Biotic homogenization can decrease landscape-scale forest multifunctionality

Abstract

Many experiments have shown that local biodiversity loss impairs the ability of ecosystems to maintain multiple ecosystem functions at high levels (multifunctionality). In contrast, the role of biodiversity in driving ecosystem multifunctionality at landscape scales remains unresolved. We used a comprehensive pan-European dataset, including 16 ecosystem functions measured in 209 forest plots across six European countries, and performed simulations to investigate how local plot-scale richness of tree species (α-diversity) and their turnover between plots (β-diversity) are related to landscape-scale multifunctionality. After accounting for variation in environmental conditions, we found that relationships between α-diversity and landscape-scale multifunctionality varied from positive to negative depending on the multifunctionality metric used. In contrast, when significant, relationships between β-diversity and landscape-scale multifunctionality were always positive, because a high spatial turnover in species composition was closely related to a high spatial turnover in functions that were supported at high levels. Our findings have major implications for forest management and indicate that biotic homogenization can have previously unrecognized and negative consequences for large-scale ecosystem multifunctionality.Additional co-authors: Damien Bonal, Olivier Bouriaud, Helge Bruelheide, Filippo Bussotti, Monique Carnol, Bastien Castagneyrol, Yohan Charbonnier, David Anthony Coomes, Andrea Coppi, Cristina C. Bastias, Seid Muhie Dawud, Hans De Wandeler, Timo Domisch, Leena Finér, Arthur Gessler, André Granier, Charlotte Grossiord, Virginie Guyot, Stephan Hättenschwiler, Hervé Jactel, Bogdan Jaroszewicz, Tommaso Jucker, Julia Koricheva, Harriet Milligan, Sandra Mueller, Bart Muys, Diem Nguyen, Martina Pollastrini, Sophia Ratcliffe, Karsten Raulund-Rasmussen, Federico Selvi, Jan Stenlid, Fernando Valladares, Lars Vesterdal, Dawid Zielínski, and Markus Fische

Forest biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and the provision of ecosystem services

“…high betadiversity) can promote ecosystem multifunctionality at the landscape scale. This has turned out to be the case, as a high beta-diversity ensures that different localities complement each other in the ecosystem functions and services they provide (Mori et al 2016;van der Plas et al 2016b).…”

“…Pressures from human activities leading to forest loss, fragmentation and degradation (FAO 2015) have already caused much biodiversity decline and homogenization (Lindenmayer and Franklin 2002;Newbold et al 2015;van der Plas et al 2016b). These declines are expected to continue (e.g., Newbold et al 2015), especially in the rich forests of Central and South America, South and Southeast Asia and Africa, although the rate of forest loss has been slowing in recent years (Keenan et al 2015).…”

Management breaks the natural productivity-biodiversity relationship in forests and grassland: an opinion

“…4 shows a maximum with monocultures and an exponentially decreasing number of plots with increasing tree species numbers. The observation of decreasing productivity capacity with increasing mixtures is confirmed by a biodiversity experiment of Van der Plas et al (2016a) who compared European forest types and found the highest levels of ecosystem functions related to production for monocultures of Picea abies. Also results from long-term experimental plots similarly concluded to a higher maximum productivity in monocultures of Picea abies in deciduous temperate forests (Pretzsch, 2009).…”

Water Balance of Mediterranean Quercus ilex L. and Pinus halepensis Mill. Forests in Semiarid Climates: A Review in A Climate Change Context

“…P. halepensis is a conifer with two needles per brachyblast, while Q. ilex has a flat sclerophyllous leaf blade (Table 1). These leaf characteristics (i.e., flat and larger leaf size and needle for Q. ilex and P. halepnesis, respectively), with differences in the degree of sclerophylly, produce a leafy canopy type which, along with differences in the conducting system and branching architecture, would cause some differences in the water flow through the canopy between both species [25]. As regards the belowground structure, P. halepensis presents a moderate to shallow root system that determines the capacity to acquire water from soil (Table 1).…”