Detailed Information on Publication Record
2016
Measuring ecological specialization along a natural stress gradient using a set of complementary niche breadth indices
CARBONI, Marta, David ZELENÝ and Alicia ACOSTABasic information
Original name
Measuring ecological specialization along a natural stress gradient using a set of complementary niche breadth indices
Authors
CARBONI, Marta (380 Italy), David ZELENÝ (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution) and Alicia ACOSTA (380 Italy)
Edition
Journal of Vegetation Science, Opulus Press, 2016, 1100-9233
Other information
Language
English
Type of outcome
Článek v odborném periodiku
Field of Study
10600 1.6 Biological sciences
Country of publisher
United States of America
Confidentiality degree
není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství
References:
Impact factor
Impact factor: 2.924
RIV identification code
RIV/00216224:14310/16:00087948
Organization unit
Faculty of Science
UT WoS
000388439400004
Keywords in English
Coastal dunes;Environmental gradients;Fridley's co-occurrence index;Functional traits;Generalist species;Grinnellian vs Eltonian specialization;Specialist species
Tags
International impact, Reviewed
Změněno: 6/4/2017 22:25, Ing. Andrea Mikešková
Abstract
V originále
Aims Ecological specialization refers to a restricted ecological niche breadth for a species, resulting from the trade-off between range of the resources it can exploit and efficacy in exploiting a specific resource. One hypothesis predicts that specialist species should be dominant in stressful environments, whereas generalist species should be dominant at less extreme environmental gradients. An alternative hypothesis states that specialization should be favoured in stable systems, and that ecological disturbances should affect specialist species negatively. These hypotheses have been poorly tested. Mediterranean coastal dune systems are characterized by strong sea–inland environmental gradients, ideal for tackling this challenge. We ask: (1) is distribution of specialist and generalist plant species related to this gradient; and (2) do different specialization indices indicate congruent or complementary patterns? Location Coastal dune systems of central Italy. Methods We used data on plant species cover in 570 community plots at varying distance from the sea. We quantified species specialization, following three approaches related to resource use or to ecological impact, based on: (1) variability of measured environmental values (or a proxy); (2) variability of co-occurring species; (3) variability of community-weighted trait means. We first compared specialization indices across different habitats of the coastal dune zonation. We then analysed the patterns of variation of communities’ mean specialization values along the sea–inland stress gradient. Finally, we studied congruencies and mismatches among different indices. Results We found significant variation in the degree of specialization along the gradient, across several indices. Habitats closer to the sea and under greater stress held higher proportions of specialized species and had higher average specialization levels. Sheltered backdune habitats harboured both generalist and specialist species, but were dominated by generalists. Conclusions We conclude that specialist species tend to dominate in the most extreme environmental conditions, but are subordinate in milder conditions. We found a certain degree of congruence among different indices, indicating that most species that are specialists in their resource use also tend to have specialized impacts in the community. Nevertheless, the indices also provided complementary information, suggesting it is important to consider multiple niche dimensions in order to assess more robust patterns of specialism and generalism.
Links
| GAP505/12/1022, research and development project |
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