Linking trait dimensions to processes
We consider our four trait dimensions to be indicative of different
ecological processes: movement and interactions are indicative of the
processes of the same name, whereas tolerance is analogous to the
process of environmental filtering, and life history to demographic
processes. Here, we seek to identify which dimensions most strongly
influence each of the three rarity dimensions. Although in reality the
three dimensions of rarity are, to some extent, likely influenced by all
four processes for at least some species, our objective is to identify
which of the processes are the key drivers of each rarity dimension
(Figure 3).