Application of Functional Traits in Modelling Productivity and Resilience Under Climate Change

The changing climatic trends have increased global temperatures and drought risk, thus accelerating catastrophes that threaten food, nutrition, and environmental security. Functional traits, inherent characteristics of organisms influencing their interactions with the environment, are indispensable tools in understanding and predicting ecosystem responses to climate fluctuations. The chapter explores integration of functional traits into various modelling approaches, including species distribution models (SDMs) and trait-based community assembly models, showcasing their power to anticipate shifts in species distributions and community compositions under climate change. It also highlights how functional traits underpin essential ecosystem processes and resilience assessments, emphasizing their role in sustaining productivity and adaptability. Practical applications in agriculture, forestry, aquatic systems, invasive species management, and restoration ecology underscore real-world relevance. The chapter acknowledges challenges in data collection and charts future research directions, ultimately emphasizing the critical importance of functional traits in navigating the complex challenges posed by climate change in ecological systems.