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Plant functional diversity promotes ecosystem multifunctionality in abandoned karst farmland under changing rainfall
Yuancai Qi1, Maji Wan1, Jinchun Liu1,2
1Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.
Frontiers in Plant Science
|July 28, 2026
Summary
Increasing heavy rainfall frequency can maintain ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) by boosting plant functional diversity, crucial for restoring degraded karst farmland under climate change.
Area of Science:
- Ecological science
- Climate change research
- Biodiversity studies
Background:
- Global climate change is altering rainfall patterns, impacting ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF).
- The specific effects of extreme rainfall on EMF drivers remain unclear.
- Understanding these drivers is vital for ecosystem restoration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of altered rainfall frequency and intensity on EMF in abandoned karst farmland.
- To identify the primary drivers of EMF under changing climate conditions.
- To assess the roles of abiotic factors and biodiversity in maintaining EMF.
Main Methods:
- Quantified EMF using averaging and multiple-threshold approaches (Hill-Chao numbers).
- Measured plant and soil microbial diversity.
- Simulated varying rainfall frequencies and intensities on abandoned karst farmland.
Main Results:
- Increased heavy rainfall frequency reduced plant biodiversity but positively impacted EMF.
- Soil moisture content showed a positive relationship with EMF.
- Plant functional diversity was identified as a key driver, with its influence strengthening at higher thresholds.
Conclusions:
- Enhancing plant functional diversity is crucial for restoring EMF in abandoned karst farmland.
- Strategies promoting plant functional diversity can aid ecosystem restoration in degraded landscapes.
- Abiotic factors influence EMF indirectly through functional diversity, especially under high thresholds.
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