Experimental impacts of grazing on grassland biodiversity and function are explained by aridity

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: Aug. 19, 2023

Grazing by domestic herbivores is the most widespread land use on planet, and also a major global change driver in grasslands. Yet, experimental evidence long-term impacts of livestock grazing biodiversity function largely lacking. Here, we report results from network 10 sites paired grazed ungrazed grasslands across an aridity gradient, including some largest remaining native planet. We show that partly explains responses multifunctionality to grazing. greatly reduced steppes with higher aridity, while had no effects relatively lower aridity. Moreover, found further changed capacity above- below-ground explain multifunctionality. Thus, plant diversity was positively correlated excluded livestock, soil Together, our cross-site experiment reveals depend levels, more arid experiencing negative ecosystem highlight fundamental importance conserving for protecting

Language: Английский

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Polyethylene microplastics alter soil microbial community assembly and ecosystem multifunctionality

Environment International, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 183, P. 108360 - 108360

Published: Nov. 30, 2023

Although pervasive microplastics (MPs) pollution in terrestrial ecosystems invites increasing concern, impact of MPs on soil microbial community assembly, and ecosystem functions multifunctionality received relatively little attention. Here, we manipulated a mesocosm experiment to investigate how polyethylene (PE MPs; 0, 1%, 5%, w/w) influence plant production, quality, diversity enzymology carbon (C), nitrogen (N) phosphorus (P) cycling, maize–soil continuum. Results showed that PE exerted negligible effect biomass (dry weight). The 5% caused declines the availability water, C P, whereas enhanced pH storage. activity C-cycling enzymes (α/β-1, 4-glucosidase, β-D-cellobiohydrolase) was promoted by 1% MPs, while β-1, 4-glucosidase inhibited MPs. reduced N-cycling (protease urease), increased P-cycling enzyme (alkaline phosphatase). shifted composition, number specialist species, stability networks resistance. altered with concentration decreasing dispersal limitation proportion (from 13.66 9.96%). Overall, improved concentration, α/β-1, urease, protease, ammonium-N content were most important predictors multifunctionality. These results underscore can alter assembly multifunctionality, thus development implement scalable solutions controlling become increasingly imperative sustainable agricultural production.

Language: Английский

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Biodiversity alleviates the decrease of grassland multifunctionality under grazing disturbance: A global meta‐analysis

Global Ecology and Biogeography, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 31(1), P. 155 - 167

Published: Oct. 1, 2021

Abstract Aim Biodiversity drives the delivery of multiple ecosystem functions related to carbon and nutrient cycling (ecosystem multifunctionality, EMF), biodiversity functioning are strongly threatened by intensive grazing in grasslands. However, it remains unclear how regulates EMF changes response grazing. Location Global. Time period From 1992 2018. Major taxa studied Grassland. Methods Here, we conducted a global synthesis using 373 paired observations from 90 published studies address responses plant diversity, their relationships disturbance depending on intensity, livestock type, duration, climatic aridity. Results Our results showed that significantly decreased with increasing but negative was alleviated at high levels diversity. The grazing‐induced increased linearly slopes 78.9% light heavy In addition, decrease stronger longer duration more arid climates. Structural equation models suggested intensity reduced largely via decreasing whereas upsizing type promoted Main conclusions This study highlights key role mediating intensifying disturbance. We call for conservation maintain grassland multifunctionality services.

Language: Английский

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Grazing lowers soil multifunctionality but boosts soil microbial network complexity and stability in a subtropical grassland of China

Frontiers in Microbiology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13

Published: Jan. 5, 2023

Long-term grazing profoundly affects grassland ecosystems, whereas how the soil microbiome and multiple ecosystem functions alter in response to two-decades of grazing, especially (diversity, composition, network complexity, stability) forms multifunctionality is rarely addressed.We used a long-term buffalo measure responses physicochemical attributes, stoichiometry, enzyme activities, microbial niche width, structure, functions, networks subtropical Guizhou Plateau, China.The evidence from this work suggested that elevated hardness, available calcium content, magnesium content by 6.5, 1.9, 1.9 times (p = 0.00015-0.0160) acid phosphatase activity, bulk density, pH 59, 8, 0.5 unit 0.0014-0.0370), but decreased water phosphorus 47, 73, 9-21% 0.0250-0.0460), respectively. Grazing intensified carbon limitation (+78%, p 0.0260) as indicated increased investment β-glucosidase activity (+90%, 0.0120). enhanced complexity stability bacterial fungal reduced Simpson diversity < 0.05). The diversity, had positive effects, while compositions negative effects on multifunctionality.This an original attempt show lowered via shifted rather than complexities grazing. Protecting decreasing, optimizing composition bacteria fungi, enhancing may be conducive improving multifunction grassland, grassland.

Language: Английский

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Multitrophic biodiversity enhances ecosystem functions, services and ecological intensification in agriculture

Journal of Plant Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 16(6)

Published: May 24, 2023

Abstract One central challenge for humanity is to mitigate and adapt an ongoing climate biodiversity crisis while providing resources a growing human population. Ecological intensification (EI) aims maximize crop productivity minimizing impacts on the environment, especially by using improve ecosystem functions services. Many EI measures are based trophic interactions between organisms (e.g. pollination, biocontrol). Here, we investigate how research multitrophic effects of functioning could advance application in agriculture forestry. We review previous studies use qualitative analyses literature test important variables such as land-use parameters or habitat complexity affect diversity, biodiversity–ecosystem relationships. found that positive prevalent production systems, largely across function dimensions, levels, study methodologies different functions, however, with certain context dependencies. also strong land management functions. detected knowledge gaps terms data from underrepresented geographical areas, organism groups functional diversity measurements. Additionally, identified several aspects require more attention future, trade-offs multiple temporal dynamics, change, spatial scale their implementation. This information will be vital ensure agricultural forest landscapes produce sustainably within environmental limits planet.

Language: Английский

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Effect of soil microbial community on ecosystem multifunctionality in an alpine grassland

CATENA, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 249, P. 108714 - 108714

Published: Jan. 12, 2025

Language: Английский

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Ecosystem multifunctionality and soil microbial communities in response to ecological restoration in an alpine degraded grassland

Frontiers in Plant Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14

Published: Aug. 1, 2023

Linkages between microbial communities and multiple ecosystem functions are context-dependent. However, the impacts of different restoration measures on functioning remain unclear. Here, a 14-year long-term experiment was conducted using three modes: planting mixed grasses (MG), shrub with Salix cupularis alone (SA), plus (SG), an extremely degraded grassland serving as control (CK). Our objective to investigate how multifunctionality (diversity, composition, co-occurrence networks) respond modes. results indicated that most individual (i.e., soil nutrient contents, enzyme activities, biomass) in SG treatment were significantly higher than CK treatment, even MG SA treatments. Compared treatments MG, SA, increased index average by 0.57, 0.23 0.76, respectively. Random forest modeling showed alpha-diversity composition bacterial communities, rather fungal drove multifunctionality. Moreover, we found both improved network stability, which exhabited stronger correlations compared stability. In summary, this study demonstrates altogether is promising mode can enhance improve diversity stability alpine grassland.

Language: Английский

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Comprehensive analysis of grazing intensity impacts alpine grasslands across the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau: A meta-analysis

Frontiers in Plant Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13

Published: Jan. 17, 2023

Livestock grazing is a dominant practice in alpine grasslands and plays crucial role the ecosystem service of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The effects on highly depends intensity. Up to now, we still lack comprehensive understanding general responses different intensities over broad geographic scales across Here, conducted meta-analysis explore plant characteristics soil properties intensity Plateau based 52 peer-reviewed literatures. results showed that did not change belowground biomass, while significantly increased ratio root shoot (P< 0.05). Light exhibited no significant richness, Shannon-Wiener diversity, water content, bulk density, nutrients, microbial biomass carbon, nitrogen (P > Moderate richness decreased organic carbon total Heavy nitrogen, density These findings suggest overgrazing closely associated with grassland degradation, moderate sustainable provide animal production simultaneously maintain ecological functions for

Language: Английский

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Response of microbial communities to the changes in grazing intensity and season in a typical steppe

Environmental Research, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 246, P. 118126 - 118126

Published: Jan. 8, 2024

Language: Английский

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Warming differentially affects above- and belowground ecosystem functioning of the semi-arid alpine grasslands

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 914, P. 170061 - 170061

Published: Jan. 11, 2024

Language: Английский

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