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Global evidence of positive biodiversity effects on spatial ecosystem stability in natural grasslands

Author

Listed:
  • Yongfan Wang

    (Sun Yat-sen University)

  • Marc W. Cadotte

    (University of Toronto-Scarborough
    University of Toronto)

  • Yuxin Chen

    (Sun Yat-sen University)

  • Lauchlan H. Fraser

    (Thompson Rivers University)

  • Yuhua Zhang

    (Sun Yat-sen University
    Guangdong University of Education)

  • Fengmin Huang

    (Sun Yat-sen University)

  • Shan Luo

    (Sun Yat-sen University)

  • Nayun Shi

    (Sun Yat-sen University)

  • Michel Loreau

    (Theoretical and Experimental Ecology Station, CNRS)

Abstract

The effect of biodiversity on primary productivity has been a hot topic in ecology for over 20 years. Biodiversity–productivity relationships in natural ecosystems are highly variable, although positive relationships are most common. Understanding the conditions under which different relationships emerge is still a major challenge. Here, by analyzing HerbDivNet data, a global survey of natural grasslands, we show that biodiversity stabilizes rather than increases plant productivity in natural grasslands at the global scale. Our results suggest that the effect of species richness on productivity shifts from strongly positive in low-productivity communities to strongly negative in high-productivity communities. Thus, plant richness maintains community productivity at intermediate levels. As a result, it stabilizes plant productivity against environmental heterogeneity across space. Unifying biodiversity–productivity and biodiversity–spatial stability relationships at the global scale provides a new perspective on the functioning of natural ecosystems.

Suggested Citation

  • Yongfan Wang & Marc W. Cadotte & Yuxin Chen & Lauchlan H. Fraser & Yuhua Zhang & Fengmin Huang & Shan Luo & Nayun Shi & Michel Loreau, 2019. "Global evidence of positive biodiversity effects on spatial ecosystem stability in natural grasslands," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-11191-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11191-z
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    Cited by:

    1. Martin Weih & Alison J. Karley & Adrian C. Newton & Lars P. Kiær & Christoph Scherber & Diego Rubiales & Eveline Adam & James Ajal & Jana Brandmeier & Silvia Pappagallo & Angel Villegas-Fernández & Mo, 2021. "Grain Yield Stability of Cereal-Legume Intercrops Is Greater Than Sole Crops in More Productive Conditions," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-18, March.
    2. Laura E. Dee & Paul J. Ferraro & Christopher N. Severen & Kaitlin A. Kimmel & Elizabeth T. Borer & Jarrett E. K. Byrnes & Adam Thomas Clark & Yann Hautier & Andrew Hector & Xavier Raynaud & Peter B. R, 2023. "Clarifying the effect of biodiversity on productivity in natural ecosystems with longitudinal data and methods for causal inference," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Dardonville, Manon & Bockstaller, Christian & Villerd, Jean & Therond, Olivier, 2022. "Resilience of agricultural systems: biodiversity-based systems are stable, while intensified ones are resistant and high-yielding," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    4. Schmid, Julia S. & Huth, Andreas & Taubert, Franziska, 2021. "Influences of traits and processes on productivity and functional composition in grasslands: A modeling study," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 440(C).
    5. Dardonville, Manon & Urruty, Nicolas & Bockstaller, Christian & Therond, Olivier, 2020. "Influence of diversity and intensification level on vulnerability, resilience and robustness of agricultural systems," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    6. Marie Spohn & Sumanta Bagchi & Lori A. Biederman & Elizabeth T. Borer & Kari Anne Bråthen & Miguel N. Bugalho & Maria C. Caldeira & Jane A. Catford & Scott L. Collins & Nico Eisenhauer & Nicole Hagena, 2023. "The positive effect of plant diversity on soil carbon depends on climate," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    7. Pedro Daleo & Juan Alberti & Enrique J. Chaneton & Oscar Iribarne & Pedro M. Tognetti & Jonathan D. Bakker & Elizabeth T. Borer & Martín Bruschetti & Andrew S. MacDougall & Jesús Pascual & Mahesh Sank, 2023. "Environmental heterogeneity modulates the effect of plant diversity on the spatial variability of grassland biomass," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    8. Davis, Natalie & Jarvis, Andrew & Polhill, J. Gareth, 2022. "Co-evolution of network structure and consumer inequality in a spatially explicit model of energetic resource acquisition," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 608(P1).
    9. Yanhui Chen & Guosheng Li & Linlin Cui & Lijuan Li & Lei He & Peipei Ma, 2022. "The Effects of Tidal Flat Reclamation on the Stability of the Coastal Area in the Jiangsu Province, China, from the Perspective of Landscape Structure," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-20, March.

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