A proposed unified terminology of species traits in stream ecology

• DOI: 10.1086/681623
• Publication Date: 2015-04-01T13:29:03Z
• Authors: Dénes Schmera; János Podani; Jani Heino; Tibor Erős; N. LeRoy Poff
• Keywords: Trait

Traits-based community analyses are receiving increasing attention. However, consistent interpretation of empirical results and ecological understanding in stream ecology limited by ambiguous terminology. Furthermore, the measurement scales used to analyze trait data, especially ordinal-scale often inappropriately applied. We identify discuss these shortcomings offer a solution for an operative algebraically correct treatment traits unified nomenclature that facilitates direct comparison among traits-based studies. A terminology allows logical translation existing, alternative nomenclatures should facilitate communication research findings ecologists more directly connect with general ecology.