Elemental Ecology: towards an element-based functional ecology

Introduction

Life on Earth, as we have known it for millennia, is at stake. Human activities are putting all kinds of ecosystems under increased stress because of land-use change and the alteration of the biogeochemical cycles of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and carbon (C), thus inducing climate warming.

Ecosystem Functioning and Biodiversity

Functionally diverse ecosystems are more productive and stable than less diverse ones. Biogeochemical changes affect both biodiversity and the elemental composition of organisms (their elementome), changing how they and their ecosystems function.

Importance of Elemental Diversity

It is, therefore, imperative to provide evidence about how the interactions between elementomes, biodiversity, and climate drive ecosystem functioning if we are to avoid the serious threat of reducing essential resources for life within the context of global change.

Objectives of STOIKOS

STOIKOS will achieve an in-depth understanding of the interaction between elementomes and biodiversity in determining ecosystem functioning by introducing the concept of elemental diversity. This project aims to move functional ecology from using functional traits to elementomes, which is an easy and universal way to compare all sorts of organisms.

Hypothesis Testing

STOIKOS will particularly test the hypothesis that:

1. Community-weighted elementomes and elemental diversity explain ecosystem functioning better than functional traits and their diversity.

Methodology

STOIKOS will integrate data from:

• Observations (field campaigns)
• Long-term monitoring sites
• Microcosm experiments
• Theoretical modelling

This integration will provide synergies amongst their outputs to build the foundations of an elemental-based ecology.

Scales of Testing

This will allow STOIKOS’ hypotheses to be tested at:

• Individual
• Species
• Community/ecosystem scales

The project will utilize new and game-changing methodologies and study systems.

Impact of STOIKOS

The cutting-edge science of STOIKOS will not only provide the foundations of an elemental-based ecology but will also deliver new ecological theory and methodological tools. These advancements will help us predict the future of ecosystems and assess the fragility of our biosphere.