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Multiple plant diversity components drive consumer communities across ecosystems

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  • Andreas Schuldt

    (German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
    Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden
    Georg-August-University Göttingen)

  • Anne Ebeling

    (Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Institute of Ecology and Evolution)

  • Matthias Kunz

    (Institute of General Ecology and Environmental Protection, Technische Universität Dresden, PF 1117)

  • Michael Staab

    (University of Freiburg, Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology
    University of Freiburg, Freiburg Institute of Advanced Studies (FRIAS))

  • Claudia Guimarães-Steinicke

    (Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity, Leipzig University)

  • Dörte Bachmann

    (ETH Zurich, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Universitätsstrasse 2)

  • Nina Buchmann

    (ETH Zurich, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Universitätsstrasse 2)

  • Walter Durka

    (German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
    Department of Community Ecology)

  • Andreas Fichtner

    (Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Institute of Ecology)

  • Felix Fornoff

    (University of Freiburg, Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology)

  • Werner Härdtle

    (Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Institute of Ecology)

  • Lionel R. Hertzog

    (Gent University)

  • Alexandra-Maria Klein

    (University of Freiburg, Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology)

  • Christiane Roscher

    (German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
    UFZ, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Physiological Diversity)

  • Jörg Schaller

    (University Bayreuth, Environmental Geochemistry, Bayreuth Center for Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), Universitätsstraße 30)

  • Goddert Oheimb

    (German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
    Institute of General Ecology and Environmental Protection, Technische Universität Dresden, PF 1117)

  • Alexandra Weigelt

    (German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
    Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity, Leipzig University)

  • Wolfgang Weisser

    (Technical University of Munich, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management, Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2)

  • Christian Wirth

    (German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
    Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity, Leipzig University)

  • Jiayong Zhang

    (Zhejiang Normal University)

  • Helge Bruelheide

    (German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
    Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden)

  • Nico Eisenhauer

    (German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
    Leipzig University, Institute of Biology)

Abstract

Humans modify ecosystems and biodiversity worldwide, with negative consequences for ecosystem functioning. Promoting plant diversity is increasingly suggested as a mitigation strategy. However, our mechanistic understanding of how plant diversity affects the diversity of heterotrophic consumer communities remains limited. Here, we disentangle the relative importance of key components of plant diversity as drivers of herbivore, predator, and parasitoid species richness in experimental forests and grasslands. We find that plant species richness effects on consumer species richness are consistently positive and mediated by elevated structural and functional diversity of the plant communities. The importance of these diversity components differs across trophic levels and ecosystems, cautioning against ignoring the fundamental ecological complexity of biodiversity effects. Importantly, plant diversity effects on higher trophic-level species richness are in many cases mediated by modifications of consumer abundances. In light of recently reported drastic declines in insect abundances, our study identifies important pathways connecting plant diversity and consumer diversity across ecosystems.

Suggested Citation

  • Andreas Schuldt & Anne Ebeling & Matthias Kunz & Michael Staab & Claudia Guimarães-Steinicke & Dörte Bachmann & Nina Buchmann & Walter Durka & Andreas Fichtner & Felix Fornoff & Werner Härdtle & Lione, 2019. "Multiple plant diversity components drive consumer communities across ecosystems," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-11, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-09448-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09448-8
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    Cited by:

    1. Abid Ali Ansari & Zahid Hameed Siddiqui & Fuad A. Alatawi & Basmah M. Alharbi & Amenah S. Alotaibi, 2022. "An Assessment of Biodiversity in Tabuk Region of Saudi Arabia: A Comprehensive Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-29, August.
    2. Khalid Awadh Al-Mutairi, 2022. "Do Spatially Structured Soil Variables Influence the Plant Diversity in Tabuk Arid Region, Saudi Arabia?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-11, February.
    3. Cameron Wagg & Aafke van Erk & Erica Fava & Louis-Pierre Comeau & T. Fatima Mitterboeck & Claudia Goyer & Sheng Li & Andrew McKenzie-Gopsill & Aaron Mills, 2021. "Full-Season Cover Crops and Their Traits That Promote Agroecosystem Services," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-26, August.

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