TY - CHAP

T1 - The use of functional traits in assessing productivity in natural ecosystems

AU - Bordin, Kauane Maiara

AU - Morales, Davi da Cunha

AU - Klipel, Joice

AU - Bergamin, Rodrigo Scarton

AU - Kramer, Jean M.Freitag

AU - Müller, Sandra Cristina

AU - Thomas, Pedro Augusto

AU - Rosenfield, Milena Fermina

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

PY - 2025/1/1

Y1 - 2025/1/1

N2 - The processes and interactions that occur within natural ecosystems determine the ecosystem functioning, which may be described by nutrient cycling, energy flow, and carbon storage, for instance. One way to evaluate ecosystem functioning is by examining the functional traits of the plants from these ecosystems. Functional traits are measurable features that influence the individual performance, providing insights into how they contribute to ecosystem functioning. When selecting functional traits to evaluate ecosystem functioning, it is important to consider specific traits linked to each function. By using a literature review, we assessed the state of the art on the knowledge regarding the relationship between plant functional traits (in terms of functional diversity and dominance) and productivity, as a proxy for ecosystem processes. We conducted this evaluation on forest and grassland ecosystems, across tropical and temperate regions. Our research has revealed that the strength of the relationship depends on the specific functional traits considered when evaluating productivity, and there is little consistency among the traits used in the different studies. Our chapter sheds light on the significance of traits in understanding productivity and also emphasizes the necessity for further research to paint a more comprehensive and detailed picture.

AB - The processes and interactions that occur within natural ecosystems determine the ecosystem functioning, which may be described by nutrient cycling, energy flow, and carbon storage, for instance. One way to evaluate ecosystem functioning is by examining the functional traits of the plants from these ecosystems. Functional traits are measurable features that influence the individual performance, providing insights into how they contribute to ecosystem functioning. When selecting functional traits to evaluate ecosystem functioning, it is important to consider specific traits linked to each function. By using a literature review, we assessed the state of the art on the knowledge regarding the relationship between plant functional traits (in terms of functional diversity and dominance) and productivity, as a proxy for ecosystem processes. We conducted this evaluation on forest and grassland ecosystems, across tropical and temperate regions. Our research has revealed that the strength of the relationship depends on the specific functional traits considered when evaluating productivity, and there is little consistency among the traits used in the different studies. Our chapter sheds light on the significance of traits in understanding productivity and also emphasizes the necessity for further research to paint a more comprehensive and detailed picture.

KW - ecosystem functioning

KW - Ecosystem process

KW - forests

KW - grasslands

KW - temperate

KW - tropical

KW - Biology

KW - Ecosystems Research

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105006594486&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/B978-0-443-13367-1.00007-7

DO - 10.1016/B978-0-443-13367-1.00007-7

M3 - Chapter

AN - SCOPUS:105006594486

SN - 9780443133688

SP - 111

EP - 133

BT - Plant Functional Traits

A2 - Kumar, Manoj

A2 - Bussmann, Rainer W.

A2 - Swenson, Nathan G.

PB - Elsevier

ER -