TY - JOUR T1 - Functional trait‐based approaches as a common framework for aquatic ecologists A1 - Martini,Séverine A1 - Larras,Floriane A1 - Boye,Aurelien A1 - Faure,Emile A1 - Aberle,Nicole A1 - Archambault,Philippe A1 - Bacouillard,Lise A1 - Beisner,Beatrix E A1 - Bittner,Lucie A1 - Castella,Emmanuel A1 - Danger,Michael A1 - Gauthier,Olivier A1 - Karp‐boss,Lee A1 - Lombard,Fabien A1 - Maps,Frédéric A1 - Stemmann,Lars A1 - Thiébaut,Eric A1 - Usseglio‐polatera,Philippe A1 - Vogt,Meike A1 - Laviale,Martin A1 - Ayata,Sakina‐dorothée AD - Sorbonne Université CNRS, Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche (LOV) Villefranche‐sur‐Mer, France AD - Aix Marseille Univ., Université de Toulon CNRS, IRD, MIO UM110 13288 Marseille ,France AD - Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research Leipzig, Germany AD - Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Environnement Marin (LEMAR) UMR 6539 CNRS UBO IRD IFREMER Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer, Université de Bretagne Occidentale Plouzané ,France AD - Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS Sorbonne Université, EPHE Paris ,France AD - Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) Trondhjem Biological Station Trondheim, Norway AD - Québec‐Océan and Unité Mixte Internationale Takuvik Ulaval‐CNRS, Département de Biologie Université Laval Quebec City Québec ,Canada AD - Sorbonne Université CNRS, Laboratoire Adaptation et Diversité en Milieu Marin (AD2M), Roscoff, France AD - Department of Biological Sciences University of Québec at Montréal Québec, Canada AD - Institut Universitaire de France Paris, France AD - Earth and Environmental Science Section, Department F.‐A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, Institute for Environmental Sciences University of Geneva Geneva, Switzerland AD - Université de Lorraine CNRS, LIEC Metz, France AD - School of Marine Sciences University of Maine Orono Maine, USA AD - Environmental Physics, Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics ETH Zürich Zürich, Switzerland UR - https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00663/77504/ DO - 10.1002/lno.11655 N2 - Aquatic ecologists face challenges in identifying the general rules of the functioning of ecosystems. A common framework, including freshwater, marine, benthic, and pelagic ecologists, is needed to bridge communication gaps and foster knowledge sharing. This framework should transcend local specificities and taxonomy in order to provide a common ground and shareable tools to address common scientific challenges. Here, we advocate the use of functional trait‐based approaches (FTBAs) for aquatic ecologists and propose concrete paths to go forward. Firstly, we propose to unify existing definitions in FTBAs to adopt a common language. Secondly, we list the numerous databases referencing functional traits for aquatic organisms. Thirdly, we present a synthesis on traditional as well as recent promising methods for the study of aquatic functional traits, including imaging and genomics. Finally, we conclude with a highlight on scientific challenges and promising venues for which FTBAs should foster opportunities for future research. By offering practical tools, our framework provides a clear path forward to the adoption of trait‐based approaches in aquatic ecology. Y1 - 2021/03 PB - Wiley JF - Limnology And Oceanography SN - 0024-3590 VL - 66 IS - 3 SP - 965 EP - 994 ID - 77504 ER -