Consistent responses of soil microbial communities to elevated nutrient inputs in grasslands across the globe

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 112(35), P. 10967 - 10972

Published: Aug. 17, 2015

Significance Human activities have resulted in large increases the availability of nutrients terrestrial ecosystems worldwide. Although plant community responses to elevated been well studied, soil microbial remain poorly understood, despite their critical importance ecosystem functioning. Using DNA-sequencing approaches, we assessed response communities experimentally added nitrogen and phosphorus at 25 grassland sites across globe. Our results demonstrate that composition these shifts consistent ways with nutrient inputs there are corresponding ecological attributes members. This study represents an important step forward for understanding connection between inputs, communities, altered

Language: Английский

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Integrative modelling reveals mechanisms linking productivity and plant species richness

Nature, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 529(7586), P. 390 - 393

Published: Jan. 1, 2016

Language: Английский

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Addition of multiple limiting resources reduces grassland diversity

Nature, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 537(7618), P. 93 - 96

Published: Aug. 23, 2016

Language: Английский

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Biodiversity effects on ecosystem functioning in a 15-year grassland experiment: Patterns, mechanisms, and open questions

Basic and Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 23, P. 1 - 73

Published: June 27, 2017

In the past two decades, a large number of studies have investigated relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, most which focussed on limited set variables. The Jena Experiment was up in 2002 to investigate effects plant diversity element cycling trophic interactions, using multi-disciplinary approach. Here, we review results 15 years research Experiment, focussing manipulating species richness functional richness. With more than 85,000 measures taken from plots, has allowed answering fundamental questions important for research. First, question how general effect is, regarding many different processes that take place an ecosystem. About 45% types measured 'main experiment', where ranged 1 60 species, were significantly affected by richness, providing strong support view is significant driver functioning. Many not saturating at 60-species level, but increased linearly with logarithm There was, however, great variability strength response among processes. One striking pattern processes, particular belowground took several respond manipulation showing experiments be long-term, distinguish trends transitory patterns. addition, provide further evidence begets stability, example stability against invasion unexpectedly some also suggested opposite, e.g. when communities experience severe perturbations or elevated resource availability. This highlights need revisit diversity–stability theory. Second, explored whether individual groups, itself biomass production. We found groups production, yet these mostly occurred addition to, instead of, Third, assessed multitrophic interactions. organisms responded positively increases stronger above- organisms, herbivores carnivores detritivores. Thus, diversity. organismic abundances. Fourth, aimed assess N, P C water balance separating input into ecosystem, turnover, stocks, output While inputs generally less turnover often diversity, carbon storage strongly increasing Variables N cycle variables cycle. Fifth, traits are used unravel mechanisms underlying biodiversity–ecosystem functioning relationship. traits, both belowground, plastic trait expression depended complex way, suggesting limitation database linking functions. Sixth, caused Analyses including structural equation modelling suggest interactions changed soil greenhouse gas emission changes composition activity microbial community. Manipulation experiments, invertebrates, excluded plots split-plot supported role biotic component fluxes. Seventh, put context agricultural practices managed grasslands. 16 absolute terms, as intensive grassland management, fertiliser mowing frequency. Potential bioenergy production high-diversity similar conventionally energy crops. These diverse 'High Nature Value Grasslands' multifunctional can deliver range services production-related services. A final task importance potential artefacts relationships, weeding community maintain composition. effort (in hours) needed weed plot negatively related still majority Weeding did affect monoculture performance; rather, monocultures deteriorated over time biological reasons, shown plant-soil feedback experiments. To summarize, comprehensive analysis main challenge future increase our mechanistic understanding why magnitude differs contexts. It likely there will no simple answer. For example, multitude underlie positive biomass, received such vertical root niche partitioning. However, others could rejected targeted analyses. current it seems acting simultaneously communities, reduced pathogen attack, presence growth promoting seed limitation, differences leading complementarity uptake. Distinguishing requires careful testing competing hypotheses. Biodiversity matured predictive approaches now possible.

Language: Английский

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Towards a unified study of multiple stressors: divisions and common goals across research disciplines

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 287(1926)

Published: May 6, 2020

Anthropogenic environmental changes, or ‘stressors’, increasingly threaten biodiversity and ecosystem functioning worldwide. Multiple-stressor research is a rapidly expanding field of science that seeks to understand ultimately predict the interactions between stressors. Reviews meta-analyses primary scientific literature have largely been specific either freshwater, marine terrestrial ecology, ecotoxicology. In this cross-disciplinary study, we review state knowledge within among these disciplines highlight commonality division in multiple-stressor research. Our goes beyond description previous by using quantitative bibliometric analysis identify link previously disconnected communities. Towards unified framework, discuss shared goal increased realism through both ecological temporal complexity, with overarching aim improving predictive power. changing world, advancing our understanding cumulative impacts multiple stressors critical for conservation management. Identifying overcoming barriers interdisciplinary exchange necessary rising challenge. Division types human creation. Species cross borders so should scientists who study them.

Language: Английский

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Ecosystem structure, function, and composition in rangelands are negatively affected by livestock grazing

Ecological Applications, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 26(4), P. 1273 - 1283

Published: May 25, 2016

Abstract Reports of positive or neutral effects grazing on plant species richness have prompted calls for livestock to be used as a tool managing land conservation. Grazing effects, however, are likely vary among different response variables, types, and intensity grazing, across abiotic conditions. We aimed examine how affects ecosystem structure, function, composition. compiled database 7615 records reporting an effect by sheep cattle 278 biotic variables published studies Australia. Using these data, we derived three measures based composition, which were compared against six contrasts pressure, ranging from low heavy, two herbivores (sheep, cattle), climatic zones. reduced structure (by 35%), function (24%), composition (10%). Structure (but not composition) declined more when grazed together than alone. biomass (40%), animal (15%), abundance, litter cover (25%), but had no nor soil function. The negative biomass, cover, pronounced in drier environments. constant, even declined, with increasing aridity. Our study represents comprehensive continental assessment the implications Australian rangelands. largely negative, at very levels grazing. Overall, our results suggest that Australia is unlikely produce outcomes blanket conservation unless reduction specific explicit management objective.

Language: Английский

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A novel soil manganese mechanism drives plant species loss with increased nitrogen deposition in a temperate steppe

Ecology, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 97(1), P. 65 - 74

Published: July 14, 2015

Abstract Loss of plant diversity with increased anthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition in grasslands has occurred globally. In most cases, competitive exclusion driven by preemption light or space is invoked as a key mechanism. Here, we provide evidence from 9‐yr N‐addition experiment for an alternative mechanism: differential sensitivity forbs and grasses to soil manganese (Mn) levels. Inner Mongolia steppes, increasing the N supply shifted community composition grass–forb codominance (primarily Stipa krylovii Artemisia frigida , respectively) exclusive dominance grass, associated declines overall species richness. Reduced abundance was linked acidification that mobilization Mn, 10‐fold greater accumulation Mn than grasses. The enhanced correlated reduced photosynthetic rates growth, consistent loss forb species. Differential between can be fundamental differences dicots monocots biochemical pathways regulating metal transport. These findings mechanistic explanation N‐induced temperate linking acquisition impacts on functional groups these ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Biodiversity mediates top–down control in eelgrass ecosystems: a global comparative‐experimental approach

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 18(7), P. 696 - 705

Published: May 17, 2015

Abstract Nutrient pollution and reduced grazing each can stimulate algal blooms as shown by numerous experiments. But because experiments rarely incorporate natural variation in environmental factors biodiversity, conditions determining the relative strength of bottom–up top–down forcing remain unresolved. We factorially added nutrients at 15 sites across range marine foundation species eelgrass ( Zostera marina ) to quantify how control interact with gradients biodiversity forcing. Experiments confirmed modest algae, whereas fertilisation had no general effect. Unexpectedly, grazer biomass were better predicted cross‐site diversity than global gradients. Moreover, these large‐scale patterns corresponded strikingly prior small‐scale Our results link local evidence that strongly influence functioning threatened seagrass ecosystems, suggest is comparably important change stressors.

Language: Английский

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Light asymmetry explains the effect of nutrient enrichment on grassland diversity

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 20(1), P. 60 - 69

Published: Dec. 9, 2016

Abstract One of the most ubiquitous patterns in plant ecology is species loss following nutrient enrichment. A common explanation for this universal pattern an increase size asymmetry light partitioning (the degree to which large plants receive more per unit biomass than smaller plants), accelerates rates competitive exclusions. This ‘light hypothesis’ has been confirmed by mathematical models, but never tested natural communities due lack appropriate methodology measuring communities. Here, we use a novel approach quantifying competition based on measurements vertical distribution below canopy. Using our approach, demonstrate that main mechanism behind negative effect enrichment richness. Our results provide possible one sources contemporary terrestrial

Language: Английский

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Impacts of nitrogen addition on plant biodiversity in mountain grasslands depend on dose, application duration and climate: a systematic review

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 22(1), P. 110 - 120

Published: May 25, 2015

Although the influence of nitrogen (N) addition on grassland plant communities has been widely studied, it is still unclear whether observed patterns and underlying mechanisms are constant across biomes. In this systematic review, we use meta-analysis metaregression to investigate N (here referring mostly fertilization) upon biodiversity temperate mountain grasslands (including montane, subalpine alpine zones). Forty-two studies met our criteria inclusion, resulting in 134 measures effect size. The main general responses were increases phytomass reductions species richness, as lowland grasslands. More specifically, analysis reveals that negative effects richness exacerbated by dose (ha(-1) year(-1) ) duration application (years) an additive manner. Thus, sustained low moderate levels over time had similar short-term high doses. climatic context also played important role: overall diversity (Shannon index) less pronounced experiencing cool rather than warm summers. Furthermore, relative was more managed strongly negatively related N-induced phytomass, greater response addition, decline richness. Altogether, review not only establishes affected but demonstrates several local management abiotic factors interact with drive community changes. This synthesis yields essential information for a sustainable grasslands, emphasizing importance preserving restoring both agricultural limited exposure atmospheric deposition.

Language: Английский

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