Harmonizing and Searching Macroinvertebrate Trait Information in Alpine Streams: Method and Application–A Case Study in the Three Parallel Rivers Region, China
The traits of organisms provide critical information for understanding changes in biodiversity and ecosystem function at large scales. In recent years, trait databases of macroinvertebrates have been developed across continents. Anyone using different databases to search for traits will encounter a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.945824/full |
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| author | Sicheng Ao Sicheng Ao Xianfu Li Xianfu Li Xianfu Li Xianfu Li Zhen Tian Zhen Tian Jiancheng Hu Jiancheng Hu Qinghua Cai |
| author_facet | Sicheng Ao Sicheng Ao Xianfu Li Xianfu Li Xianfu Li Xianfu Li Zhen Tian Zhen Tian Jiancheng Hu Jiancheng Hu Qinghua Cai |
| author_sort | Sicheng Ao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The traits of organisms provide critical information for understanding changes in biodiversity and ecosystem function at large scales. In recent years, trait databases of macroinvertebrates have been developed across continents. Anyone using different databases to search for traits will encounter a series of problems that lead to uncertain results due to the inconsistency of the trait information. For example, traits for a particular macroinvertebrate taxon may be inconsistent across databases, coded in inconsistent ways, or cannot be found. However, most of the current studies do not clearly state their solutions, which seriously hinders the accuracy and comparability of global trait studies. To solve these problems, we collected representative databases from several continents, including the United States, Europe, South Africa, Bolivia, Australia, and New Zealand. By comparing the inconsistency of similar trait classifications in the nine databases, we harmonized 41 of these grouping features. We found that these databases differed widely in terms of the range and category of traits. And the method of coding traits also varies from database to database. Moreover, we showed a set of trait searching rules that integrate trait databases from different regions of the world, allowing traits to be identified more easily and uniformly using different trait databases worldwide. We also applied this method to determine the traits of 155 macroinvertebrate taxa in the Three Parallel Rivers Region (TPRR). The results showed that among a total of 155 macroinvertebrate taxa, the 41 grouping features of all genera were not fully identified, and 32 genera were not recorded (thus using family-level data). No trait information was found at all for two families, which contain two genera. This suggests that many macroinvertebrate taxa and their traits have not been fully studied, especially in those regions, including China, where macroinvertebrate trait studies are lagging. This inadequacy and unevenness have seriously hindered the study and development of macroinvertebrate trait and functional diversity worldwide. Our results complement the information on stream macroinvertebrate traits in the TPRR, a global biodiversity hotspot, and greatly promote the uniformity of global trait research and the accuracy and comparability of trait research in different regions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T13:21:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-376cd1bf753f4280866375247285e41d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-701X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T13:21:29Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-376cd1bf753f4280866375247285e41d2022-12-22T03:31:28ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2022-06-011010.3389/fevo.2022.945824945824Harmonizing and Searching Macroinvertebrate Trait Information in Alpine Streams: Method and Application–A Case Study in the Three Parallel Rivers Region, ChinaSicheng Ao0Sicheng Ao1Xianfu Li2Xianfu Li3Xianfu Li4Xianfu Li5Zhen Tian6Zhen Tian7Jiancheng Hu8Jiancheng Hu9Qinghua Cai10State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, ChinaCollege of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Eastern Himalaya Biodiversity Research, Dali University, Dali, ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center for Biodiversity and Conservation in the Three Parallel Rivers Region of China, Dali, ChinaThe Provincial Innovation Team of Biodiversity Conservation and Utility of the Three Parallel Rivers Region from Dali University, Dali, ChinaThe Key Laboratory of Yunnan Education Department on Er’hai Catchment Conservation and Sustainable Development, Dali, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, ChinaInstitute of Eastern Himalaya Biodiversity Research, Dali University, Dali, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, ChinaCollege of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, ChinaThe traits of organisms provide critical information for understanding changes in biodiversity and ecosystem function at large scales. In recent years, trait databases of macroinvertebrates have been developed across continents. Anyone using different databases to search for traits will encounter a series of problems that lead to uncertain results due to the inconsistency of the trait information. For example, traits for a particular macroinvertebrate taxon may be inconsistent across databases, coded in inconsistent ways, or cannot be found. However, most of the current studies do not clearly state their solutions, which seriously hinders the accuracy and comparability of global trait studies. To solve these problems, we collected representative databases from several continents, including the United States, Europe, South Africa, Bolivia, Australia, and New Zealand. By comparing the inconsistency of similar trait classifications in the nine databases, we harmonized 41 of these grouping features. We found that these databases differed widely in terms of the range and category of traits. And the method of coding traits also varies from database to database. Moreover, we showed a set of trait searching rules that integrate trait databases from different regions of the world, allowing traits to be identified more easily and uniformly using different trait databases worldwide. We also applied this method to determine the traits of 155 macroinvertebrate taxa in the Three Parallel Rivers Region (TPRR). The results showed that among a total of 155 macroinvertebrate taxa, the 41 grouping features of all genera were not fully identified, and 32 genera were not recorded (thus using family-level data). No trait information was found at all for two families, which contain two genera. This suggests that many macroinvertebrate taxa and their traits have not been fully studied, especially in those regions, including China, where macroinvertebrate trait studies are lagging. This inadequacy and unevenness have seriously hindered the study and development of macroinvertebrate trait and functional diversity worldwide. Our results complement the information on stream macroinvertebrate traits in the TPRR, a global biodiversity hotspot, and greatly promote the uniformity of global trait research and the accuracy and comparability of trait research in different regions.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.945824/fullmacroinvertebratethe Three Parallel Rivers Regionstream ecologytraittrait harmonizationtrait determination |
| spellingShingle | Sicheng Ao Sicheng Ao Xianfu Li Xianfu Li Xianfu Li Xianfu Li Zhen Tian Zhen Tian Jiancheng Hu Jiancheng Hu Qinghua Cai Harmonizing and Searching Macroinvertebrate Trait Information in Alpine Streams: Method and Application–A Case Study in the Three Parallel Rivers Region, China Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution macroinvertebrate the Three Parallel Rivers Region stream ecology trait trait harmonization trait determination |
| title | Harmonizing and Searching Macroinvertebrate Trait Information in Alpine Streams: Method and Application–A Case Study in the Three Parallel Rivers Region, China |
| title_full | Harmonizing and Searching Macroinvertebrate Trait Information in Alpine Streams: Method and Application–A Case Study in the Three Parallel Rivers Region, China |
| title_fullStr | Harmonizing and Searching Macroinvertebrate Trait Information in Alpine Streams: Method and Application–A Case Study in the Three Parallel Rivers Region, China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Harmonizing and Searching Macroinvertebrate Trait Information in Alpine Streams: Method and Application–A Case Study in the Three Parallel Rivers Region, China |
| title_short | Harmonizing and Searching Macroinvertebrate Trait Information in Alpine Streams: Method and Application–A Case Study in the Three Parallel Rivers Region, China |
| title_sort | harmonizing and searching macroinvertebrate trait information in alpine streams method and application a case study in the three parallel rivers region china |
| topic | macroinvertebrate the Three Parallel Rivers Region stream ecology trait trait harmonization trait determination |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.945824/full |
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