Phytoplankton functional group dynamics explain species abundance distribution in a directionally changing environment. Issue 12 (1st December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tsai, Cheng-Han; Miki, Takeshi; Chang, Chun-Wei; Ishikawa, Kanako; Ichise, Satoshi; Kumagai, Michio; Hsieh, Chih-hao
• Is Part Of: Ecology. Volume 95:Issue 12(2014)
• Page Start: 3335
• Page End: 3343
• Publication Date: 2014-12-01
• Subjects: functional response group -- Lake Biwa -- lake environmental changes -- phytoplankton biodiversity -- reservoir management -- species abundance distribution; Ecology -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; Écologie -- Périodiques; Ecologie; Écologie; Écologie animale; Écologie végétale; Ecology; Periodicals; 577.05
• DOI: 10.1890/13-1946.1
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0012-9658

Abstract

Abstract : The mechanism underlying species abundance distribution (SAD), particularly the characteristics of "excess of rare species, " remains controversial. The current equilibrium theory cannot explain the transient dynamics of SAD, which is essential for predicting biodiversity response to environmental changes. Using a unique 32‐yr‐long phytoplankton community data set from a pelagic site of Lake Biwa, Japan, we show that the dynamics of functional groups driven by environmental variation explain the excess of rare species over time. First, most of the rare species belong to the littoral group supplied through dispersal, whereas the common species belong to the pelagic group. Second, the littoral group was negatively influenced by environmental changes (i.e., lake warming, water‐level manipulation, and partial re‐oligotrophication), mechanistically explaining truncation of the excess of rare species in the SAD associated with biodiversity loss in Lake Biwa. Our findings imply the significance of an ecological trait‐based approach for SAD theory and managing biodiversity in a changing environment.