Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1111/oik.05787
Title (Primary) Spatially structured intraspecific trait variation can foster biodiversity in disturbed, heterogeneous environments
Author Banitz, T. ORCID logo
Source Titel Oikos
Year 2019
Department OESA
Volume 128
Issue 10
Page From 1478
Page To 1491
Language englisch
Data and Software links https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.303k4j2
Supplements https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/action/downloadSupplement?doi=10.1111%2Foik.05787&file=oik12899-Supplemental_Information.zip
Keywords disturbance; coexistence; ecological community; species diversity; individual‐based model
Abstract Trait variation within populations is an important area of research for empirical and theoretical ecologists. While differences between individuals are doubtlessly ubiquitous, their role for species coexistence is much less clear and highly debated. Both unstructured (random) and structured (linked to space, time or inheritance) intraspecific trait variation (ITV) may modify species interactions with nontrivial consequences for emerging community compositions. In many ecosystems, these compositions are further driven by prevalent disturbance regimes. I therefore explored the effects of unstructured as well as spatially structured ITV under disturbances in a generic ecological model of competing sessile species. Using spatially explicit, individual‐based simulations, I studied how intraspecific variation in life history traits together with interspecific trade‐offs and disturbance regimes shape long‐term community composition. I found that 1) unstructured ITV does not affect species coexistence in the given context, 2) spatially structured ITV may considerably increase coexistence, but 3) spatially clumped disturbances reduce this effect of spatially structured ITV, especially if interspecific tradeoffs involve dispersal distance. The findings suggest that spatially structured ITV with individual trait responses to local habitat conditions differing among species may create or expand humps in disturbance–diversity relationships. Hence, if present, these forms of spatially structured ITV should be included in ecological models and will be important for reliably assessing community responses to environmental heterogeneity and change.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=21965
Banitz, T. (2019):
Spatially structured intraspecific trait variation can foster biodiversity in disturbed, heterogeneous environments
Oikos 128 (10), 1478 - 1491 10.1111/oik.05787