Trait-based modelling in ecology: lessons from two decades of research
- Published
- Accepted
- Subject Areas
- Computational Biology, Ecology, Ecosystem Science, Climate Change Biology
- Keywords
- trait-based model, trait-based approach, model types, functional types, functional traits, individual-based model, process-based model, statistical model, equation-based model, conceptual model
- Copyright
- © 2019 Zakharova et al.
- Licence
- This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, reproduction and adaptation in any medium and for any purpose provided that it is properly attributed. For attribution, the original author(s), title, publication source (PeerJ Preprints) and either DOI or URL of the article must be cited.
- Cite this article
- 2019. Trait-based modelling in ecology: lessons from two decades of research. PeerJ Preprints 7:e27484v1 https://doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.27484v1
Abstract
Trait-based approaches are an alternative to species-based approaches for functionally linking individual organisms with community structure and dynamics. In the trait‑based approach, the focus is on the traits, the physiological, morphological, or life-history characteristics, of organisms rather than their species. Although used in ecological research for several decades, this approach only emerged in ecological modelling about twenty years ago. We review this rise of trait-based models and trace the occasional transfer of trait-based modelling concepts between terrestrial plant ecology, animal and microbial ecology, and aquatic ecology. Trait-based models have a variety of purposes, such as predicting changes in species distribution patterns under climate and land-use change, planning and assessing conservation management, or studying invasion processes. In modelling, trait-based approaches can reduce technical challenges such as computational limitations, scaling problems, and data scarcity. However, we note inconsistencies in the current usage of terms in trait-based approaches and these inconsistencies must be resolved if trait-based concepts are to be easily exchanged between disciplines. Specifically, future trait-based models may further benefit from incorporating intraspecific trait variability and addressing more complex species interactions. We also recommend expanding the combination of trait-based approaches with individual-based modelling to simplify the parameterization of models, to capture plant-plant interactions at the individual level, and to explain community dynamics under global change.
Author Comment
This is a preprint submission to PeerJ Preprints.The manuscript is submitted to a peer reviewed journal.
Supplemental Information
Supplementary Material. Table 1: Complete list of models included in this review
Each model is described by its model type and target scale as well as the full reference and the paper section in which this model is mentioned.
Supplementary Material. Table 2: Search terms
Search terms and history of the literature search.