一个长达十年的草原实验中的生物多样性和生态系统稳定性
David Tilman1, Peter B Reich, Johannes M H Knops
1Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, 1987 Upper Buford Circle, St Paul, Minnesota 55108, USA. tilman@umn.edu
Nature
|June 2, 2006
概括
增加植物物种的多样性提高了生态系统的稳定性和生产力. 这项长期研究表明,生物多样性对于可靠和可持续的生态系统服务至关重要,包括食品和生物燃料生产.
科学领域:
- 生态生态学 生态生态学
- 环境科学 环境科学
背景情况:
- 人类活动往往简化了生态系统,引发了关于物种多样性与生态系统功能之间的关系的问题.
- 虽然生物多样性对生态系统生产力的影响已经确立,但其对生态系统稳定的影响仍然是争论的主题.
研究的目的:
- 实验测试植物物种多样性对生态系统稳定的长期影响.
- 研究不同物种数量如何影响草原环境中生态系统生产力的时间稳定性.
主要方法:
- 一个长达十年的实地实验直接控制了多年草原植物物种的数量.
- 监测植物物种丰富度,生态系统生产力和气候条件的年度变化.
- 在不同时间间隔 (2,5年和10年) 测量生态系统每年地面植物生产的时间稳定性.
主要成果:
- 较高的植物物种多样性显著增加了生态系统每年地面植物生产的时间稳定性.
- 生态系统的稳定性与根量 (常年生物量) 有积极的相关性,并且随着地块的成熟而增加.
- 尽管个体物种的稳定性较低,但整体生态系统的稳定性是通过投资组合和过度回报效应的多样性而增强的,而不是共变性.
结论:
- 生物多样性是生态系统时间稳定的关键驱动力,增强生态系统功能的可靠性.
- 保持或增加植物多样性可以带来更稳定和可持续的生态系统服务,如牲畜料和生物燃料.
- 这些发现支持多样性-稳定性假设,强调生物多样性对弹性生态系统的重要性.
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