O. N. Odume, F. Akamagwuna, Pindiwe Ntloko, H. Dallas, C. F. Nnadozie, H. Barber-James
{"title":"A trait database for southern African freshwater invertebrates","authors":"O. N. Odume, F. Akamagwuna, Pindiwe Ntloko, H. Dallas, C. F. Nnadozie, H. Barber-James","doi":"10.2989/16085914.2022.2142505","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Invertebrates are often used as indicators of ecosystem health. In community ecology, the use of organism traits (e.g. behavioural, biological or ecological) can be of value in relation to impact diagnosis and assemblage prediction. It has also been recognised that certain traits are related to ecosystem function, and their use in biological monitoring provide insights into ecosystem functional responses to stressors. However, the paucity of trait information and non-availability of a local trait database for southern African invertebrates impede progress in using this approach for biological monitoring. To address this critical gap, we compiled an updateable trait database for southern African freshwater invertebrates. The database contains information on 40 trait categories and 204 trait attribute/modalities. Of the 40 trait categories included in the database, 12 are biological, 12 are behavioural, and 16 are ecological preferences. The database is designed to accommodate taxonomic flexibility. In this regard, trait information is entered at multiple taxonomic levels: family, genus, and species, allowing researchers working at different taxonomic resolutions to retrieve relevant information. While there are still gaps in the database, this effort represents the first attempt to synthesise available trait information on southern African freshwater invertebrates.","PeriodicalId":7864,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Aquatic Science","volume":"48 1","pages":"64 - 70"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1000,"publicationDate":"2023-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"1","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"African Journal of Aquatic Science","FirstCategoryId":"93","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.2989/16085914.2022.2142505","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"MARINE & FRESHWATER BIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 1
Abstract
Invertebrates are often used as indicators of ecosystem health. In community ecology, the use of organism traits (e.g. behavioural, biological or ecological) can be of value in relation to impact diagnosis and assemblage prediction. It has also been recognised that certain traits are related to ecosystem function, and their use in biological monitoring provide insights into ecosystem functional responses to stressors. However, the paucity of trait information and non-availability of a local trait database for southern African invertebrates impede progress in using this approach for biological monitoring. To address this critical gap, we compiled an updateable trait database for southern African freshwater invertebrates. The database contains information on 40 trait categories and 204 trait attribute/modalities. Of the 40 trait categories included in the database, 12 are biological, 12 are behavioural, and 16 are ecological preferences. The database is designed to accommodate taxonomic flexibility. In this regard, trait information is entered at multiple taxonomic levels: family, genus, and species, allowing researchers working at different taxonomic resolutions to retrieve relevant information. While there are still gaps in the database, this effort represents the first attempt to synthesise available trait information on southern African freshwater invertebrates.
期刊介绍:
The African Journal of Aquatic Science is an international journal devoted to the study of the aquatic sciences, covering all African inland and estuarine waters. The Journal publishes peer-reviewed original scientific papers and short articles in all the aquatic science fields including limnology, hydrobiology, ecology, conservation, biomonitoring, management, water quality, ecotoxicology, biological interactions, physical properties and human impacts on African aquatic systems.