Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function: Do Species Matter?

Abstract

Biological communities perform a variety of functions within ecosystems, including regulation of climatic processes, breakdown of waste, recycling of nutrients, maintenance of soil fertility and provision of natural resources. Although exact numbers and timescales are difficult to determine, it is clear that biodiversity (species and habitat richness, genetic diversity and community complexity) is declining. Studies of biodiversity are thus assuming greater significance as ecologists try desperately to document global biodiversity in the face of unprecedented perturbations, habitat loss and extinction rates. How will such decline in biodiversity affect the biosphere and the quality of human life on the planet? Does biodiversity matter? Internationally, research has begun to investigate whether the current unprecedented losses in biodiversity will damage the functioning of ecosystems. This paper reviews this work and highlights the general patterns identified. Scientific evidence continues to show that, in general, biodiversity does influence the rates or nature of ecosystem processes, and a majority of studies have found that a reduction in biodiversity does have a negative effect on ecosystem function. The paper also considers the potential indirect effects of biodiversity losses on conservation, particularly in relation to fragmentation and critical transition zones between terrestrial and aquatic habitats.

Biodiversity, functional roles and ecosystem services of groundwater invertebrates

“…Most studies have demonstrated that a reduction in biodiversity has a negative effect on ecosystem function (reviews in Loreau et al 2001;Giller and O'Donovan 2002;Hooper et al 2005). The majority of this work has been done on terrestrial plant communities, and results of 95% of the manipulation studies reviewed by Schwartz et al (2000) supported the redundant species hypothesis.…”

“…There is, of course, the null hypothesis that no relationship exists between biodiversity and ecosystem function ( Fig. 1) but support for this is weak (Giller and O'Donovan 2002). The next simplest model (but also considered unlikely, Tilman 1997) is a linear relationship where each additional species contributes the same amount of ecosystem function (Fig.…”

RESPON SEMUT TERHADAP KERUSAKAN ANTROPOGENIK DALAM HUTAN LINDUNG SIRIMAU AMBON (Ants Response to Damage Anthropogenic in Sirimau Forest Ambon)

“…Spesis yang memberikan respon sama dikelompokkan dalam satu tipe fungsional yang sama dan spesis yang berbeda respon akan dikelompokan dalam tipe fungsional yang berbeda. Dalam hutan sekunder terdapat tujuh tipe kelompok fungsional (Tabel 4) yakni oppurtunist (1 spesis), generalized myrmicinae (1 spesis), specialis predator (4 spesis), tropical climate specialis (6 spesis), dominant Semut opportunist umumnya hidup pada areal yang terganggu sebagai akibat kehadiran manusia atau pada daerah dengan tingkat diversitas yang rendah (Giller, 2002). Habitat yang terganggu dapat mempengaruhi produktivitas semut dan tingkat keragamannya.…”

Phytoécologie des faciès à Marantaceae de la forêt de Lossi (Congo, Brazzaville)

“…Les caractéristiques écologiques de la diversité floristique attestent une stabilité fonctionnelle du système, au sein duquel la complexité d'interactions dynamiques est telle qu'une variation ou perturbation du milieu n'a qu'un faible impact (Bond et Chase, 2002 ;Giller et O'Donovan, 2002 ;Wallington et al, 2005 ;Caldeira et al, 2005 ;Mikkelson, 2009). Ce stade de développement intègre une étroite corrélation entre richesse spécifique et performance ou stabilité fonctionnelle de l'écosystème, traduisant généralement son état de développement.…”