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Updated: Jun 29, 2026
12:44
Watershed Planning within a Quantitative Scenario Analysis Framework
Published on: July 24, 2016
Ecological multifunctionality of watersheds increases with tree species richness
Jiehao Zhang1, Peter B Reich2,3,4, Conghe Song5
1State Key Laboratory of Lake and Watershed Science for Water Security, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, PR China.
Nature Communications
|June 27, 2026
Summary
Higher forest tree species richness boosts watershed ecological multifunctionality, including carbon sequestration and water regulation. This biodiversity-multifunctionality link strengthens in larger watersheds but weakens in arid regions.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Environmental Science
- Forestry
Background:
- Watersheds are crucial meta-ecosystems providing essential ecological functions.
- Understanding biodiversity-multifunctionality relationships in watersheds, especially at large scales, remains limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of forest tree species richness on watershed ecological multifunctionality.
- To assess how this relationship scales across different landscape sizes and climatic contexts.
Main Methods:
- Integrated analysis of ground-sourced forest inventory data (846 watersheds) from GFBI and GSI.
- Utilized remote sensing data products for comprehensive watershed assessment.
- Accounted for forest structural characteristics and environmental conditions.
Main Results:
- A consistent positive relationship was found between forest tree species richness and watershed ecological multifunctionality.
- Ecological multifunctionality encompasses carbon sequestration, storage, water supply, regulation, and soil conservation.
- The biodiversity-multifunctionality link is scale-dependent, strengthening in larger watersheds.
- This relationship diminishes under arid climatic conditions.
Conclusions:
- Forest tree species richness is a key driver of watershed ecological multifunctionality.
- Watershed-scale processes and biodiversity are vital for effective ecosystem management and conservation.
- Findings highlight the importance of spatial scale and climate in biodiversity-ecosystem function relationships.
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