A trait-based approach to advance coral reef science

Joshua S. Madin; Mia O. Hoogenboom; Sean R. Connolly; Emily S. Darling; Daniel S. Falster; Danwei Huang; Sally Anne Keith; Toni Mizerek; John M. Pandolfi; Hollie M. Putnam; Andrew H. Baird

doi:10.1016/j.tree.2016.02.012

A trait-based approach to advance coral reef science

Joshua S. Madin, Mia O. Hoogenboom, Sean R. Connolly, Emily S. Darling, Daniel S. Falster, Danwei Huang, Sally Anne Keith, Toni Mizerek, John M. Pandolfi, Hollie M. Putnam, Andrew H. Baird

87 Citationer (Scopus)

Abstract

Coral reefs are biologically diverse and ecologically complex ecosystems constructed by stony corals. Despite decades of research, basic coral population biology and community ecology questions remain. Quantifying trait variation among species can help resolve these questions, but progress has been hampered by a paucity of trait data for the many, often rare, species and by a reliance on nonquantitative approaches. Therefore, we propose filling data gaps by prioritizing traits that are easy to measure, estimating key traits for species with missing data, and identifying ‘supertraits’ that capture a large amount of variation for a range of biological and ecological processes. Such an approach can accelerate our understanding of coral ecology and our ability to protect critically threatened global ecosystems.

Originalsprog	Engelsk
Tidsskrift	Trends in Ecology & Evolution
Vol/bind	31
Udgave nummer	6
Sider (fra-til)	419-428
Antal sider	10
ISSN	0169-5347
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2016.02.012
Status	Udgivet - 1 jun. 2016

Adgang til dokumentet

10.1016/j.tree.2016.02.012

Citationsformater

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title = "A trait-based approach to advance coral reef science",

abstract = "Coral reefs are biologically diverse and ecologically complex ecosystems constructed by stony corals. Despite decades of research, basic coral population biology and community ecology questions remain. Quantifying trait variation among species can help resolve these questions, but progress has been hampered by a paucity of trait data for the many, often rare, species and by a reliance on nonquantitative approaches. Therefore, we propose filling data gaps by prioritizing traits that are easy to measure, estimating key traits for species with missing data, and identifying {\textquoteleft}supertraits{\textquoteright} that capture a large amount of variation for a range of biological and ecological processes. Such an approach can accelerate our understanding of coral ecology and our ability to protect critically threatened global ecosystems.",

author = "Madin, {Joshua S.} and Hoogenboom, {Mia O.} and Connolly, {Sean R.} and Darling, {Emily S.} and Falster, {Daniel S.} and Danwei Huang and Keith, {Sally Anne} and Toni Mizerek and Pandolfi, {John M.} and Putnam, {Hollie M.} and Baird, {Andrew H.}",

year = "2016",

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doi = "10.1016/j.tree.2016.02.012",

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T1 - A trait-based approach to advance coral reef science

AU - Madin, Joshua S.

AU - Hoogenboom, Mia O.

AU - Connolly, Sean R.

AU - Darling, Emily S.

AU - Falster, Daniel S.

AU - Huang, Danwei

AU - Keith, Sally Anne

AU - Mizerek, Toni

AU - Pandolfi, John M.

AU - Putnam, Hollie M.

AU - Baird, Andrew H.

PY - 2016/6/1

Y1 - 2016/6/1

N2 - Coral reefs are biologically diverse and ecologically complex ecosystems constructed by stony corals. Despite decades of research, basic coral population biology and community ecology questions remain. Quantifying trait variation among species can help resolve these questions, but progress has been hampered by a paucity of trait data for the many, often rare, species and by a reliance on nonquantitative approaches. Therefore, we propose filling data gaps by prioritizing traits that are easy to measure, estimating key traits for species with missing data, and identifying ‘supertraits’ that capture a large amount of variation for a range of biological and ecological processes. Such an approach can accelerate our understanding of coral ecology and our ability to protect critically threatened global ecosystems.

AB - Coral reefs are biologically diverse and ecologically complex ecosystems constructed by stony corals. Despite decades of research, basic coral population biology and community ecology questions remain. Quantifying trait variation among species can help resolve these questions, but progress has been hampered by a paucity of trait data for the many, often rare, species and by a reliance on nonquantitative approaches. Therefore, we propose filling data gaps by prioritizing traits that are easy to measure, estimating key traits for species with missing data, and identifying ‘supertraits’ that capture a large amount of variation for a range of biological and ecological processes. Such an approach can accelerate our understanding of coral ecology and our ability to protect critically threatened global ecosystems.

U2 - 10.1016/j.tree.2016.02.012

DO - 10.1016/j.tree.2016.02.012

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 26969335

SN - 0169-5347

VL - 31

SP - 419

EP - 428

JO - Trends in Ecology & Evolution

JF - Trends in Ecology & Evolution

IS - 6

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