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ABSTRACT AimsThe community composition of native and alien plant species is influenced by the environment (e.g., nutrient addition and changes in temperature or precipitation). A key objective of our study is to understand how differences in the traits of alien and native species vary across diverse environmental conditions. For example, the study examines how changes in nutrient availability affect community composition and functional traits, such as specific leaf area and plant height. Additionally, it seeks to assess the vulnerability of high‐nutrient environments, such as grasslands, to alien species colonization and the potential for alien species to surpass natives in abundance. Finally, the study explores how climatic factors, including temperature and precipitation, modulate the relationship between traits and environmental conditions, shaping species success. LocationIn our study, we used data from a globally distributed experiment manipulating nutrient supplies in grasslands worldwide (NutNet). MethodsWe investigate how temporal shifts in the abundance of native and alien species are influenced by species‐specific functional traits, including specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf nutrient concentrations, as well as by environmental conditions such as climate and nutrient treatments, across 17 study sites. Mixed‐effects models were used to assess these relationships. ResultsAlien and native species increasing in their abundance did not differ in their leaf traits. We found significantly lower specific leaf area (SLA) with an increase in mean annual temperature and lower leaf Potassium with mean annual precipitation. For trait–environment relationships, when compared to native species, successful aliens exhibited an increase in leaf Phosphorus and a decrease in leaf Potassium with an increase in mean annual precipitation. Finally, aliens' SLA decreased in plots with higher mean annual temperatures. ConclusionsTherefore, studying the relationship between environment and functional traits may portray grasslands' dynamics better than focusing exclusively on traits of successful species, per se.
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The emergence of indexicality in an artificial language
We investigated the emergence of register-like indexical associations, whereby linguistic forms that are associated with groups of speakers acquire novel associations with contextual features of those groups. We employed an artificial-language paradigm in which participants were exposed to an “alien” language spoken by two alien species wearing two different ceremonial outfits. The language varied with respect to plural suffixes, such that one suffix was associated reliably with one species and outfit in training. We then tested participants on what associations they had acquired. In two experiments we manipulated which aliens wore which outfits in the test phase. Regardless of condition or length of training, participants associated suffixes strongly with aliens rather than clothing. In a third experiment we introduced a new alien species in the test phase. For these aliens, which participants had not seen during training, participants made a clear association based on outfit. These results show clearly ranked indexical (or proto-indexical) associations on the part of participants and lay clear groundwork for the experimental investigation of the emergence of indexical social meaning in language.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1946882
- PAR ID:
- 10404248
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, 43
- ISSN:
- 0364-0213
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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