Locally rare species influence grassland ecosystem multifunctionality.

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Conservation Biology
• Ecosystem Function

Background:

• Species diversity is crucial for ecosystem multifunctionality.
• The distinct roles of rare versus common species in this relationship are not well understood.
• Understanding these roles is key for effective biodiversity conservation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how the diversity of rare and common species influences ecosystem multifunctionality.
• To determine the impact of local abundance and trophic groups on this relationship.
• To assess the influence of land-use intensity (LUI) on species' functional importance.

Main Methods:

• Studied 150 grasslands along a land-use intensity gradient.
• Assessed diversity of rare and common species across nine trophic groups.
• Quantified multifunctionality using 14 ecosystem functions.

Main Results:

• Rare above-ground species diversity positively correlated with high multifunctionality.
• Common species diversity related to average multifunctionality, with effects decreasing under higher LUI.
• Species abundance positively associated with multifunctionality, particularly for species declining with LUI.

Conclusions:

• Rare species, especially above-ground ones, are vital for high ecosystem multifunctionality.
• Conservation strategies should focus on protecting rare species to maintain ecosystem functions.
• Species' responses to land-use intensity predict their functional contribution to multifunctionality.