Conservation implications of the link between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Conservation Biology
• Environmental Science

Background:

• The link between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning is often asymptotic, with some species having a disproportionate impact.
• This asymptotic relationship has raised questions about the validity of conservation efforts focused on maintaining ecosystem functions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To argue that biodiversity and ecosystem functioning provide a critical, complementary argument for conservation.
• To address the complexity of identifying keystone species and their dependencies.
• To highlight the importance of biodiversity across various spatial and temporal scales.

Main Methods:

• Review and synthesis of existing scientific literature and arguments.
• Analysis of the precautionary principle in biodiversity conservation.
• Emphasis on the shift towards evidence-based scientific positions.

Main Results:

• Despite asymptotic relationships, biodiversity loss has significant ecosystem-level consequences.
• Identifying all crucial species and their interdependencies is practically impossible, necessitating broad conservation.
• Ecosystem functioning arguments complement utilitarian, ethical, and aesthetic reasons for conservation.

Conclusions:

• A combined approach, integrating ecosystem functioning with other conservation justifications, strengthens the case for biodiversity preservation.
• Biodiversity loss impacts are significant at larger scales, despite local asymptotic patterns.
• Integrating scientific findings on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning into policy is the future challenge.