Meta-analysis on the responses of traits of different taxonomic groups to global and local stressors

• Published in: Acta oecologica (Montrouge) 2015-11, Vol.69, p.65-70
• Main Authors: Mbaka, John G., Szöcs, Eduard, Schäfer, Ralf B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomonitoring; Climate change; Community ecology; Contamination; Pollution; Species traits; Stressors
• ISSN: 1146-609X; 1873-6238
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actao.2015.09.002

Climate change and pollution are considered as major drivers of biodiversity loss. Climate change is a global multi-stressor, whereas pollution predominantly acts on the local scale. Organisms traits provide mechanistic links between biotic responses and stressors. We reviewed and analyzed the literature on the responses of vertebrates, invertebrates, microorganisms and plants traits to climate change (437 studies) and pollution (121 studies), to assess whether there was uniformity (i.e. convergence) in the responses of traits to the multi-stressors. For climate change, the traits related to tolerance responded uniformly across taxonomic groups, indicating trait convergence. For pollution, the low number of studies hampered a comparison across taxonomic groups. However, aquatic invertebrates that are tolerant, or exhibit high dispersal or reproduction capacities increased in response to pollution, whereas body mass and size increased in phytoplankton and fish, respectively. We provide a set of traits that have the potential to predict ecosystem-wide effects of climate change and pollution. •Meta-analysis of trait response of different taxa to climate change and pollution.•Traits related to tolerance and reproduction responded strongest.•Trait convergence across organism groups limited to few traits.•Set of traits is provided to predict effects of climate change and pollution.