Choices of sampling method bias functional components estimation and ability to discriminate assembly mechanisms
Choices of sampling method bias functional components estimation and ability to discriminate assembly mechanisms
复制标题
采样方法的选择会影响功能组件的估计和区分组装机制的能力
DOI：
10.1111/2041-210x.13175
复制
发表时间：
2019
影响因子：
6.6
通讯作者：
B. Guénard
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
R. Lee;B. Guénard
群落聚集理论和基于功能特征的方法的发展促进了对物种分布的理解和预测。再加上零模型，性状分散模式通常用于衡量生态位与中性过程对塑造当地社区的相对重要性。然而，不对称的性状分散模式的相同的社区可能会人为地出现抽样方法的选择的结果。这种对性状的非随机过滤被忽视了，它可能会使功能组件的估计以及潜在组装机制的检测产生偏差，特别是对于物种丰富的节肢动物群落。我们使用包括陷阱陷阱和Winkler提取器的配对处理设计对亚热带地面蚂蚁群落进行了采样（Winklers），两种常用的陆生节肢动物取样技术，在香港的17个灌木林和33个次生林400 m2样地，以确定采样过滤器对功能组成的影响（6个形态性状的群落平均值）和功能多样性（个体性状的范围和方差;多维性状空间的大小和填充特性）。我们发现，假设，从不同的方法抽样过滤器影响蚂蚁群落的性状组成和多样性不对称。在灌丛和森林中，陷阱陷阱采样的群落的性状组成占主导地位的是较大的，细长形和长腿的蚂蚁相比，温克勒斯采样。后一种方法也低估了个体性状的多样性与身体的大小，以及多维性状空间的大小和填充特性。我们的研究结果强调，使用特定的采样方法，而不事先了解其对性状的潜在过滤作用，可以影响检测的组装过程，并解释功能代理，如身体大小。在比较使用不同取样方法进行的研究所获得的特征成分时，应格外小心，以便将取样假象与实际生态现象区分开来。因此，重要的是要考虑不同的抽样方法可能会引入基于功能特质的研究的潜在偏差。
The understanding and prediction of species distributions have been advanced by the development of community assembly theories and functional trait‐based approaches. Coupled with null models, trait dispersion patterns are commonly used to gauge the relative importance of niche versus neutral‐based processes on shaping local communities. However, asymmetrical trait dispersion patterns of identical communities may artificially arise as a result of sampling methods choice. This non‐random filtering on traits is overlooked, and it may bias the estimation of functional components as well as the detection of underlying assembly mechanisms—especially for species‐rich arthropod communities. We sampled subtropical ground‐dwelling ant communities using a paired treatment design comprising pitfall traps and Winkler extractors (Winklers), two commonly used sampling techniques for terrestrial arthropods, in 17 shrublands and 33 secondary forest 400 m2 plots in Hong Kong to determine the effect of sampling filters on functional composition (community means of six morphological traits) and functional diversity (range and variance of individual traits; size and filling properties of multidimensional trait space) using a null model approach for each habitat. We found, as hypothesized, that sampling filters from different methods affected the trait composition and diversity of ant communities asymmetrically. In shrublands and forests, the trait compositions of communities sampled by pitfall traps were dominated by larger sized, slender‐shaped and long‐legged ants as compared to those sampled by Winklers. The latter method also underestimated the diversity of individual traits related to body size as well as the size and filling properties of multidimensional trait space. Our results highlight that the usage of particular sampling methods without prior knowledge on their potential filtering effects on traits can affect the detection of assembly processes, and interpretation of functional proxies, such as body size. Additional care should be taken when comparing trait components obtained from studies using different sampling methods, so as to distinguish the sampling artefacts from actual ecological phenomena. Hence, it is important to consider the potential biases that different sampling methods may introduce to functional trait‐based research.