Trophic complexity alters the diversity-multifunctionality relationship in experimental grassland mesocosms

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Biodiversity Research
• Ecosystem Function

Background:

• Plant diversity positively influences ecosystem multifunctionality.
• The impact of trophic complexity on the plant diversity-multifunctionality relationship is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how plant diversity and trophic complexity independently and simultaneously affect ecosystem multifunctionality.
• To determine if trophic complexity modifies the relationship between plant diversity and multifunctionality.

Main Methods:

• A mesocosm experiment was conducted at Cedar Creek, Minnesota, USA.
• Plant diversity and trophic complexity were independently and simultaneously manipulated.
• The impact on ecosystem multifunctionality was analyzed.

Main Results:

• Neither plant diversity nor trophic complexity significantly affected individual ecosystem functions.
• Trophic complexity reduced the maximum strength of the plant diversity-multifunctionality effect.
• Trophic complexity shifted the diversity-multifunctionality relationship from positive to negative at lower function thresholds.

Conclusions:

• Trophic interactions significantly alter the biodiversity effect on ecosystem multifunctionality.
• Accounting for higher trophic levels is crucial for understanding biodiversity-ecosystem function relationships.