Sustaining multiple ecosystem functions in grassland communities requires higher biodiversity

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Environmental Science
• Biodiversity Research

Background:

• Ecosystem functions like soil fertility and erosion control are vital but threatened by biodiversity loss.
• Previous models suggest higher species richness supports multiple ecosystem functions.
• The relationship between interacting species, biodiversity, and multifunctionality over time remains understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess how species diversity impacts grassland ecosystem multifunctionality.
• To determine the species richness required to provide multiple ecosystem functions simultaneously.
• To analyze temporal dynamics in biodiversity-ecosystem function relationships.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the longest-running biodiversity-functioning field experiment.
• Examined grassland ecosystems across multiple years.
• Quantified the provision of up to eight ecosystem functions at threshold levels.

Main Results:

• Minimum species richness required consistently increased with the number of functions considered.
• Tradeoffs between functions and inter-annual variability limited multifunctionality in any single community.
• No single community type achieved high levels of multiple functions irrespective of diversity.

Conclusions:

• Sustained ecosystem multifunctionality requires greater species richness than for single functions.
• A diversity of species assemblages across landscapes is crucial for maintaining multiple ecosystem functions.
• Biodiversity is key to ensuring ecosystem resilience and services in the face of environmental change.