The Relationship between the Functional Diversity of Plant Communities and the Functions of Ecosystems

DOI: https://doi.org/10.62517/jlsa.202507410

Author(s)

Yuli Niu

Affiliation(s)

College of Life Sciences, Qinghai Normal University, Xining, Qinghai, China

Abstract

This paper reviews the concept and research methods of plant community functional diversity, as well as the influence of functional traits on community assembly and ecosystem functions. Plant community functional diversity refers to the values and distribution range of functional traits of species within a community, which is an important aspect of biodiversity research. Studies have shown that functional diversity is an important predictor of ecosystem functions and is closely related to the resource utilization strategies, stability, disturbance resistance, and recovery capacity of communities. Although research on functional diversity has made certain progress, there are still challenges, including how to select appropriate functional traits, determine key resource limiting factors, and establish a standardized measurement system. Future research should focus on the response of functional diversity to environmental changes and its application in ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation.

Keywords

Functional Diversity; Ecosystem Function; Plant Community; Functional Traits

References

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