Trait-based approaches in rapidly changing ecosystems: A roadmap to the future polar oceans

Degen, Renate, Aune, Magnus, Bluhm, Bodil A., Cassidy, Camilla, Kędra, Monika, Kraan, Casper, Vandepitte, Leen, Włodarska-Kowalczuk, Maria, Zhulay, Irina, Albano, Paolo G., Bremner, Julie, Grebmeier, Jacqueline M., Link, Heike, Morata, Nathalie, Nordström, Marie C., Shojaei, Mehdi Ghodrati, Sutton, Lauren and Zuschin, Martin (2018) Trait-based approaches in rapidly changing ecosystems: A roadmap to the future polar oceans. Ecological Indicators, 91. pp. 722-736. ISSN 1470-160X

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Abstract

Polar marine regions are facing rapid changes induced by climate change, with consequences for local faunal populations, but also for overall ecosystem functioning, goods and services. Yet given the complexity of polar marine ecosystems, predicting the mode, direction and extent of these consequences remains challenging. Trait-based approaches are increasingly adopted as a tool by which to explore changes in functioning, but trait information is largely absent for the high latitudes. Some understanding of trait–function relationships can be gathered from studies at lower latitudes, but given the uniqueness of polar ecosystems it is questionable whether these relationships can be directly transferred. Here we discuss the challenges of using trait-based approaches in polar regions and present a roadmap of how to overcome them by following six interlinked steps: (1) forming an active, international research network, (2) standardizing terminology and methodology, (3) building and crosslinking trait databases, (4) conducting coordinated trait-function experiments, (5) implementing traits into models, and finally, (6) providing advice to management and stakeholders. The application of trait-based approaches in addition to traditional species-based methods will enable us to assess the effects of rapid ongoing changes on the functioning of marine polar ecosystems. Implementing our roadmap will make these approaches more easily accessible to a broad community of users and consequently aid understanding of the future polar oceans.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	functional traits,marine,polar regions,climate change,ecosystem functioning,trait database,sdg 13 - climate action,sdg 14 - life below water ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/climate_action
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Collaborative Centre for Sustainable Use of the Seas
Related URLs:	http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/...
Depositing User:	Pure Connector
Date Deposited:	08 May 2018 16:30
Last Modified:	22 Oct 2022 03:46
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/66957
DOI:	10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.04.050

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