Guilds, Functional Types and Ecological Groups

The terms 'guild', 'functional type', 'functional group', 'structure-function group', 'plant type', 'adaptive syndrome', 'strategy' (sensu Grime 1979), 'species group' and 'ecological group' have all been used to describe ecological groupings of species. Although some workers have tried to make distinctions among these terms, no distinctions have been consistent between workers. Each term has been used in different ways by different