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Biodiversity enhances ecosystem multifunctionality across trophic levels and habitats

Author

Listed:
  • Jonathan S. Lefcheck

    (Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary)

  • Jarrett E. K. Byrnes

    (University of Massachusetts Boston)

  • Forest Isbell

    (Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota)

  • Lars Gamfeldt

    (University of Gothenburg)

  • John N. Griffin

    (Wallace Building, Swansea University)

  • Nico Eisenhauer

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

  • Marc J. S. Hensel

    (University of Massachusetts Boston)

  • Andy Hector

    (University of Oxford)

  • Bradley J. Cardinale

    (School for Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan)

  • J. Emmett Duffy

    (Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary
    Tennenbaum Marine Observatories Network, Smithsonian Institution)

Abstract

The importance of biodiversity for the integrated functioning of ecosystems remains unclear because most evidence comes from analyses of biodiversity’s effect on individual functions. Here we show that the effects of biodiversity on ecosystem function become more important as more functions are considered. We present the first systematic investigation of biodiversity’s effect on ecosystem multifunctionality across multiple taxa, trophic levels and habitats using a comprehensive database of 94 manipulations of species richness. We show that species-rich communities maintained multiple functions at higher levels than depauperate ones. These effects were stronger for herbivore biodiversity than for plant biodiversity, and were remarkably consistent across aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Despite observed tradeoffs, the overall effect of biodiversity on multifunctionality grew stronger as more functions were considered. These results indicate that prior research has underestimated the importance of biodiversity for ecosystem functioning by focusing on individual functions and taxonomic groups.

Suggested Citation

  • Jonathan S. Lefcheck & Jarrett E. K. Byrnes & Forest Isbell & Lars Gamfeldt & John N. Griffin & Nico Eisenhauer & Marc J. S. Hensel & Andy Hector & Bradley J. Cardinale & J. Emmett Duffy, 2015. "Biodiversity enhances ecosystem multifunctionality across trophic levels and habitats," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-7, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms7936
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7936
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    Cited by:

    1. Martínez-Jauregui, María & White, Piran C.L. & Touza, Julia & Soliño, Mario, 2019. "Untangling perceptions around indicators for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 1-1.
    2. Chunming Li & Jianshe Chen & Xiaolin Liao & Aaron P. Ramus & Christine Angelini & Lingli Liu & Brian R. Silliman & Mark D. Bertness & Qiang He, 2023. "Shorebirds-driven trophic cascade helps restore coastal wetland multifunctionality," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    3. Bingjie Song & Guy M. Robinson & Douglas K. Bardsley, 2020. "Measuring Multifunctional Agricultural Landscapes," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-30, August.
    4. Peter J Carrick & Katherine J Forsythe, 2020. "The species composition—ecosystem function relationship: A global meta-analysis using data from intact and recovering ecosystems," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(7), pages 1-23, July.
    5. Najeeb Al-Amin Iddris & Greta Formaglio & Carola Paul & Volker Groß & Guantao Chen & Andres Angulo-Rubiano & Dirk Berkelmann & Fabian Brambach & Kevin F. A. Darras & Valentyna Krashevska & Anton Potap, 2023. "Mechanical weeding enhances ecosystem multifunctionality and profit in industrial oil palm," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 6(6), pages 683-695, June.
    6. A.S. Duden & P.A. Verweij & A.P.C. Faaij & D. Baisero & C. Rondinini & F. van der Hilst, 2020. "Biodiversity Impacts of Increased Ethanol Production in Brazil," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-17, January.
    7. Zhufeng Hou & Guanghui Lv & Lamei Jiang, 2021. "Functional Diversity Can Predict Ecosystem Functions Better Than Dominant Species: The Case of Desert Plants in the Ebinur Lake Basin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-13, March.
    8. Reed, James & van Vianen, Josh & Foli, Samson & Clendenning, Jessica & Yang, Kevin & MacDonald, Margaret & Petrokofsky, Gillian & Padoch, Christine & Sunderland, Terry, 2017. "Trees for life: The ecosystem service contribution of trees to food production and livelihoods in the tropics," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 62-71.
    9. Chengxiang Zhang & Li Wen & Yuyu Wang & Cunqi Liu & Yan Zhou & Guangchun Lei, 2020. "Can Constructed Wetlands be Wildlife Refuges? A Review of Their Potential Biodiversity Conservation Value," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-18, February.
    10. Brigite Botequim & Miguel N. Bugalho & Ana Raquel Rodrigues & Susete Marques & Marco Marto & José G. Borges, 2021. "Combining Tree Species Composition and Understory Coverage Indicators with Optimization Techniques to Address Concerns with Landscape-Level Biodiversity," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-26, January.
    11. Linney, G.N. & Henrys, P.A. & Blackburn, G.A. & Maskell, L.C. & Harrison, P.A., 2020. "A visualization platform to analyze contextual links between natural capital and ecosystem services," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).
    12. Sheikh Adil Edrisi & Ali El-Keblawy & Purushothaman Chirakkuzhyil Abhilash, 2020. "Sustainability Analysis of Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC Based Restoration of Degraded Land in North India," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-18, February.

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