Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in dynamic landscapes

Abstract

One contribution of 17 to a theme issue 'Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in dynamic landscapes'. The relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (BEF) and its consequence for ecosystem services has predominantly been studied by controlled, short-term and small-scale experiments under standardized environmental conditions and constant community compositions. However, changes in biodiversity occur in real-world ecosystems with varying environments and a dynamic community composition. In this theme issue, we present novel research on BEF in such dynamic communities. The contributions are organized in three sections on BEF relationships in (i) multi-trophic diversity, (ii) non-equilibrium biodiversity under disturbance and varying environmental conditions, and (iii) large spatial and long temporal scales. The first section shows that multi-trophic BEF relationships often appear idiosyncratic, while accounting for species traits enables a predictive understanding. Future BEF research on complex communities needs to include ecological theory that is based on first principles of species-averaged body masses, stoichiometry and effects of environmental conditions such as temperature. The second section illustrates that disturbance and varying environments have direct as well as indirect (via changes in species richness, community composition and species' traits) effects on BEF relationships. Fluctuations in biodiversity (species richness, community composition and also trait dominance within species) can severely modify BEF relationships. The third section demonstrates that BEF at larger spatial scales is driven by different variables. While species richness per se and community biomass are most important, species identity effects and community composition are less important than at small scales. Across long temporal scales, mass extinctions represent severe changes in biodiversity with mixed effects on ecosystem functions. Together, the contributions of this theme issue identify new research frontiers and answer some open questions on BEF relationships in dynamic communities of real-world landscapes.

The influence of balanced and imbalanced resource supply on biodiversity–functioning relationship across ecosystems

“…Thus, in the absence of significantly elevated nutrients, our results demonstrate that grassland diversity is not tightly coupled to soil nutrients. Further, the richness gradients in the aquatic experimental studies might not represent biodiversity of natural communities, thus constraining the responsiveness of diversity to the experimental manipulations [35]. Aquatic communities in experimental studies may suffer from bottle (enclosure) effects, thereby preventing the growth of some species while favouring others, particularly with nutrient amendments.…”

“…In some experiments included in our analysis (electronic supplementary material, table S1), nutrients were added to the system, often in higher proportions and at different ratios than in the natural environment. Other environmental drivers such as turbidity and grazing effects are altered in experiments compared with natural systems [35].…”

The more things change, the more they stay the same? When is trait variability important for stability of ecosystem function in a changing environment

“…One of the central issues facing ecology is predicting how ecosystem functioning will change as species composition shifts in response to anthropogenic drivers [1]. Early research linked species richness to biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (BEF) [2][3][4].…”

Climate modifies response of non-native and native species richness to nutrient enrichment

“…However, it remains unclear (i) whether, on average, non-native species differ from native species in their response to the interaction between nutrient enrichment and climate conditions (mean and variability); and (ii) whether the combined effect of more stable and benign climate conditions and increased nutrients has a net positive effect on non-native species as a group. Because changes in biodiversity (gains and losses) have crucial implications for the functioning of ecosystems across spatial and temporal scales [20], it is pressing that we understand how multiple concurrent environmental changes affect non-native species and invaded natural communities.…”