The species composition-ecosystem function relationship: A global meta-analysis using data from intact and recovering...

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Restoration Ecology
• Conservation Biology

Background:

• The link between biodiversity and ecosystem function is a cornerstone of conservation.
• Previous research often uses species richness as a proxy for biodiversity.
• Complex changes in species composition and their impact on ecosystem function require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze global ecosystems using a meta-analysis approach.
• To explore the relationship between species composition and ecosystem function recovery in degraded ecosystems.
• To determine if this relationship varies across different ecosystem functions.

Main Methods:

• A meta-analysis of 21 studies encompassing 478 ecosystem comparisons.
• Utilized the Bray-Curtis index to assess species composition similarity.
• Compared intact reference sites with recovering degraded sites.

Main Results:

• Intact ecosystems show higher functional similarity (69%) than compositional similarity (48%).
• In recovering ecosystems, species composition explained only 2% of the variation in ecosystem function.
• Biomass and biotic structure functions showed a significant relationship with species composition, unlike soil functions.

Conclusions:

• The relationship between species composition and ecosystem function is weak and saturating in recovering ecosystems.
• Restoration ecology needs to consider complex biodiversity changes beyond species richness.
• Accounting for natural variation is crucial for understanding ecosystem function drivers.