Environmental Science
5 years ago

Warning Signs: Traits Shift Before Population Declines in Changing Environments

The American Naturalist
When Do Shifts in Trait Dynamics Precede Population Declines?
Gaurav Baruah, Christopher F. Clements, Frédéric Guillaume, Arpat Özgül

Paper Summary

Researchers investigated when changes in traits can signal population declines. They found that shifts in traits can happen before a population decrease, especially with slow environmental changes. Factors like predictability, reproductive rate, plasticity, and genetic variation can influence this relationship. This study shows that certain traits can act as an early warning sign for population declines.

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