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Beyond biodiversity: The more essential role of multi-trophic network complexity for predicting ecosystem
Shangsheng Sun1, Haojie Su1, Qingyang Rao2
1Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Ecological Protection and Resource Utilization of River-lake Networks, State Key Laboratory of Vegetation Structure, Function and Construction (VegLab), School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China.
Water Research
|July 19, 2025
Summary
Multi-trophic biodiversity and species interactions are key to ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) in freshwater systems. Network complexity, not just species richness, best predicts EMF under environmental change.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Environmental Science
- Freshwater Ecosystems
Background:
- Global environmental change impacts ecosystem functions.
- Current research often overlooks multi-trophic interactions and their role in ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF).
- Freshwater ecosystems are particularly understudied regarding multi-trophic diversity and EMF.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of environmental stressors on EMF.
- To assess the role of multi-trophic biodiversity and network complexity in driving EMF.
- To compare the predictive power of multi-trophic versus single-taxon biodiversity on EMF.
Main Methods:
- A full-factorial mesocosm experiment was conducted.
- Three environmental stressors were applied: nutrient enrichment (nitrogen and phosphorus), dissolved organic carbon input, and fish disturbance.
- Statistical analyses included linear regression, structural equation modeling (SEM), and random forest models.
Main Results:
- Environmental stressors had strictly additive effects on EMF.
- Species richness and multi-trophic network complexity positively correlated with EMF.
- Multi-trophic biodiversity and network complexity were stronger predictors of EMF than single-taxon diversity.
- Multi-trophic network complexity outperformed biodiversity alone in predicting EMF.
Conclusions:
- Multi-trophic network complexity, encompassing richness and species connectivity, critically determines EMF.
- Species interactions across trophic levels are crucial for maintaining EMF in freshwater ecosystems.
- Conservation efforts should prioritize cross-trophic network topology over simple species counts for effective freshwater management.
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