基于特征的方法阐明了生物多样性应对的潜在机制,或影响,环境。然而,Raunkiran的不足-缺乏关于物种特征及其功能的知识-在这些方法的应用中提出了挑战。我们进行了系统的综述,以研究基于性状的动物生态学在分类学分辨率方面的趋势和差距,性状选择,生态系统类型,和地理区域。此外,我们提出了一套关键步骤来指导性状选择,并帮助未来的研究进行内部和跨分类单元比较。我们使用1999年至2020年发表的几乎所有动物群体确定了1655篇文章。研究集中在脊椎动物,陆地栖息地,古北王国,主要调查营养和栖息地的尺寸。此外,他们专注于响应性状(79.4%),而在很大程度上忽略了种内变异(94.6%)。几乎36%的数据集没有提供形态性状选择的基本原理。基于性状的动物生态学的主要局限性是使用性状平均值和罕见的种内变异性。近五分之一的仅基于响应特征的研究得出的结论是,特征多样性会影响生态系统过程或服务,而没有证明它们之间的联系或衡量它们。我们提出了标准化特征收集的指南,包括以下内容:(i)确定特征的类型以及将特征与环境联系起来的机制,生态系统,或者环境之间的相关性,性状,生态系统,(ii)使用“生态位周期表”选择适当的生态位维度以支持机械特征选择,(iii)为每个保留的生态位维度选择相关性状。通过解决这些差距,基于性状的动物生态学可以变得更具预测性。这意味着未来的研究可能会集中在合作上,以了解环境变化如何影响动物及其提供生态系统服务和商品的能力。
Trait-based approaches elucidate the mechanisms underlying biodiversity response to, or effects on, the environment. Nevertheless, the Raunkiæran shortfall-the dearth of knowledge on species traits and their functionality-presents a challenge in the application of these approaches. We conducted a systematic
review to investigate the trends and gaps in trait-based animal ecology in terms of taxonomic resolution, trait selection, ecosystem type, and geographical region. In addition, we suggest a set of crucial steps to guide trait selection and aid future research to conduct within and cross-taxon comparisons. We identified 1655 articles using virtually all animal groups published from 1999 to 2020. Studies were concentrated in vertebrates, terrestrial habitats, the Palearctic realm, and mostly investigated trophic and habitat dimensions. Additionally, they focused on response traits (79.4%) and largely ignored intraspecific variation (94.6%). Almost 36% of the data sets did not provide the rationale behind the selection of morphological traits. The main limitations of trait-based animal ecology were the use of trait averages and a rare inclusion of intraspecific variability. Nearly one-fifth of the studies based only on response traits conclude that trait diversity impacts ecosystem processes or services without justifying the connection between them or measuring them. We propose a guide for standardizing trait collection that includes the following: (i) determining the type of trait and the mechanism linking the trait to the environment, ecosystem, or the correlation between the environment, trait, and ecosystem, (ii) using a \"periodic table of niches\" to select the appropriate niche dimension to support a mechanistic trait selection, and (iii) selecting the relevant traits for each retained niche dimension. By addressing these gaps, trait-based animal ecology can become more predictive. This implies that future research will likely focus on collaborating to understand how environmental changes impact animals and their capacity to provide ecosystem services and goods.