Taxonomic and functional turnover are decoupled in European peat bogs

Robroek, Bjorn J.M.; Jassey, Vincent E.J.; Payne, Richard J.; Martí, Magalí; Bragazza, Luca; Bleeker, Albert; Buttler, Alexandre; Caporn, Simon J.M.; Dise, Nancy B.; Kattge, Jens; Zając, Katarzyna; Svensson, Bo H.; van Ruijven, Jasper; Verhoeven, Jos T.A.. 2017 Taxonomic and functional turnover are decoupled in European peat bogs. Nature Communications, 8, 1161. 9, pp. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-01350-5

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-01350-5

Abstract/Summary

In peatland ecosystems, plant communities mediate a globally significant carbon store. The effects of global environmental change on plant assemblages are expected to be a factor in determining how ecosystem functions such as carbon uptake will respond. Using vegetation data from 56 Sphagnum-dominated peat bogs across Europe, we show that in these ecosystems plant species aggregate into two major clusters that are each defined by shared response to environmental conditions. Across environmental gradients, we find significant taxonomic turnover in both clusters. However, functional identity and functional redundancy of the community as a whole remain unchanged. This strongly suggests that in peat bogs, species turnover across environmental gradients is restricted to functionally similar species. Our results demonstrate that plant taxonomic and functional turnover are decoupled, which may allow these peat bogs to maintain ecosystem functioning when subject to future environmental change.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-01350-5
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Atmospheric Chemistry and Effects (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	2041-1723
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	climate-change ecology, community ecology, ecosystem ecology
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	22 Nov 2017 16:49 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/518479

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-01350-5

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Atmospheric Chemistry and Effects (Science Area 2017-)

ISSN:

2041-1723

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

Additional Keywords:

climate-change ecology, community ecology, ecosystem ecology