Functional traits effects on ecosystem stability: connecting puzzle pieces

Francesco de Bello
CSIC, Valencia

How biological diversity and ecosystem services are maintained in time is a fundamental question in a global change context. Ecologists have delineated many mechanisms by which biodiversity could control the temporal stability of ecosystem functions, including their resilience and resistance. Scattered theories and empirical evidences are accumulating suggesting that these mechanisms operate mainly through differences in functional traits between organisms. To connect these puzzle pieces I will review potential traits-stability mechanisms and the underlying tests.

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