Global change and plant-ecosystem functioning in freshwaters

Trends in Plant Science, vol. 28, pp. 646–660

Abstract

Freshwater ecosystems are of worldwide importance for maintaining biodiversity and sustaining the provision of a myriad of ecosystem services to modern societies. Plants, one of the most important components of these ecosystems, are key to water nutrient removal, carbon storage, and food provision. Understanding how the functional connection between freshwater plants and ecosystems is affected by global change will be key to our ability to predict future changes in freshwater systems. Here, we synthesize global plant responses, adaptations, and feedbacks to present-day and future freshwater environments through trait-based approaches, from single individuals to entire communities. We outline the transdisciplinary knowledge benchmarks needed to further understand freshwater plant biodiversity and the fundamental services they provide.

Authors 3

1. Ying Pan corresponding Aachen Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML)

   Leiden University · Chinese Academy of Sciences · Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology

   Affiliation as printed

   Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 130102 Changchun, China; Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, Einsteinweg 2, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands. Electronic address: y.pan@cml.leidenuniv.nl

   Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, Einsteinweg 2, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands

   Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 130102 Changchun, China

2. Jorge García‐Girón

   University of Oulu · Universidad de León

   Affiliation as printed

   Geography Research Unit, University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland; Department of Biodiversity and Environmental Management, University of León, Campus de Vegazana, 24007 León, Spain

   Department of Biodiversity and Environmental Management, University of León, Campus de Vegazana, 24007 León, Spain

   Geography Research Unit, University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland

3. Lars Lønsmann Iversen corresponding

   McGill University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, H3A 1B1, Canada. Electronic address: lars.iversen@mcgill.ca

   Department of Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, H3A 1B1, Canada