Table 1.

The functional traits used, assumed relationships to ecosystem processes, and effect of processes on ecosystem services (signs indicate the effect of an increased trait value; from −− to ++; see text for references)

Trait group	Trait	Processes	Effect −−, −, 0, +, ++
			Flood attenuation	Nutrient retention	C sequestration
Structural	Canopy Height	Surface flow resistance (+)	++
		Particle retention, sedimentation (+)		++	+
		Canopy interception,Transpiration, Infiltration (+)	+
		Standing biomass (+)			+
	Clonality form	Surface flow resistance (tussocks +)	++
		Belowground biomass (+)	+	+	+
		Nutrient storage (rhizomatous +)		+
Leaf	Leaf Persistence	Soil oxygenation in winter (evergreen +)		+
		Decomposability (evergreen −)		+	+
	SLA	RGR (+)	+	++	−
		NPP (+)	+	++	+
		Litter amount (+)	+	+	+
		Decomposability (+)		−	−
Root	Root depth	Soil oxygenation (+)		+
		Soil stability (+)	+		+
		Belowground biomass (+)			+
	Mycorrhiza	Nutrient uptake rate (+)		+
		Standing biomass (+)			+
		Soil respiration (+)		–	–
Hydrophytes	Body Flexibility	Flow resistance (−)	−
	Space occupancy	Flow resistance (+)	++
		Particle retention (+)		+	+
		Nutrient uptake rate (+)		+	−