Sandra I Amoroso Ferreira | Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon (original) (raw)
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Papers by Sandra I Amoroso Ferreira
Assessing trait-environment relationships is crucial for predicting effects of natural andhuman-i... more Assessing trait-environment relationships is crucial for predicting effects of natural andhuman-inducedenvironmentalchangeonbiota.Wecompiledaglobaldatabaseof fishassemblagesinestuaries,functionaltraitsoffishesandecosystemfeaturesofestuaries.Andwequantifiedtherelativeimportanceofecosystemfeaturesasdriversof patternsoffishfunctionaltraitsamongestuariesworldwide(i.e.driversoftheproportions of fish traits). In addition to biogeographical context, two main environmental gradientsregulatetraitspatterns:firstlytemperature,andsecondlyestuarysizeand hydrologicalconnectivityoftheestuarywiththemarineecosystem.Overall,estuaries incolderregions,withlargerareasandwithhigherhydrologicalconnectivitywiththe marineecosystem,havehigherproportionsofmarinefish(versusfreshwater),macrocarnivoresandplanktivores(versusomnivores,herbivoresanddetritivores)andlarger fish, with greater maximum depth of distribution andlongerlifespan. The observed trait patterns and trait-environment relationships are likely generated by multiple causalprocesseslinkedtophysiologicalconstraintsduetotemperatureandsalinity, size-dependent biotic interactions, as well as habitat availability and connectivity. Biogeographical context and environmental conditions drive species richness and composition,andpresentresultsshowthattheyalsodriveassemblagetraits.Theobserved trait patterns and trait-environment relationships suggest that assemblage composition is determined by the functional role of species within ecosystems. Conservationstrategiesshouldbecoordinatedgloballyandensureprotectionofan arrayofestuariesthatdifferinecosystemfeatures,evenifsomeofthoseestuariesdo notsupporthighspeciesrichness.
Assessing trait-environment relationships is crucial for predicting effects of natural andhuman-i... more Assessing trait-environment relationships is crucial for predicting effects of natural andhuman-inducedenvironmentalchangeonbiota.Wecompiledaglobaldatabaseof fishassemblagesinestuaries,functionaltraitsoffishesandecosystemfeaturesofestuaries.Andwequantifiedtherelativeimportanceofecosystemfeaturesasdriversof patternsoffishfunctionaltraitsamongestuariesworldwide(i.e.driversoftheproportions of fish traits). In addition to biogeographical context, two main environmental gradientsregulatetraitspatterns:firstlytemperature,andsecondlyestuarysizeand hydrologicalconnectivityoftheestuarywiththemarineecosystem.Overall,estuaries incolderregions,withlargerareasandwithhigherhydrologicalconnectivitywiththe marineecosystem,havehigherproportionsofmarinefish(versusfreshwater),macrocarnivoresandplanktivores(versusomnivores,herbivoresanddetritivores)andlarger fish, with greater maximum depth of distribution andlongerlifespan. The observed trait patterns and trait-environment relationships are likely generated by multiple causalprocesseslinkedtophysiologicalconstraintsduetotemperatureandsalinity, size-dependent biotic interactions, as well as habitat availability and connectivity. Biogeographical context and environmental conditions drive species richness and composition,andpresentresultsshowthattheyalsodriveassemblagetraits.Theobserved trait patterns and trait-environment relationships suggest that assemblage composition is determined by the functional role of species within ecosystems. Conservationstrategiesshouldbecoordinatedgloballyandensureprotectionofan arrayofestuariesthatdifferinecosystemfeatures,evenifsomeofthoseestuariesdo notsupporthighspeciesrichness.