Trait-based approaches in rapidly changing ecosystems
- Author(s)
- Renate Degen, Magnus Aune, Bodil A. Bluhm, Camilla Cassidy, Monika Kędra, Casper Kraan, Leen Vandepitte, Maria Włodarska-Kowalczuk, Irina Zhulay, Paolo G. Albano, Julie Bremner, Jacqueline M. Grebmeier, Heike Link, Nathalie Morata, Marie C. Nordström, Mehdi Ghodrati Shojaei, Lauren Sutton, Martin Zuschin
- Abstract
Polar marine regions are facing rapid changes induced by climate change, with consequences for local faunal populations, but also for overall ecosystem functioning, goods and services. Yet given the complexity of polar marine ecosystems, predicting the mode, direction and extent of these consequences remains challenging. Trait-based approaches are increasingly adopted as a tool by which to explore changes in functioning, but trait information is largely absent for the high latitudes. Some understanding of trait–function relationships can be gathered from studies at lower latitudes, but given the uniqueness of polar ecosystems it is questionable whether these relationships can be directly transferred. Here we discuss the challenges of using trait-based approaches in polar regions and present a roadmap of how to overcome them by following six interlinked steps: (1) forming an active, international research network, (2) standardizing terminology and methodology, (3) building and crosslinking trait databases, (4) conducting coordinated trait-function experiments, (5) implementing traits into models, and finally, (6) providing advice to management and stakeholders. The application of trait-based approaches in addition to traditional species-based methods will enable us to assess the effects of rapid ongoing changes on the functioning of marine polar ecosystems. Implementing our roadmap will make these approaches more easily accessible to a broad community of users and consequently aid understanding of the future polar oceans.
- Organisation(s)
- Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Department of Palaeontology
- External organisation(s)
- High North Research Centre for Climate and the Environment, University of Tromsø - The Arctic University of Norway, University of Southampton, Polish Academy of Sciences (PAS), Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Flanders Marine Institute, University of East Anglia, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Universität Rostock, Åbo Akademi University, Tarbiat Modares University, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS)
- Journal
- Ecological Indicators
- Volume
- 91
- Pages
- 722-736
- No. of pages
- 15
- ISSN
- 1470-160X
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.04.050
- Publication date
- 08-2018
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 106021 Marine biology
- Keywords
- ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Decision Sciences, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Ecology
- Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 13 - Climate Action, SDG 14 - Life Below Water
- Portal url
- https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/a0758265-2a10-4638-8c54-02c161934f00