[PCA] NEWS: Rare Species Perform Unique Roles, Even in Diverse Ecosystems

[Kwong, Olivia]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130528181028.htm

Rare Species Perform Unique Roles, Even in Diverse Ecosystems

May 28, 2013 — A new study, published 28 May in the open access journal
PLOS Biology, has revealed the potential importance of rare species in the
functioning of highly diverse ecosystems. Using data from three very
different ecosystems -- coral reefs, tropical forests and alpine meadows --
a team of researchers led by David Mouillot at the University of
Montpellier 2, France, has shown that it is primarily the rare species,
rather than the more common ones, that have distinct traits involved in
unique ecological functions. As biodiversity declines, these unique
features are therefore particularly vulnerable to extinction because rare
species are likely to disappear first.

See the link above for the full article text. The full article from the
journal can be accessed at
http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pbio.1001569
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