@article{AlbertGrasseinSchurretal.2011,
  author    = {Albert, C{\´e}cile H. and Grassein, Fabrice and Schurr, Frank Martin and Vieilledent, Ghislain and Violle, Cyrille},
  title     = {When and how should intraspecific variability be considered in trait-based plant ecology?},
  series = {Perspectives in plant ecology, evolution and systematics},
  volume    = {13},
  journal   = {Perspectives in plant ecology, evolution and systematics},
  number    = {3},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  address   = {Jena},
  issn      = {1433-8319},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.ppees.2011.04.003},
  pages     = {217 -- 225},
  year      = {2011},
  abstract  = {Trait-based studies have become extremely common in plant ecology. Trait-based approaches often rely on the tacit assumption that intraspecific trait variability (ITV) is negligible compared to interspecific variability, so that species can be characterized by mean trait values. Yet, numerous recent studies have challenged this assumption by showing that ITV significantly affects various ecological processes. Accounting for ITV may thus strengthen trait-based approaches, but measuring trait values on a large number of individuals per species and site is not feasible. Therefore, it is important and timely to synthesize existing knowledge on ITV in order to (1) decide critically when ITV should be considered, and (2) establish methods for incorporating this variability. Here we propose a practical set of rules to identify circumstances under which ITV should be accounted for. We formulate a spatial trait variance partitioning hypothesis to highlight the spatial scales at which ITV cannot be ignored in ecological studies. We then refine a set of four consecutive questions on the research question, the spatial scale, the sampling design, and the type of studied traits, to determine case-by-case if a given study should quantify ITV and test its effects. We review methods for quantifying ITV and develop a step-by-step guideline to design and interpret simulation studies that test for the importance of ITV. Even in the absence of quantitative knowledge on ITV, its effects can be assessed by varying trait values within species within realistic bounds around the known mean values. We finish with a discussion of future requirements to further incorporate ITV within trait-based approaches. This paper thus delineates a general framework to account for ITV and suggests a direction towards a more quantitative trait-based ecology.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{FioriniDominguezReboredaetal.2022,
  author    = {Fiorini, Vanina D. and Dom{\´i}nguez, Marisol and Reboreda, Juan C. and Swaddle, John P.},
  title     = {A recent invasive population of the European starling sturnus vulgaris has lower genetic diversity and higher fluctuating asymmetry than primary invasive and native populations},
  series = {Biological invasions : unique international journal uniting scientists in the broad field of biological invasions},
  volume    = {24},
  journal   = {Biological invasions : unique international journal uniting scientists in the broad field of biological invasions},
  number    = {2},
  publisher = {Springer},
  address   = {Dordrecht},
  issn      = {1387-3547},
  doi       = {10.1007/s10530-021-02653-x},
  pages     = {437 -- 448},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Fluctuating asymmetries (FA) are small stress-induced random deviations from perfect symmetry that arise during the development of bilaterally symmetrical traits. One of the factors that can reduce developmental stability of the individuals and cause FA at a population level is the loss of genetic variation. Populations of founding colonists frequently have lower genetic variation than their ancestral populations that could be reflected in a higher level of FA. The European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is native to Eurasia and was introduced successfully in the USA in 1890 and Argentina in 1983. In this study, we documented the genetic diversity and FA of starlings from England (ancestral population), USA (primary introduction) and Argentina (secondary introduction). We predicted the Argentinean starlings would have the highest level of FA and lowest genetic diversity of the three populations. We captured wild adult European starlings in England, USA, and Argentina, measured their mtDNA diversity and allowed them to molt under standardized conditions to evaluate their FA of primary feathers. For genetic analyses, we extracted DNA from blood samples of individuals from Argentina and USA and from feather samples from individuals from England and sequenced the mitochondrial control region. Starlings in Argentina showed the highest composite FA and exhibited the lowest haplotype and nucleotide diversity. The USA population showed a level of FA and genetic diversity similar to the native population. Therefore, the level of asymmetry and genetic diversity found among these populations was consistent with our predictions based on their invasion history.},
  language  = {en}
}