@misc{10481/79051,
year = {2022},
month = {11},
url = {https://hdl.handle.net/10481/79051},
abstract = {1. Traits are key for understanding the environmental responses and ecological
roles of organisms. Trait approaches to functional ecology are well established
for plants, whereas consistent frameworks for animal groups are less developed.
Here we suggest a framework for the study of the functional ecology of animals
from a trait-based
response–effect
approach, using dung beetles as model system.
Dung beetles are a key group of decomposers that are important for many
ecosystem processes. The lack of a trait-based
framework tailored to this group
has limited the use of traits in dung beetle functional ecology.
2. We review which dung beetle traits respond to the environment and affect ecosystem
processes, covering the wide range of spatial, temporal and biological
scales at which they are involved. Dung beetles show trait-based
responses to
variation in temperature, water, soil properties, trophic resources, light, vegetation
structure, competition, predation and parasitism. Dung beetles' influence
on ecosystem processes includes trait-mediated
effects on nutrient cycling, bioturbation,
plant growth, seed dispersal, other dung-based
organisms and parasite
transmission, as well as some cases of pollination and predation.
3. We identify 66 dung beetle traits that are either response or effect traits, or both,
pertaining to six main categories: morphology, feeding, reproduction, physiology,
activity and movement. Several traits pertain to more than one category, in particular dung relocation behaviour during nesting or feeding. We also identify
136 trait–response
and 77 trait–effect
relationships in dung beetles.
4. No response to environmental stressors nor effect over ecological processes
were related with traits of a single category. This highlights the interrelationship
between the traits shaping body-plans,
the multi-functionality
of traits, and
their role linking responses to the environment and effects on the ecosystem.
5. Despite current developments in dung beetle functional ecology, many knowledge
gaps remain, and there are biases towards certain traits, functions, taxonomic
groups and regions. Our framework provides the foundations for the
thorough development of trait-based
dung beetle ecology. It also serves as an
example framework for other taxa.},
organization = {Ministry of Science and Innovation, Spain (MICINN)
Spanish Government	PID2019-106840GB-C21 /AEI/10.13039/501100011033	
Spanish Government	CGL2011-29317	
Spanish Agencia Estatal de Investigacion Projects		
BES-2012-054353	
RYC2020-029407-I},
publisher = {Wiley},
keywords = {Ecosystem engineers},
keywords = {Ecosystem processes},
keywords = {Effect traits},
keywords = {Multifunctionality},
keywords = {Response traits},
keywords = {Scarabaeoidea},
keywords = {Trait–function relationships},
title = {A trait-based framework for dung beetle functional ecology},
doi = {10.1111/1365-2656.13829},
author = {De Castro Arrazola, Indradatta and Sánchez Piñero, Francisco},
}