle and Reproduction FEs. Seven combinations of Lifestyle and Reproduction formed LHS that dominated total biomass. Some of these LHS were ubiquitous, while others showed geographic patterns across our west-east environmental gradient. For Lifestyle, filter-feeders exhibited high abundances on the East (subtropical, oligotrophic) and West (cool-temperate, eutrophic) extremes of the biogeographic gradient, but differed between the two in size at reproductive maturity and larval development type. This similarity in functionality of feeding mechanism and mobility with different reproductive strategies suggests a trait trade–off (investment in one trait reduces resources for others) between the Reproduction and Lifestyle domains. Within the Reproduction domain, gonochoristic, annual planktotrophic reproduction was common across bioregions, reflecting spin-offs (investment in one trait facilitates another trait) among these traits. Gonochoristic investment in less frequent episodic reproduction is another trade-off, with investment in large size and delayed maturation being a trade–off for many reproductive cycles. Overall, although our data supports the habitat templet model (i.e., the importance of environmental drivers), it further indicates that species distribution patterns observed along the South African coast reflect strong trait interactions and biomass patterns related to their LHS.</p>","PeriodicalId":11467,"journal":{"name":"Ecology and Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11502938/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142497151","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Seasonal Patterns of Resource Use Within Natural Populations of Burying Beetles","authors":"Swastika Issar,&nbsp;Chloé Leroy,&nbsp;Patrizia d'Ettorre,&nbsp;Rebecca M. Kilner","doi":"10.1002/ece3.70429","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ece3.70429","url":null,"abstract":"<p>For organisms in temperate environments, seasonal variation in resource availability and weather conditions exert fluctuating selection pressures on survival and fitness, resulting in diverse adaptive responses. By manipulating resource availability on a local spatial scale, we studied seasonal patterns of resource use within natural populations of burying beetles <i>Nicrophorus vespilloides</i> in a Norfolk woodland. Burying beetles are necrophagous insects that breed on vertebrate carcasses. They are active in Europe between April and October, after which they burrow into the soil and overwinter. Using breeding and chemical analyses, we compared the fecundity and physiological state of beetles that differed in their seasonal resource use. We found seasonal variation in carrion use by wild burying beetles and correlated differences in their reproductive success and cuticular hydrocarbon profiles. Our results provide novel insight into the seasonal correlates of behaviour, physiology and life history in burying beetles.</p>","PeriodicalId":11467,"journal":{"name":"Ecology and Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11502939/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142516345","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Of Clams and Clades: Genetic Diversity and Connectivity of Small Giant Clams (Tridacna maxima) in the Southern Pacific Ocean","authors":"Ryan J. Nevatte,&nbsp;Michael R. Gillings,&nbsp;Kirby Morejohn,&nbsp;Lara Ainley,&nbsp;Libby Liggins,&nbsp;Morgan S. Pratchett,&nbsp;Andrew S. Hoey,&nbsp;Peter C. Doll,&nbsp;Brendon Pasisi,&nbsp;Jane E. Williamson","doi":"10.1002/ece3.70474","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ece3.70474","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Giant clams (<i>Tridacna</i> and <i>Hippopus</i>) are large marine bivalves occupying tropical and subtropical reefs in the Indo-Pacific. Giant clam populations have declined in many areas of the Indo-Pacific and continue to be threatened by harvesting and environmental change. The small giant clam (<i>Tridacna maxima</i>) occurs throughout the Indo-Pacific and has been subject to several phylogeographic studies across its range. However, given its broad range, there are several areas where the genetic diversity and connectivity of <i>T. maxima</i> populations has not been characterised. Here, we analyse the mitochondrial marker cytochrome oxidase 1 (CO1) to examine the genetic diversity and connectivity of <i>T. maxima</i> in two regions: Australia's Coral Sea Marine Park and the Cook Islands. Samples were collected from 13 reefs within the Coral Sea Marine Park and ten islands within the Cook Islands archipelago. <i>Tridacna maxima</i> across the sampled region of the Coral Sea did not display any population structure, whereas significant population structure was detected for <i>T. maxima</i> within the Cook Islands. For the Cook Islands, most pairwise comparisons involving an island in the northern group (Manihiki) were significant, as were comparisons for Palmerston (a more centrally located island) and the southern islands, Rarotonga and Mangaia. Both regions displayed high haplotype diversities (&gt; 0.90), indicating that they are important repositories of genetic diversity. Additional CO1 data from throughout <i>T. maxima</i>'s distribution showed that the Coral Sea clams belonged to the clade occurring in the South-Western Pacific Ocean, whilst those from the Cook Islands belonged to a unique clade found in the Central Pacific Ocean. This clade extended from Fiji in the west to French Polynesia in the east and the atolls of Palmyra and Tarawa (Kiribati) in the north. Our assessment of genetic diversity and population structure in these regions will assist with management decisions for the species.</p>","PeriodicalId":11467,"journal":{"name":"Ecology and Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11511625/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142497158","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Using Genetic Data to Determine Origin for Out-Migrating Smolt and Returning Adult Steelhead Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in a Southeast Alaska Drainage","authors":"Evan J. Barfuss,&nbsp;Bridey E. Brown,&nbsp;Shriya Sachdeva,&nbsp;Asher B. Smith,&nbsp;Frank P. Thrower,&nbsp;Charles D. Waters,&nbsp;Krista M. Nichols,&nbsp;Matthew C. Hale","doi":"10.1002/ece3.70472","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ece3.70472","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i> is a partially migratory salmonid species, and many migratory populations (known as steelhead) have declined in recent decades in the western United States and Canada. Closely related resident populations (known as rainbow trout) may be an effective resource in the recovery of these declining migratory populations. However, the extent to which different populations of resident rainbow trout produce migratory individuals and how likely these individuals are to return as adults to spawn remains unknown. One limitation to answering these questions is the identification of loci that accurately segregate between migratory and resident populations. To address this limitation, we used existing genomic data from a well-studied population of <i>O. mykiss</i> from Southeastern Alaska (Sashin Creek) to identify loci that segregate between phenotypes. We then utilized Double Mismatch Allele-Specific qPCR (DMAS-qPCR) to genotype 233 smolts out-migrating from Sashin Creek and 99 returning adult steelhead trout across a five-year period to determine (a) the origin of out-migrating smolts and returning adults and (b) to quantify the extent to which the resident population contributes to the migratory population. Our results show that 37.3% of out-migrating smolts were produced from resident parents, whereas 19.3% of returning adults had resident parents. Ultimately, these results demonstrate that resident populations of rainbow trout produce migrant offspring that successfully complete their migration and return to spawn, increasing population sizes and likely improving genetic diversity. Therefore, conservation efforts should consider landlocked resident populations for producing smolts when developing recovery plans for migratory steelhead populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":11467,"journal":{"name":"Ecology and Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11502969/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142497070","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Root puppet masters: Infauna shift trait-productivity relationships in submerged aquatic vegetation communities","authors":"Charlotte Angove,&nbsp;Alf Norkko,&nbsp;Camilla Gustafsson","doi":"10.1002/ece3.70305","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ece3.70305","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) growth can be limited by light and nutrient availability. Infauna are common inhabitants of SAV meadows. Their activity increases nutrient mobility, and they can positively affect plant growth, but we do not know their role in plant trait-biomass production relationships. We approached this problem using a 15-week in situ transplant experiment in the Baltic Sea with experimental additions of <i>Macoma balthica</i>, a sedentary bivalve, to experimental SAV communities. Experimental plant communities were tricultures with varying species composition, compiled from a pool of six different species, to create an experimental gradient of trait community weighted means that allowed us to detect changes more clearly in plant trait-biomass production relationships in response to the <i>M. balthica</i> treatment. We evaluated the relationships between plant height, leaf area, maximum root length (MMRL), specific root length (SRL), and SAV biomass production, then compared <i>M. balthica</i> condition index (soft tissue biomass [WW, mg]/valve length [mm]) to plant community leaf tissue nutrient concentrations (N (%DW), δ¹⁵N). Community biomass production was significantly related to plant height in the control treatment, but this relationship was decoupled in the <i>M. balthica</i> treatment, where community biomass production was instead significantly related to MMRL and SRL. This suggested a shift in the predominant SAV growth strategy, from height-related to root-related community biomass production. Leaf tissue δ¹⁵N was significantly related to <i>M. balthica</i> condition index. The growth of one species, <i>Potamogeton perfoliatus</i>, was significantly inhibited by the <i>M. balthica</i> treatment. Our results show that infauna have an important role in the plant traits related to community biomass production, and they have the potential to shape plant community structure via selective influences on different plant species.</p>","PeriodicalId":11467,"journal":{"name":"Ecology and Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11511661/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142497164","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Oreocharis scutifolia (Gesneriaceae), a Peltate-Leaved New Species From the Dry–Hot Valley of the Jinsha River Basin, Yunnan, China","authors":"Zhi Xie,&nbsp;Na-Na Peng,&nbsp;Miao Zhang,&nbsp;Guo-En Ding,&nbsp;Fang Wen,&nbsp;Hang-Hui Kong","doi":"10.1002/ece3.70442","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ece3.70442","url":null,"abstract":"<p>A peltate-leaved new species, <i>Oreocharis scutifolia</i> Z. Xie &amp; H. H. Kong, endemic to the Dry–Hot Valley of the Jinsha River Basin, Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated here. It is similar to <i>O. cordatula</i> (Craib) Pellegr. and <i>O. aurantiaca</i> Baill. in floral characters but differs in its peltate leaf blades, which are unique in the genus (and only occur in one population of <i>O. henryana</i> Oliv., but its flowers are smaller, campanulate, and deep purple). Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on transcriptome data confirmed its systematic position to be sister group with <i>O. henryana</i>, <i>O. cordatula</i>, <i>O. minor</i> Pellegr., and <i>O. aurantiaca</i> Baill. (LPP = 1), and well apart from the remaining members of the genus. The new species <i>O. scutifolia</i> is assessed as “Critically Endangered” following the IUCN categories and criteria, due to its small and single population, thus making it face serious threats from human disturbance, invasive plants, shrinking habitat, and decreasing habitat quality.</p>","PeriodicalId":11467,"journal":{"name":"Ecology and Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11502513/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142497118","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Elevational and Seasonal Patterns of Plant–Hummingbird Interactions in a High Tropical Mountain","authors":"Eugenia M. Sentíes-Aguilar,&nbsp;Silvana Martén-Rodríguez,&nbsp;Guillermo Huerta-Ramos,&nbsp;Sergio Díaz-Infante,&nbsp;Gabriel López-Segoviano,&nbsp;Armando Aguirre-Jaimes,&nbsp;Mauricio Quesada-Avendaño,&nbsp;Jorge Cortés-Flores,&nbsp;María del Coro Arizmendi","doi":"10.1002/ece3.70469","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ece3.70469","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Tropical mountain ecosystems harbor diverse biological communities, making them valuable models for exploring the factors that shape ecological interactions along environmental gradients. We investigated the spatial and temporal drivers of plant–hummingbird interaction networks across three forest types (pine-oak, fir, and subalpine) along a tropical high mountain gradient in western Mexico (2400 to 3700 m.a.s.l.). We measured species abundance, diversity, morphology, and interaction frequencies. Plant diversity metrics significantly declined in the highest elevation subalpine forest, whereas hummingbird diversity remained consistent across elevations. Interaction networks were similarly nested across elevations, but they were more specialized in the subalpine forest, where lower plant species richness and higher floral abundance led to greater resource partitioning among hummingbirds. Plant–hummingbird networks were larger and less specialized during the dry season, driven by greater species diversity and abundance. Species turnover explained network variation along the elevational gradient, while interaction rewiring and the arrival of migratory hummingbirds explained changes between seasons. Phenological overlap was the most important driver of the observed variation in interaction frequencies across elevations and seasons. Flower abundance had a minor influence on interaction frequencies at low- and mid-elevation networks, and hummingbird abundance was significant for dry- and rainy-season networks. Morphological matching was significant in the low-elevation forest and in the dry season. Plant phylogenetic relatedness had negligible effects on interaction patterns, but hummingbird phylogeny influenced feeding preferences in high-elevation and rainy-season networks. Our findings highlight the role of species turnover, interaction rewiring, and phenological overlap in structuring plant–hummingbird networks, with specific effects of abundance, morphology, and phylogeny varying with elevation and season. High-elevation ecosystems play a crucial role as reservoirs of floral resources for both resident and migratory hummingbirds during resource-scarce periods, emphasizing their importance in maintaining biodiversity in tropical mountain gradients.</p>","PeriodicalId":11467,"journal":{"name":"Ecology and Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11500213/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142497144","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Using Empirical Performance Data to Source Bluebunch and Snake River Wheatgrass Plant Materials to Restoration Sites in the Eastern Great Basin, USA","authors":"Thomas A. Jones,&nbsp;Thomas A. Monaco","doi":"10.1002/ece3.70392","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ece3.70392","url":null,"abstract":"<p>To infer adaptation of plant material, restoration practitioners often consider only surrogate geographic or climatic information. However, empirical biomass data could assist in deciding what material to use where. To test this approach, we transplanted seven bluebunch wheatgrass (BBWG; <i>Pseudoroegneria spicata</i>) and five Snake River wheatgrass (SRWG; <i>Elymus wawawaiensis</i>) populations to three sites ranging from low to high precipitation (LPPT, MPPT, and HPPT). We measured establishment-year (2011) biomass at all sites and 2012–16 biomass at MPPT and HPPT. When data were standardized by site, P-7 and Anatone produced the most BBWG biomass across sites and Wahluke the least in both 2011 and 2012–16, while E-58X produced the most SRWG biomass and Secar and E-49X the least in 2011 and 2012–16, respectively. Among BBWG populations in 2011, relative performance of P-7 (G6 generation) and Goldar increased and Whitmar decreased at wetter sites, while Columbia was stable (high) and Wahluke was stable (low) over sites. Among SRWG populations in 2011, Secar, Secar78, and E-58X increased at drier sites and Discovery at wetter sites. However, once established, populations of both species were much more similar for trend. In 2012–16, trend somewhat increased for five BBWG populations from MPPT to HPPT, was stable for Wahluke, but declined for Columbia, while all five SRWG populations declined at HPPT. These results suggest that, once established, BBWG is mostly stable across sites, while SRWG is less adapted to wetter sites. In 2012–16, BBWG populations originating at drier (or wetter) sites mostly performed relatively better at MPPT (or HPPT), suggesting adaptation to site. However, in the establishment year (2011), this relationship did not hold, suggesting seedling vigor and immature growth rate play a stronger role than precipitation at the site of origin.</p>","PeriodicalId":11467,"journal":{"name":"Ecology and Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11499301/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142497069","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Repeated Tree Inventories of Pine Forests in South Florida's Big Cypress National Preserve","authors":"Kenneth J. Feeley,&nbsp;Holly A. Belles,&nbsp;James R. Snyder","doi":"10.1002/ece3.70437","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ece3.70437","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The natural forest ecosystems of South Florida, USA, support a high biodiversity of plant and animal species and provide valuable ecosystem services. However, these ecosystems remain poorly represented in global studies, primarily due to a paucity of standardized data. Here, we present previously unpublished data from 332 censuses of 54 permanent 1-ha tree inventory plots in the Racoon Point area of Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida, USA, including a total of nearly 100,000 measurements (diameter or height) of &gt; 17,000 individual living trees and palms (with additional measurements of nearly 6000 dead pine snags) collected sporadically over a 19-year period (1993–2012). These data, which were originally collected as part of a project to investigate tree responses to different experimental burning regimes, provide unique insight into the diversity, composition, structure, and dynamics of South Florida's unique and endangered pine forest ecosystems. Data files include the species identity, size (dbh = diameter at breast height), and location of all trees ≥ 5 cm dbh in 54 individual tree plots. Additional data are provided about heights of palm trees, and the location and burn history of each plot. These data are freely available for noncommercial scientific use under a Creative Commons license; users are encouraged to cite this paper when using the data.</p>","PeriodicalId":11467,"journal":{"name":"Ecology and Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11496903/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142497161","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Community Trait Variation Drives Selection on Species Diversity Through Feedback With Predator Density","authors":"Phuong-Anh Vu,&nbsp;Lutz Becks","doi":"10.1002/ece3.70477","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ece3.70477","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Identifying the processes underlying community assembly and dynamics remains a central goal in ecology. Although much research has been devoted to analyzing how environments affect species diversity, fewer studies have resolved the link between the fundamental process of ecological selection and species diversity. It has been suggested that identifying ecological selection by estimating changes in community-weighted variance (CWV) and mean (CWM) of functional traits may help to identify more general rules of community assembly. Here, we asked whether and how selection by predation and competition affect species diversity, and how this is determined by the initial CWV and CWM for traits governing species interactions, as in our case: Competitiveness and defense against a predator. We tracked experimental five-species phytoplankton communities in the presence and absence of a rotifer predator over time. We manipulated the initial community composition so that communities shared at least three of the five species but differed in CWV and CWM for defense against predation. We found that species diversity was highest with higher initial trait distributions and that temporal changes in diversity correlated with trait selection. The initial distributions determined the form of selection over time, with directional selection for defense and competitiveness, followed by reduced selection and an increase in niche availability when the initial trait distribution was low or high. For intermediate initial trait distributions, we observed directional selection in only one trait, followed by stabilizing selection. Differences and changes in selection for defense, competitiveness, and species diversity correlated with the changes in predator density over time. This suggests that the initial trait distribution determined species diversity through a feedback loop with changes in selection on traits and predator density. Overall, our study shows that identifying ecological selection on functional traits can provide a mechanistic understanding of community assembly.</p>","PeriodicalId":11467,"journal":{"name":"Ecology and Evolution","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11499210/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142497136","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}