Beyond species counts: scientists propose "trait-based" framework to predict biodiversity in a changing world

GUANGZHOU, China — As the planet faces unprecedented environmental shifts, traditional methods of measuring biodiversity-simply counting the number of species in an area-are no longer enough to predict which ecosystems will survive and which will collapse.

In a landmark perspective published in the inaugural issue of Biological Diversity, an international team of ecologists from the South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the University of Toronto presents a comprehensive framework that shifts the focus to plant functional traits. These traits-physical and physiological characteristics like leaf thickness, root depth, and seed size-determine how plants interact with their environment and coexist with one another.

"To understand the future of life on Earth, we have to look deeper than species names," says Dr. Hui Liu, lead author of the study. "By analyzing functional traits, we can uncover the underlying mechanisms that allow species to adapt, survive, and support entire ecosystems. This approach provides the 'missing link' between evolutionary history and modern - day environmental response."

A Multi - Dimensional Map of Life

The research integrates decades of trait - based ecology to show how these characteristics influence biodiversity across different scales:

Species Coexistence: How differences in traits allow various plants to share the same space without outcompeting one another.

Ecosystem Functioning: How specific traits, such as carbon storage or water regulation, directly determine the health and services an ecosystem provides to humans.

Global Distribution: How environmental changes, such as drought or rising temperatures, filter out certain traits, leading to predictable shifts in global biodiversity patterns.

Predicting the Unpredictable

The review highlights that the integration of intraspecific trait variability (how individuals of the same species differ) and phylogeny (evolutionary history) is critical. By combining these with advanced modeling, the researchers argue that scientists can now better predict how plant communities will rearrange themselves under the pressure of global warming and habitat loss.

"This is about moving from observation to prediction," adds Dr. Qing Ye, a corresponding author of the study. "If we know which traits are essential for a forest to resist fire or drought, we can better manage conservation efforts and restoration projects to ensure long - term stability."

The study concludes that integrating a functional approach into biodiversity research is not just a scientific trend, but an urgent necessity for evidence-based governance and the protection of the world's natural heritage.

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Original Source: Liu, Hui, Deyi Yin, Pengcheng He, Marc W. Cadotte, and Qing Ye. 2024. "Linking Plant Functional Traits to Biodiversity Under Environmental Change." Biological Diversity 1(1): 22 - 28.  

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bod2.12004  

Keywords: biodiversity, community assembly, diversification, ecosystem functions, functional diversity, intraspecific trait variability, phylogeny, plant functional traits, trait - based ecology.

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About the Institutions:

The South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences (SCBG, CAS), is one of the largest and oldest botanical institutions in China, focusing on plant conservation and ecology. The University of Toronto is a leading global research institution specializing in ecology, evolutionary biology, and environmental science.

About the Journal:

Biological Diversity (ISSN: 2994 - 4139) publishes innovative research and comprehensive reviews that explore the intersection of biological systems, environmental health, and the medicinal potential of global biodiversity.