Functional Rarity

FUNCTIONAL RARITY

Functional rarity is the concept of rare species that play important ecological roles (Violle et al 2017). It is a measure of the rarity of the functions performed by species, rather than the rarity of the species themselves. Functional traits are the characteristics of species that determine their ecological roles. These traits can include, among others, body size, habitat preference, diet, and dispersal ability. Functional diversity is the variety of functional traits present in a community. It is a measure of the range of ecological roles that are performed by the species in a community. Functional rarity is important because it can help us to understand the impact of biodiversity loss on ecosystem functioning. Rare species often play important ecological roles that are not performed by other species. If these species become extinct, the ecosystem may be unable to function properly. The study of functional rarity is gaining momentum as scientists become more aware of the importance of rare species. There is still much that we do not know about functional rarity, such as the real importance of functionally rare species to the functioning of ecosystems, but it is a promising area of research that could help us to better conserve biodiversity.

Violle, C., Thuiller, W., Mouquet, N., Munoz F., Kraft N.J.B., Cadotte M.W., Livingstone S.W., Grenie M., Mouillot D. (2017). Functional Rarity: The Ecology of Outliers. Trends in Ecology and Evolution,32,356-367, doi:10.1016/j.tree.2017.02.002

In this framework I have initiated/participed to several research projects mainly to adress, functional rarity and conservation. This research has also resulted in producing reviews papers and integrated approaches

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Functional Rarity Types in Local Communities Are Assessed in Both Abundance and Trait Space by Combining the Classical View of Taxonomic Rarity and the Modern View of Trait Rarity. Using a 10- individual community of four species, we highlight different facets of functional rarity integrated into a single framework. The four species correspond to archetypal situations at the extremes of the abundance scarcity and functional distinctiveness gradients, species A being the ecological outlier (highest functional rarity value) in the community, while species C is the ecological norm (lowest functional rarity value). Modified From Violle, C., Thuiller, W., Mouquet, N., Munoz F., Kraft N.J.B., Cadotte M.W., Livingstone S.W., Grenie M., Mouillot D. (2017). Trends in Ecology and Evolution,32,356-367

Functional rarity & Conservation
Auber A, C Waldock, A Maire, E Goberville, C Albouy, A C Algar, M McLean, A BrindAmour, A L Green, M Tupper, L Vigliola, K Kaschner, K Kesner-Reyes, M Beger, J Tjiputra, A Toussaint, C Violle, N Mouquet, W Thuiller, and D Mouillot (2022) A functional vulnerability framework for biodiversity conservation. Nature Communications 13:4774
Loiseau N, Mouquet N, Casajus N, Grenie M, Gueguen M, Maitner B, Mouillot D, Ostling A, Renaud J, Tucker C, Velez L, Thuiller W, and Violle C. (2020) Global distribution and conservation status of ecologically rare mammal and bird species. Nature Communication, 11, 5071 doi:10.1038/s41467-020-18779-w. (* These authors contributed equally to this study)
Mouillot, D., Bellwood, D.R., Baraloto, C., Chave, J., Galzin, R., Harmelin-Vivien, M., Kulbicki, M., Lavergne, L., Lavorel, S., Mouquet, N., Paine, C.E.T., Renaud, J. and Thuiller, T. (2013). Rare Species Support Vulnerable Functions in High- Diversity Ecosystems . PLoS Biology, 11, e1001569, doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1001569

Integrative approaches & Reviews
Munoz F, Klausmeier CA, Gauzere P, Kandlikar PG, Litchman E, Mouquet N, Ostling A, Thuiller W, Algar AC, Auber A, Cadotte MW, Delalandre L, Denelle P, Enquist BJ, Fortunel C, Grenie M, Loiseau N, Mahaut L, Maire A, Mouillot D, Pimiento C, Violle C, and Kraft NJB (2023) The ecological causes of functional distinctiveness in communities Ecology Letters, DOI:10.1111/ele.14265
Mouillot D, Loiseau N, Grenie M, Algar AC, Allegra M, Cadotte MW, Casajus N, Denelle P, Gueguen N, Maire A, Maitner M, McGill BJ, McLean M, Mouquet N, Munoz F, Thuiller T, Villeger S, Violle C and, Auber A (2021) The dimensionality and structure of species trait spaces. Ecology Letters, doi:10.1111/ele.13778
Violle, C., Thuiller, W., Mouquet, N., Munoz F., Kraft N.J.B., Cadotte M.W., Livingstone S.W., Grenie M., Mouillot D. (2017). Functional Rarity: The Ecology of Outliers. Trends in Ecology and Evolution,32,356-367, doi:10.1016/j.tree.2017.02.002