Figure 1
Figure 1. Trait-based filters of species range and abundance mediate the effects of global change on ecological communities. Ellipse = species geographic range; colour = species identity; shape = trait types; shape size = relative abundance, arrow thickness = strength of consumptive interactions within local food webs. A. Many traits (e.g. thermal tolerances) mediate species’ interactions with their abiotic environment, setting limits on species’ potential geographic ranges (i.e. fundamental niche space; Filter 1). Within this fundamental niche space, dispersal traits (e.g. larval duration) further restricts range (Filter 2). Finally, traits govern the strength and nature of biotic interactions (e.g. foraging mode), further refining range and modifying local abundance. B. As abiotic conditions shift, a priorknowledge of species’ traits and their influence on filters 1-3 may allow us to predict changes in local species composition and abundance. For example, diamond vs star traits for the new grey species in B.