Abstract
ContextCommunity composition, environmental variation, and spatial structuring can influence ecosystem functioning, and ecosystem service delivery. While the role of space in regulating ecosystem functioning is well recognised in theory, it is rarely considered explicitly in empirical studies.ObjectivesWe evaluated the role of spatial structuring within and between regions in explaining the functioning of 36 reference and human-impacted streams.MethodsWe gathered information on regional and local environmental variables, communities (taxonomy and traits), and used variance partitioning analysis to explain seven indicators of ecosystem functioning.ResultsVariation in functional indicators was explained not only by environmental variables and community composition, but also by geographic position, with sometimes high joint variation among the explanatory factors. This suggests spatial structuring in ecosystem functioning beyond that attributable to species sorting along environmental gradients. Spatial structuring at the within-region scale potentially arose from movements of species and materials among habitat patches. Spatial structuring at the between-region scale was more pervasive, occurring both in analyses of individual ecosystem processes and of the full functional matrix, and is likely to partly reflect phenotypic variation in the traits of functionally important species. Characterising communities by their traits rather than taxonomy did not increase the total variation explained, but did allow for a better discrimination of the role of space.ConclusionsThese results demonstrate the value of accounting for the role of spatial structuring to increase explanatory power in studies of ecosystem processes, and underpin more robust management of the ecosystem services supported by those processes.
Highlights
Biological processes that regulate the retention and flux of energy and nutrients are central to the functioning of ecosystems, and the services ecosystems provide society (Truchy et al 2015)
Variation in functional indicators was explained by environmental variables and community composition, and by geographic position, with sometimes high joint variation among the explanatory factors. This suggests spatial structuring in ecosystem functioning beyond that attributable to species sorting along environmental gradients
Spatial structuring at the between-region scale was more pervasive, occurring both in analyses of individual ecosystem processes and of the full functional matrix, and is likely to partly reflect phenotypic variation in the traits of
Summary
Biological processes that regulate the retention and flux of energy and nutrients are central to the functioning of ecosystems, and the services ecosystems provide society (Truchy et al 2015). Well recognised in theory, the role of spatial structure, arising from the spatial distribution of key species or habitats (Schmitz 2010), the movements of organisms among habitat patches (Loreau et al 2005), or larger scale variation in species phenotypes (Ashton et al 2000), as a regulator of ecosystem functioning at local scales is rarely considered explicitly in empirical studies (Pringle et al 2010) This is a key shortcoming, given the extent to which human activities are currently altering the distribution of species and Landscape Ecol (2019) 34:2371–2384 linkages between habitats and ecosystems at multiple spatial scales (Heffernan et al 2014)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
