Chelsea J. Little
A5063198063- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Peatlands and Wetlands Ecology
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Indigenous Studies and Ecology
- Freshwater macroinvertebrate diversity and ecology
- Climate change and permafrost
- Plant and animal studies
- Cryospheric studies and observations
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Land Use and Ecosystem Services
- Hydrology and Watershed Management Studies
- Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics
- Sustainability and Ecological Systems Analysis
- Hydrology and Sediment Transport Processes
- Ecosystem dynamics and resilience
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
Simon Fraser University
2021-2024
University of Zurich
2016-2023
University of British Columbia
2019-2023
Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology
2015-2022
West Chester University
2022
UiT The Arctic University of Norway
2019
Institut de Biologia Evolutiva
2018
Uppsala University
2013-2017
University of Oregon
2015
Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research
2015
Abstract Ecosystems are widely interconnected by spatial flows of material, but the overall importance these relative to local ecosystem functioning remains unclear. Here we provide a quantitative synthesis on carbon connecting ecosystems worldwide. Cross-ecosystem range over eight orders magnitude, bringing between 10 −3 and 5 gC m −2 year −1 recipient ecosystems. Magnitudes similar fluxes in freshwater benthic ecosystems, two three magnitude lower terrestrial systems, demonstrating...
Abstract Climate change and human pressures are changing the global distribution extent of intermittent rivers ephemeral streams (IRES), which comprise half river network area. IRES characterized by periods flow cessation, during channel substrates accumulate undergo physico‐chemical changes (preconditioning), resumption, when these rewetted release pulses dissolved nutrients organic matter (OM). However, there no estimates amounts quality leached substances, nor is information on underlying...
Uncovering biodiversity as an inherent feature of ecosystems and understanding its effects on ecosystem processes is one the most central goals ecology. Studying organisms’ occurrence patterns in natural has spurred discovery foundational ecological rules, such species–area relationship, general scientific interest. Recent global changes add relevance urgency to diversity organisms, their respective roles processes. While information properties abiotic environmental conditions are now...
Abstract The majority of variation in six traits critical to the growth, survival and reproduction plant species is thought be organised along just two dimensions, corresponding strategies size resource acquisition. However, it unknown whether global trait relationships extend climatic extremes, if these interspecific are confounded by within species. We test cold extremes life on Earth using largest database tundra yet compiled. show that plants demonstrate remarkably similar economic...
Abstract Assessing individual components of biodiversity, such as local or regional taxon richness, and differences in community composition is a long‐standing challenge ecology. It especially relevant spatially structured diverse ecosystems. Environmental DNA (eDNA) has been suggested novel technique to detect taxa therefore may allow accurately measure biodiversity. However, we do not yet fully understand the comparability eDNA‐based assessments classical morphological approaches. We...
Abstract Rivers that do not flow year-round are the predominant type of running waters on Earth. Despite a burgeoning literature natural intermittence (NFI), knowledge about hydrological causes and ecological effects human-induced, anthropogenic (AFI) remains limited. NFI AFI could generate contrasting biological responses in rivers because distinct underlying drying evolutionary adaptations their biota. We first review show how different drivers alter timing, frequency duration drying,...
Abstract Motivation The Tundra Trait Team (TTT) database includes field‐based measurements of key traits related to plant form and function at multiple sites across the tundra biome. This dataset can be used address theoretical questions about strategy trade‐offs, trait–environment relationships environmental filtering, trait variation spatial scales, validate satellite data, inform Earth system model parameters. Main types variable contained contains 91,970 18 traits. most frequently...
Abstract Intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams (IRES) may represent over half the global stream network, but their contribution to respiration carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions is largely undetermined. In particular, little known about variability drivers of in IRES sediments upon rewetting, which could result large pulses CO . We present a study examining from 200 dry reaches spanning multiple biomes. Results standardized assays show that mean increased 32‐fold 66‐fold sediment...
Abstract Aim Plant functional groups are widely used in community ecology and earth system modelling to describe trait variation within across plant communities. However, this approach rests on the assumption that explain a large proportion of among species. We test whether four commonly represent six ecologically important traits. Location Tundra biome. Time period Data collected between 1964 2016. Major taxa studied 295 tundra vascular Methods compiled database traits (plant height, leaf...
Abstract Freshwater ecosystems rely on allochthonous resources. Integration of these subsidies depends diversity both terrestrial resources and aquatic shredder decomposer communities, but the effects leaf litter breakdown decomposition are less clear in than ecosystems. We need a better understanding this relationship because communities rapidly changing with species invasions anthropogenic impacts. Here, we experimentally disentangled richness by macroinvertebrates mesocosm experiments...
Fluxes of matter, energy and information over space time contribute to ecosystems' functioning stability. The meta‐ecosystem framework addresses the dynamics ecosystems linked by these fluxes but, date, has focused solely on matter. Here, we synthesize existing knowledge information's effects local connected demonstrate how new hypotheses emerge from integration ecological into theory. We begin defining reviewing it flows among affect connectivity, ecosystem function dynamics. focus role...
Pacific Salmon have the potential to act as umbrella species in western North America. Urban streams warmer temperatures, higher nutrient loads, and flashier hydrographs from impervious surroundings (urban stream syndrome). These changes are likely affect ecosystem functions that key biodiversity services. Here, we ask whether restoration improve urban habitat for can naturalize organic matter decomposition rates. Using structural equation models, investigated relationship between physical...
Abiotic conditions have long been considered essential in structuring freshwater macroinvertebrate communities. Ecological drift, dispersal and biotic interactions also structure communities, although these mechanisms are more difficult to detect, they may be of equal importance natural Here, we hypothesized that 10 naturally replicated headwater streams eastern Switzerland, locally dominant amphipod species would associated with differences environmental conditions. We conducted repeated...
We studied the impact of simulated global change on a high alpine meadow plant community. Specifically, we examined whether short-term (5 years) responses are good predictors for medium-term (7 changes in system by applying factorial warming and nutrient manipulation to 20 plots Latnjajaure, subarctic Sweden. Seven years experimental enhancement caused dramatic shifts dominance hierarchies response combined treatments. Dominance moved from community being dominated cushion plants, deciduous,...
Dispersal can strongly influence ecological and evolutionary dynamics. Besides the direct contribution of dispersal to population dynamics, dispersers often differ in their phenotypic attributes from non-dispersers, which leads syndromes. The consequences such syndromes have been widely explored at community level; however, date, ecosystem-level effects remain unclear. Here, we examine whether dispersing resident individuals two different aquatic keystone invertebrate species contributions...
Abstract Aim Providing a quantitative overview of ecosystem functioning in three‐dimensional space defined by stocks, fluxes and rates, across major types climatic zones. Location Global. Time period 1966–2019. Major taxa studied Ecosystem‐level measurements (all organism types). Methods We conducted global synthesis wide range variables related to carbon stocks fluxes. gathered total 4,479 values from 1,223 individual sites (unique geographical coordinates) reported the literature (604...
More than half of the world's rivers dry up periodically, but our understanding biological communities in riverbeds remains limited. Specifically, roles dispersal, environmental filtering and biotic interactions driving biodiversity are poorly understood. Here, we conduct a large-scale coordinated survey patterns drivers riverbeds. We focus on eight major taxa, including microorganisms, invertebrates plants: Algae, Archaea, Bacteria, Fungi, Protozoa, Arthropods, Nematodes Streptophyta. use...
Whether species will be extirpated in their current geographic ranges due to rapidly changing climate, and if so, whether they can avoid extinction by shifting distributions are pressing questions for biodiversity conservation. However, forecasts of climate change impacts on species' rarely incorporate a demographic understanding responses climate. Because many biotic abiotic factors at multiple scales control range limits, experimentation is essential establish underlying mechanisms. We...