Ranking Of Species Research Articles

Macroheterocera of a mixed Calabrian black pine-European beech forest of Sila Mountains (Italy) (Insecta: Lepidoptera)

In this paper, we surveyed for the first time the Macroheterocera fauna of mixed forests, mainly favored byhuman activities, composed by Pinus nigra laricio Maire and Fagus sylvatica L., a largely artificial association of two tree species with very different ecology. We found 312 species representing a perfect mix of moth species found in pure forests with only few changes in the ranking of tree feeding species and with evidences of the natural evolution of most forest woodlots toward mixed European beech-silver fir forests. We added seven species to the fauna of Sila Mountains, one of them deserving more accurate taxonomic studies. Furthermore, we fixed some mistakes reported in literature for the Sila fauna.

Ranking Species for Veld Restoration in Semi-Arid Regions Using Agronomic, Morphological and Chemical Parameters of Selected Grass Species at Different Developmental Stages under Controlled Environment

The establishment of complementary native grass species could be an ideal method of dealing with existing problems of veld degradation and inadequate forage quantity and quality of pastures. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of native grasses viz., Anthephora pubescens, Cenchrus ciliaris, Chloris gayana, Dactylis glomerata, Digitaria eriantha, Eragrostis curvula, Festuca arundinacea, Panicum maximum and Themeda triandra. Attributes at different growth stages on agronomy, morphology and chemical composition were checked. Panicum maximum had the broader (p < 0.05) leaves across all growth stages when compared to all other grass species. Festuca arundinacea had highest (p < 0.05) number of tillers than C. ciliaris, C. gayana, D. glomerata, D. eriantha, E. curvula, P. maximum and T. triandra at 2–4-months age. Within each species, all grasses had the highest (p < 0.05) number of leaves at maturity. Chloris gayana, D. glomerata and P. maximum had the highest (p < 0.05) biomass yield when compared to F. arundinacea at the elongation stage. Eragrostis curvula had the highest (p < 0.05) crude protein (CP) values when compared to all other grasses, except for D. glomerata, F. arundinacea and P. maximum at the elongation stage. Panicum maximum and T. triandra had the least (p < 0.05) acid detergent lignin (ADL) values when compared to all other grasses at both vegetative and the elongation stages. In the ranking, C. ciliaris, C. gayana, D. eriantha, E. curvula, P. maximum and A. pubescens outperformed the rest of the grasses on most parameters. With the low crude protein (CP) content of these grasses, protein supplementation is highly crucial for high performing ruminants, especially those animals that graze grasses as their sole diets.

Knockdown-Mortality Responses of Six Stored-Product Beetle Species on Different Surfaces Treated With Thiamethoxam, Using a Standardized Lethality Index

Bioassays were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of thiamethoxam in different surfaces, against six stored-grain insects, Sitophilus granarius (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens) (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae), and Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) (Coleoptera: Silvanidae). Six different surfaces (concrete, plywood, galvanized steel, linen, plastic, and ceramic tile) treated with thiamethoxam at 0.05 and 0.1 mg/cm2 were used as substrate for adult exposure. Knockdown was recorded after 1, 3, and 7 d of exposure to the treated surface, in order to calculate a Standardized Lethality Index (SLI). Knockdown counts were ranked from '0' to '4', with '0' representing adult insects 'moved generally' and '4' representing dead insects. Based on the results, insect knockdown seems leading to mortality than to recovery and the SLI ranking of the target species according to their susceptibility to thiamethoxam showed that S. granarius being more susceptible and decreasing susceptibility in an order of S. oryzae > T. castaneum ≥ O. surinamenis ≥ C. ferrugineus ≥ T. confusum. In general, among the surfaces, thiamethoxam efficacy was lower on linen, wooden, and concrete surfaces, as compared to metallic and plastic surfaces. Nevertheless, at the end of 7-d exposure, all surfaces equally affected thiamethoxam toxicity.

Growth and modulus of elasticity of pine species and hybrids three years after planting in South Africa

Growth data and modulus of elasticity (MOE) of 11 different pine species and hybrids were examined at six sites in three regions in South Africa. Growth traits and three MOE variables were measured at three years of age in order to evaluate whether other potential pine species were more suitable than the current commercial species. There were strong observed species differences for all three MOE variables both within and across the four sites measured for wood properties, with across-site MOE ranging from 3.03 to 6.40 GPa. Green density varied among species, and an assumed constant green density of 1 000 kg m–3 underestimated MOE for species with a very high green density; similarly, for species with a very low green density, MOE was overestimated. Although survival was poor at several sites, the data shows that there are alternative pine species that exhibit comparable growth rates to the current commercial species. For estimating MOE, it is concluded that assuming a constant green density generally does not affect the species ranking, but if the aim is to find the ‘true’ MOE, sampling in the field to determine the appropriate green density is needed.

Variation in Results of Three Biology‐Focused Search Engines: A Case Study Using North American Tree Species

Variation in Results of Three Biology‐Focused Search Engines: A Case Study Using North American Tree Species

Results of study of wild medicinal plants of Mangystau region

The study of medicinal plants in the flora of the Mangystau region was the practical interest in assessing the full species composition and prospects for the use of raw materials for the medical and pharmaceutical industries. During 2013–2020, field surveys were carried out to identify the species composition of medicinal plants, their ranking, raw materials and the characteristics of the passage of the main phases of vegetation. The article presents the results of the analysis of the species composition of wild medicinal plants in the natural conditions of Mangystau and their ranking. As a result, the list of medicinal plants amounted to 166 species from 112 genera and 43 families. The predominant number of species is assigned to the families Asteraceae, Chenopodiaceae, Fabaceae, Brassicaceae, Lamiaceae, Apiaceae, Scrophulariaceae,Boraginaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Ranunculaceae. The largest part of medicinal plants is assigned to species used in folk medicine — 144 species; pharmacological properties were found for 50 species; 36 species are included in the Pharmacopoeia of the Republic of Kazakhstan. All plants species were ranked into 10 groups of pharmaceutical-therapeutic activity against different diseases: gastrointestinal tract, oral cavity, kidneys and urinary tract, respiratory tract, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular system, diabetes mellitus, analgesic and wound healing, skin organs, other diseases. There was performed ranking of medicinal plant species into 4 groups by degree of distribution, area of thickets and possibility of stock collection of vegetal raw materials. A collection calendar has been compiled for 166 species of medicinal plants in the flora of the Mangystau region. The obtained data can be used for organization of systematic harvesting of vegetal raw materials and development of environmental measures.

Phylogenetic diversity metrics from molecular phylogenies: modelling expected degree of error under realistic rate variation

AbstractAimPhylogenetic diversity or phylo‐diversity measures use information about evolutionary history and relationships to inform conservation priorities. These metrics are usually derived from the branches of molecular phylogenies. But inferring phylogenetic timescale from molecular data relies on many assumptions about the evolutionary process, most of which are based on statistical convenience rather than biological information. Here we ask whether known patterns of variation in rate of molecular evolution can lead to errors in phylo‐diversity measures.LocationGlobal.MethodsWe generated sequences with biologically realistic rate variation, parameterized by empirically well‐supported relationships between species traits, macroevolutionary patterns and rate of molecular evolution. We then tested how well commonly used phylo‐diversity measures from these phylogenies reflected the true evolutionary history.ResultsWe show that reconstructed Faith’s phylogenetic diversity (FPD) measures differ from true values by an average of about 10% and up to 38%. Species rankings based on evolutionary distinctness (ED) are also affected by rate variation, with the ranks of taxa changing by up to 10‐11 positions after estimation.Main conclusionsWe have shown that realistic levels of rate variation can generate error in FPD and ED measures that could potentially influence prioritization ranking. Studies using metrics based on molecular phylogenetic branch lengths should consider the likely effect of uncertainty in phylogenetic reconstruction on their conclusions.

A multi-taxonomic framework for assessing relative petrochemical vulnerability of marine biodiversity in the Gulf of Mexico

A fundamental understanding of the impact of petrochemicals and other stressors on marine biodiversity is critical for effective management, restoration, recovery, and mitigation initiatives. As species-specific information on levels of petrochemical exposure and toxicological response are lacking for the majority of marine species, a trait-based assessment to rank species vulnerabilities to petrochemical activities in the Gulf of Mexico can provide a more comprehensive and effective means to prioritize species, habitats, and ecosystems for improved management, restoration and recovery. To initiate and standardize this process, we developed a trait-based framework, applicable to a wide range of vertebrate and invertebrate species, that can be used to rank relative population vulnerabilities of species to petrochemical activities in the Gulf of Mexico. Through expert consultation, 18 traits related to likelihood of exposure, individual sensitivity, and population resilience were identified and defined. The resulting multi-taxonomic petrochemical vulnerability framework can be adapted and applied to a wide variety of species groups and geographic regions. Additional recommendations and guidance on the application of the framework to rank species vulnerabilities under specific petrochemical exposure scenarios, management needs or data limitations are also discussed.

Ethnobotanical study on plants used for traditional beekeeping by Dulong people in Yunnan, China

BackgroundThe Dulong (Drung) people have used plant materials in traditional beekeeping for many decades. However, there are few studies on the plants used in traditional beekeeping. Furthermore, traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) associated with beekeeping is still poorly understood. TEK and plants associated with beekeeping play an important role in the conservation of native bees and the development of beekeeping. It is therefore very urgent to investigate, record, and study the plants and TEK of Dulong beekeeping.MethodsFieldwork was conducted in the Dulong community of Gongshan County, Yunnan Province, China. Six Dulong villages were investigated. Ethnobotanical methods such as free listing, semi-structured interviews, participatory observation, and key informant interviews were used to collect data. A total of 42 Dulong respondents provided information about plants used in traditional beekeeping. TEK related to traditional beekeeping plants was documented. Citation frequency, abundance, and preference ranking of log beehive plant species were used to identify plant resources that are “easier to obtain” and “more preferred.”ResultsThere are two general methods of traditional Dulong beekeeping: living tree beekeeping and log beehive beekeeping. The investigation revealed that 38 species (in 19 families), including 30 tree species, 5 bamboo species, 2 herbaceous species, and 1 liana species, are used in traditional Dulong beekeeping. Different plant parts are used for different purposes. Twenty-seven tree species are used to make log beehives. Species from the family Pinaceae and Fagaceae are the most frequently represented. Seven of the most commonly reported species used to build log beehives were scored by ten beekeepers. Based on this scoring, the beekeepers’ most preferred species for making log beehives are Alnus nepalensis, Pinus yunnanensis, and Juglans regia.ConclusionThe Dulong people have used various plants for traditional beekeeping and have accumulated rich TEK associated with apiculture. Future research will include a nutritive components analysis of honey from traditional Dulong beekeeping and an ethnobotanical investigation of melliferous species used in traditional Dulong apicultural systems. The application of plants and TEK associated with beekeeping is important for improving livelihoods in local communities, conserving biocultural diversity, and protecting the eco-environment of the Dulongjiang area.

Оценка уровня адаптации лиан к воздействию неблагоприятных факторов среды в условиях г. Саратова

The article is devoted to the actual topic of expansion of assortment of lianas in vertical gardening in Saratov by the use of introduced species of tree lianas from the Far East. Currently, the studied species: Actinidia arguta; Actinidia kolomikta; Ampelopsis aconitifolia; Schisandra chinensis; Menispermum dauricum — have been distributed in individual land use areas mainly as food crops. It is noted that the far Eastern species of lianas differ in a significant amplitude of biological tolerance of adaptation, have high frost resistance and immunity against diseases. The reason for including these species in the prospective assortment for use in urban plantations is given taking into account a comprehensive assessment of their drought resistance, heat resistance, and resistance to anthropogenic impact. All species are resistant to high summer air temperatures and insufficient humidity, which is typical for the climate of Saratov. The assessment of gas resistance of lianas is given in comparison with the results of studies previously conducted with respect to other species, which allows us to determine possible combinations of plants on landscaping sites. Ranking of species showed that the studied Far Eastern species of lianas have high and medium gas resistance. The obtained data give reason to recommend the studied lianas for use in plantings of various categories in Saratov, depending on the availability of care and air quality. To prevent damage to leaves and shoots by drought, as well as to improve the gas resistance of plants, it is recommended to conduct agro-measures that improve the water-air and food regime of soils in the growing areas.

Social and Ecological Ranking of Medicinal Plant Species of Majhi Community Forest Users, Nepal

Social and Ecological Ranking of Medicinal Plant Species of Majhi Community Forest Users, Nepal

Ecological potentials of trees, shrubs and hedge species for urban green spaces by multi criteria decision making

In planning for sustainable development of urban green space at the macro and regional levels, it is imperative to examine plant species of urban green spaces and to introduce new species considering climatic conditions, environmental pollution, industrial lifestyle, and resource limitations. The present study employs multi criteria decision making techniques to assess the existing and recommended plant species (trees, shrubs, and hedge plants) in downtown and marginal parks of Rasht City, Iran. Twenty seven indicators were defined in the context of six criteria, namely regional adaptation, urban environment, aesthetics, maintenance, growth characteristics, and specific advantages. Weights were assigned to the criteria using the entropy method. They were subsequently ranked by Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), Combinative Distance-based Assessment (CODAS), Additive Ratio Assessment (ARAS), and Evaluation Based on Distance from Average Solution (EDAS) techniques. To provide a final ranking of the ornamental species, the results of these four techniques were integrated using average rank, Borda, and Copeland methods. Based on the results, Parrotia persica, Liquidambar styraciflua, Lagerstroemia indica, Pyracantha coccinea, and Ligustrum texanum were ranked highest and Aesculus hippocastanum, Koelreuteria paniculata, Crataegus microphylla, Viburnum opulus, and Berberis gagnepainii were ranked lowest. Based on the detailed results, the assessment of trees, shrubs, and hedge plants can help decision makers and planners of urban green space development.

Modeling Incipient Use of Neolithic Cultigens by Taiwanese Foragers: Perspectives from Niche Variation Theory, the Prey Choice Model, and the Ideal Free Distribution

The earliest evidence for agriculture in Taiwan dates to about 6000 years BP and indicates that farmer-gardeners from Southeast China migrated across the Taiwan Strait. However, little is known about the adaptive interactions between Taiwanese foragers and Neolithic Chinese farmers during the transition. This paper considers theoretical expectations from human behavioral ecology based models and macroecological patterning from Binford’s hunter-gatherer database to scope the range of responses of native populations to invasive dispersal. Niche variation theory and invasion theory predict that the foraging niche breadths will narrow for native populations and morphologically similar dispersing populations. The encounter contingent prey choice model indicates that groups under resource depression from depleted high-ranked resources will increasingly take low-ranked resources upon encounter. The ideal free distribution with Allee effects categorizes settlement into highly ranked habitats selected on the basis of encounter rates with preferred prey, with niche construction potentially contributing to an upswing in some highly ranked prey species. In coastal plain habitats preferred by farming immigrants, interactions and competition either reduced encounter rates with high ranked prey or were offset by benefits to habitat from the creation of a mosaic of succession ecozones by cultivation. Aquatic-focused foragers were eventually constrained to broaden subsistence by increasing the harvest of low ranked resources, then mobility-compatible Neolithic cultigens were added as a niche-broadening tactic. In locations less suitable for farming, fishing and hunting continued as primary foraging tactics for centuries after Neolithic arrivals. The paper concludes with a set of evidence-based archaeological expectations derived from these models.

Reprint of: Nonclinical species sensitivity to convulsions: An IQ DruSafe consortium working group initiative

Clinical development of compounds that carry a convulsion liability is typically limited by safety margins based on the most sensitive nonclinical species. To better understand differences in sensitivity to drug-induced convulsion of commonly used preclinical species, a survey was distributed amongst pharmaceutical companies through an IQ consortium (International Consortium for Innovation and Quality in Pharmaceutical Development) resulting in convulsion-related data on 80 unique compounds from 11 companies. The lowest free drug plasma concentration at which convulsions were observed and the no observed effect level for convulsions were compared between species to determine their relative sensitivity. Additionally, data were collected on other endpoints including use of electroencephalography, premonitory signs, convulsion type, the reason why development was stopped, and the highest development phase reached. The key outcomes were: (1) the dog was most often determined to be the most sensitive species by both non-exposure and exposure-based analyses, (2) there was not a clear sensitivity ranking of other species (NHP, rat and mouse), (3) CNS symptoms were frequently present at exposures that were not associated with convulsions, but no single reliable premonitory indicator of convulsion was identified, and (4) the lack of convulsions in the compounds that were tested in humans in this dataset may suggest that convulsion liability is well mitigated via current drug development strategies.

Relating the climate envelopes of urban tree species to their drought and thermal tolerance

Analysing the climate envelope of plant species has been suggested as a tool to predict the vulnerability of tree species in future urban climates. However, there is little evidence that the climate envelope of a plant species directly relates to the drought and thermal tolerance of that species, at least not at the resolution required to identify or rank species vulnerability. Here, we attempted to predict drought and thermal tolerance of commonly used urban tree species using climate variables derived exclusively from open-source global occurrence data. We quantified three drought and thermal tolerance traits for 43 urban tree species in a common garden experiment: stomatal sensitivity to vapour pressure deficit, leaf water potential at the turgor loss point, and leaf thermal tolerance. We then attempted to predict each tolerance trait from variables derived from the climate envelope of each species, using occurrence data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. We found no strong relationships between drought and thermal tolerance traits and climatic variables. Across wide environmental gradients, plant tolerance and climate are inherently linked. But our results suggest that climate envelopes determined from species occurrence data alone may not predict drought or thermal tolerance at the resolution required to select tree species for future urban forests. We should focus on identifying the most relevant strategies and traits required to describe tolerance which in combination with climate envelope analysis should ultimately predict growth and mortality of trees in urban landscapes.

A forecasting map of avian roadkill-risk in Europe: A tool to identify potential hotspots

In this study, we propose a novel strategy for identifying potential hotspots of avian roadkills in Europe. The proposed approach combines information about the spatial distribution of bird species at a comparatively higher risk of roadkill with data on road density. First, using a large dataset collected from several European studies and reports, we extracted the frequency of occurrence of bird casualties for 209 breeding bird species recorded in roadkill events. We standardized the relative frequency of roadkill from 0 (species never recorded in bird casualties' reports) to 1 (species with the higher number of roadkill's), obtaining a continuous variable that indicates the potential risk of roadkill species by species. Second, using published data on the spatial distribution of breeding bird species in Europe, we calculated the cumulative risk of roadkill in each bird assemblages, by considering the sum of the values estimated for each species in the previous step. Third, we calculated the road density in each spatial unit. Finally, we elaborate a forecasting map of potential avian roadkill-risk across Europe, by combining the data on road density and cumulative roadkill risk of bird communities.The tool proposed can help to identify potential hotspots at different spatial scales where the risk of avian roadkill is high, offering the possibility to improve conservation measures in road planning. Briefly, the prediction of where there is aligned convergence between communities with highly ranked species and landscapes with dense road networks can be used in procedures modelling wildlife-car collisions, for transportation mitigation projects.

Topology-based analysis of pelagic food web structure in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean based on longline observer data

The tropical Pacific Ocean supports many productive commercial fisheries. However, few studies of ecosystem structure in the tropical Pacific Ocean have been carried out. In this study, we analyzed the food web structure in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean based on trophic relationships of 35 pelagic species collected by Chinese tuna longline observers from June to November in 2017. Topology indices (node degree, D; centrality indices, BC and CC; topological importance indices, TI1, TI3; keystone indices, K, Kt and Kb) and Key-Player algorithms (KPP-1, KPP-2) were used to select key species and construct a simplified food web combined with body size data. The Kendall rank correlation and hierarchical clustering analysis indicated that different topology indices resulted in consistent rankings of key species. Most key species were the same as those selected in other studies in the Pacific Ocean, such as Shortbill spearfish (Tetrapturus angustirostris), Swordfish (Xiphias gladius), Albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga), cephalopods and scomber. The food web would be separated into many unconnected parts (F=0.632, FD=0.795, RD=0.957) after the removal of the five key species, indicating the key roles of these species in the food web structure and stability. Body size was considered an influential indicator in constructing the simplified food web. This study can improve our understanding of the food web structure in the tropical Pacific Ocean and provide scientific basis for further ecosystem dynamics studies.

Inter- and intraspecific variability of plant individual growth and its role on species ranking in grasslands

Abstract Aims Individual growth constitutes a major component of individual fitness. However, measuring growth rates of herbaceous plants non-destructively at the individual level is notoriously difficult. This study, based on an accurate non-destructive method of aboveground biomass estimation, aims to assess individual relative growth rates (RGRs) of some species, identify its environmental drivers and test its consequences on community patterning. We specifically address three questions: (i) to what extent environmental conditions explain differences in individual plant growth between sites, (ii) what is the magnitude of intraspecific variability of plant individual growth within and between sites and (iii) do species-averaged (dis-)advantage of individual growth compared with the whole vegetation within a site correlate with species ranking at the community level? Methods We monitored the growth of individuals of four common perennial species in 18 permanent grasslands chosen along a large pedoclimatic gradient located in the Massif Central, France. We measured soil properties, levels of resources and meteorological parameters to characterize environmental conditions at the site level. This design enables us to assess the influence of environmental conditions on individual growth and the relative extent of inter-individual variability of growth explained within and between sites. We determined the ranking of each of the four species in each site with botanical surveys to assess the relationship between species-averaged growth (dis-)advantage relative to the whole community and species rank in the community. Important Findings We found that environmental conditions explain a significant proportion of individual growth variability, and that this proportion is strongly variable between species. Light availability was the main driver of plant growth, followed by rainfall amount and potential evapotranspiration, while soil properties had only a slight effect. We further highlighted a moderate to high within-site inter-individual variability of growth. We finally showed that there was no correlation between species ranking and species-averaged individual growth.

Biodiverse food plants in the semiarid region of Brazil have unknown potential: A systematic review.

Food biodiversity presents one of the most significant opportunities to enhance food and nutrition security today. The lack of data on many plants, however, limits our understanding of their potential and the possibility of building a research agenda focused on them. Our objective with this systematic review was to identify biodiverse food plants occurring in the Caatinga biome, Brazil, strategic for the promotion of food and nutrition security. We selected studies from the following databases: Web of Science, Medline/PubMed (via the National Library of Medicine), Scopus and Embrapa Agricultural Research Databases (BDPA). Eligible were original articles, published since 2008, studying food plants occurring in the Caatinga. We assessed the methodological quality of the studies we selected. We reviewed a total of fifteen studies in which 65 plants that met our inclusion criteria were mentioned. Of this amount, 17 species, including varieties, subspecies, and different parts of plants, had data on chemical composition, in addition to being mentioned as food consumed by rural communities in observational ethnobotanical studies. From the energy and protein data associated with these plants, we produced a ranking of strategic species. The plants with values higher than the average of the set were: Dioclea grandiflora Mart. ex Benth (mucunã), Hymenaea courbaril L. (jatobá), Syagrus cearensis Noblick (coco-catolé), Libidibia ferrea (Mart. ex Tul.) L.P.Queiroz (jucá), Sideroxylon obtusifolium (Roem. & Schult.) T.D.Penn. (quixabeira). We suggest that the scientific community concentrates research efforts on tree legumes, due to their resilience and physiological, nutritional, and culinary qualities.

Seasonal and interannual variations in functional traits of sown and spontaneous species in vineyard inter‐rows

AbstractThe trait‐based approach can address questions in order to understand how the functioning of organisms scales up to that of ecosystems and controls some of the services they deliver to humans, including in agriculture. However, the importance of interspecific vs the intraspecific trait variability (ITV) for classifying species according to their traits in agrosystems on a large diversity of pedoclimatic situations and cropping systems remains still open. Here, we addressed three questions: How do measured traits vary across years and seasons? Are species rankings conserved across years and season? And which traits and species are the more stable and repeatable for sown and spontaneous species? We conducted a two‐year experiment in a vineyard, and we measured four leaf and plant functional traits of 14 sown species and 43 spontaneous species that grew among sown species. Traits were measured at two key phenological stages for grapevine: budburst and flowering during two successive years with contrasted rainfall (2017 and 2018). We studied seasonal and interannual trait variations, rankings between species, and variance partitioning. The species factor explained the greatest part of trait variations across years and seasons. Sown and spontaneous species traits varied in the same way, and traits related to plant dry matter contents were the more stable across periods. Moreover, species rankings were conserved across years and seasons for all traits except plant height. Sown species showed better ranking conservation than spontaneous species overall. The trait‐based approach seems promising for the comparison of various cropping systems involving sown and spontaneous species, and may help identifying service crop species related to specific agroecosystem services. Further research is needed to bring more knowledge on trait variations under a diversity of agrosystems, and to improve theoretical frameworks that would help the design of sustainable agrosystems that provide multiple ecosystem services.