EFFECTS OF BIODIVERSITY ON ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONING: A CONSENSUS OF CURRENT KNOWLEDGE

Ecological Monographs, Journal Year: 2005, Volume and Issue: 75(1), P. 3 - 35

Published: Feb. 1, 2005

Humans are altering the composition of biological communities through a variety activities that increase rates species invasions and extinctions, at all scales, from local to global. These changes in components Earth's biodiversity cause concern for ethical aesthetic reasons, but they also have strong potential alter ecosystem properties goods services provide humanity. Ecological experiments, observations, theoretical developments show depend greatly on terms functional characteristics organisms present distribution abundance those over space time. Species effects act concert with climate, resource availability, disturbance regimes influencing properties. Human can modify above factors; here we focus modification these biotic controls. The scientific community has come broad consensus many aspects relationship between functioning, including points relevant management ecosystems. Further progress will require integration knowledge about abiotic controls properties, how ecological structured, forces driving extinctions invasions. To strengthen links policy management, need integrate our understanding social economic constraints practices. Understanding this complexity, while taking steps minimize current losses species, is necessary responsible ecosystems diverse biota contain. Based review literature, certain following conclusions: 1) Species' strongly influence Functional operate contexts, dominant keystone engineers, interactions among (e.g., competition, facilitation, mutualism, disease, predation). Relative alone not always good predictor ecosystem-level importance as even relatively rare predator) pathways energy material flows. 2) Alteration via caused by human altered well-documented cases. Many difficult, expensive, or impossible reverse fix technological solutions. 3) loss composition, mechanisms which manifest themselves, differ types, change. 4) Some initially insensitive because (a) may multiple carry out similar roles, (b) some contribute little (c) be primarily controlled environmental conditions. 5) More needed insure stable supply spatial temporal variability increases, typically occurs longer time periods larger areas considered. We high confidence Certain combinations complementary their patterns use average productivity nutrient retention. At same time, conditions complementarity structuring communities. Identification way complex just beginning. Susceptibility invasion exotic influenced and, under conditions, generally decreases increasing richness. However, several other factors, such propagule pressure, regime, availability success often override richness comparisons across different sites Having range respond differently perturbations stabilize process response disturbances variation Using practices maintain diversity effect types help preserve options. Uncertainties remain further research areas: resolution relationships taxonomic diversity, structure important identifying effects. Multiple trophic levels common been understudied biodiversity/ecosystem functioning research. varying consumer much more than responses seen experiments vary only primary producers. Theoretical work stability outpaced experimental work, especially field long-term able assess stability, well recovery disturbances. Design analysis must account factors covary diversity. Because both responds influences feedbacks involved results broader scales. Likely extinction linked drivers global change, communities, development effective conservation strategies. This paper focuses terrestrial systems, coverage freshwater where most empirical study focused. While fundamental principles described should apply marine realm necessary. Despite uncertainties circumstances incorporating into essential, making decisions involving large Sacrificing difficult reconstruct, simply yet extent affect restrict future options further. It incumbent upon ecologists communicate need, values derive perspective, charged decision-making.

Language: Английский

---

Ecological impacts of invasive alien plants: a meta-analysis of their effects on species, communities and ecosystems

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2011, Volume and Issue: 14(7), P. 702 - 708

Published: May 19, 2011

Biological invasions cause ecological and economic impacts across the globe. However, it is unclear whether there are strong patterns in terms of their major effects, how vulnerability different ecosystems varies which ecosystem services at greatest risk. We present a global meta-analysis 199 articles reporting 1041 field studies that total describe 135 alien plant taxa on resident species, communities ecosystems. Across studies, plants had significant effect 11 24 types impact assessed. The magnitude direction varied both within between impact. On average, abundance diversity species decreased invaded sites, whereas primary production several processes were enhanced. While N-fixing greater N-cycling variables, they did not consistently affect other types. was significantly island mainland Overall, heterogeneous unidirectional even particular Our analysis also reveals by time changes nutrient cycling detected, likely to have already occurred.

Language: Английский

---

Novel ecosystems: theoretical and management aspects of the new ecological world order

Global Ecology and Biogeography, Journal Year: 2006, Volume and Issue: 15(1), P. 1 - 7

Published: Jan. 1, 2006

ABSTRACT We explore the issues relevant to those types of ecosystems containing new combinations species that arise through human action, environmental change, and impacts deliberate inadvertent introduction from other regions. Novel (also termed ‘emerging ecosystems’) result when occur in relative abundances have not occurred previously within a given biome. Key characteristics are novelty, form potential for changes ecosystem functioning, agency, these or action. As more Earth becomes transformed by actions, novel increase importance, but relatively little studied. Either degradation invasion native ‘wild’ abandonment intensively managed systems can formation systems. Important considerations whether persistent what values they may have. It is likely it be very difficult costly return such their previous state, hence consideration needs developing appropriate management goals approaches.

Language: Английский

---

Incorporating plant functional diversity effects in ecosystem service assessments

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2007, Volume and Issue: 104(52), P. 20684 - 20689

Published: Dec. 20, 2007

Global environmental change affects the sustained provision of a wide set ecosystem services. Although delivery services is strongly affected by abiotic drivers and direct land use effects, it also modulated functional diversity biological communities (the value, range, relative abundance traits in given ecosystem). The focus this article on integrating different possible mechanisms which properties that are directly relevant to We propose systematic way for progressing understanding how cover these through modifications. Models links between local mean, distribution plant trait values numerous, but they have been scattered literature, with varying degrees empirical support components analyzed. Here we articulate single conceptual methodological framework allows testing them combination. illustrate our approach examples from literature apply proposed grassland system central French Alps diversity, responding change, alters important stakeholders. claim contributes opening new area research at interface science fundamental ecology.

Language: Английский

---

The plant traits that drive ecosystems: Evidence from three continents

Journal of Vegetation Science, Journal Year: 2004, Volume and Issue: 15(3), P. 295 - 304

Published: Feb. 24, 2004

Abstract Question: A set of easily‐measured (‘soft’) plant traits has been identified as potentially useful predictors ecosystem functioning in previous studies. Here we aimed to discover whether the screening techniques remain operational widely contrasted circumstances, test for existence axes variation particular sets traits, and their links with ‘harder’ proven importance functioning. Location: central‐western Argentina, central England, northern upland Iran, north‐eastern Spain. Recurrent patterns ecological specialization: Through ordination a matrix 640 vascular taxa by 12 standardized detected similar specialization four floras. The first PCA axis was an resource capture, usage release. 2 appeared be size‐related axis. Individual each country showed that same remained valuable capture utilization all them, despite major differences climate, biogeography land‐use. results were not significantly driven taxa: main determining 1 very eudicotyledons monocotyledons Asteraceae, Fabaceae Poaceae. Links between recurrent suites ‘soft’ ‘hard’ traits: validity key predictor tested comparisons this values more rigorously established (‘hard’ traits) floras Argentina England. correlated relative growth rate, leaf nitrogen content, litter decomposition rate. It also coincided palatability model generalist herbivores. Therefore, location on can linked processes those habitats where plants are dominant. Conclusion: We confirm at global scale evolutionary specialization, previously recognised several local This reflects fundamental trade‐off rapid acquisition resources conservation within well‐protected tissues. These trends maintained across different environmental situations (including proximate causes low productivity, i.e. drought or mineral nutrient deficiency). consistent phylogenetic groups, directly relevant processes.

Language: Английский

---

Novel weapons: invasive success and the evolution of increased competitive ability

Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, Journal Year: 2004, Volume and Issue: 2(8), P. 436 - 443

Published: Oct. 1, 2004

When introduced to new habitats by humans, some plant species become much more dominant. This is primarily attributed escape from specialist consumers. Release these enemies also thought lead the evolution of increased competitive ability, driven a decrease in plant's resource allocation consumer defense and an increase size or fecundity. Here, we discuss theory for invasive success – “novel weapons hypothesis”. We propose that invaders transform because they possess novel biochemical function as unusually powerful allelopathic agents, mediators plant–soil microbial interactions. Root exudates are relatively ineffective against their natural neighbors adaptation, may be highly inhibitory newly encountered plants invaded communities. In other words, provide them with advantage arise differences regional coevolutionary trajectories Furthermore, selective possessing weapon result rapid example, production greater quantities antimicrobial root exudates. Direct selection traits provides alternative “grow versus defend” trade-offs underpin ability.

Language: Английский

---

Five Potential Consequences of Climate Change for Invasive Species

Conservation Biology, Journal Year: 2008, Volume and Issue: 22(3), P. 534 - 543

Published: June 1, 2008

Abstract: Scientific and societal unknowns make it difficult to predict how global environmental changes such as climate change biological invasions will affect ecological systems. In the long term, these may have interacting effects compound uncertainty associated with each individual driver. Nonetheless, invasive species are likely respond in ways that should be qualitatively predictable, some of responses distinct from those native counterparts. We used stages invasion known “invasion pathway” identify 5 nonexclusive consequences for species: (1) altered transport introduction mechanisms, (2) establishment new species, (3) impact existing (4) distribution (5) effectiveness control strategies. then testable hypotheses about provide suggestions invasive‐species management plans. The also emphasize need enhanced monitoring expanded coordination among entities involved management.

Language: Английский

---

A global assessment of invasive plant impacts on resident species, communities and ecosystems: the interaction of impact measures, invading species' traits and environment

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2011, Volume and Issue: 18(5), P. 1725 - 1737

Published: Dec. 30, 2011

Abstract With the growing body of literature assessing impact invasive alien plants on resident species and ecosystems, a comprehensive assessment relationship between traits environmental settings invasion characteristics impacts is needed. Based 287 publications with 1551 individual cases that addressed 167 plant belonging to 49 families, we present first global overview frequencies significant non‐significant ecological their directions 15 outcomes related responses populations, species, communities ecosystems. Species community tend decline following invasions, especially those for plants, but abundance richness soil biota, as well concentrations nutrients water, more often increase than decrease invasion. Data mining tools revealed exert consistent some (survival activity animals, productivity, mineral nutrient content in tissues, fire frequency intensity), whereas at level, such richness, diversity resources, significance determined by interactions biome invaded. The latter are most likely be impacted annual grasses, wind pollinated trees invading mediterranean or tropical biomes. One clearest signals this analysis far cause animal islands rather mainland. This study shows there no universal measure pattern observed depends examined. Although strongly context dependent, traits, life form, stature pollination syndrome, may provide means predict impact, regardless particular habitat geographical region

Language: Английский

---

Invasive species, ecosystem services and human well-being

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2009, Volume and Issue: 24(9), P. 497 - 504

Published: July 4, 2009

Language: Английский

---

Invasive Species, Environmental Change and Management, and Health

Annual Review of Environment and Resources, Journal Year: 2010, Volume and Issue: 35(1), P. 25 - 55

Published: Oct. 22, 2010

Invasive species are a major element of global change and contributing to biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation, impairment services worldwide. Research is shedding new light on the ecological economic consequences invasions. New approaches emerging for describing evaluating impacts invasive species, translating these into monetary terms. The harmful effects invasions now widely recognized, multiscale programs in place many parts world reduce current future impacts. There has been an upsurge scientific research aimed at guiding management interventions. Among activities that receiving most attention have promise reducing problems risk assessment, pathway vector management, early detection, rapid response, mitigation restoration. Screening protocols introductions becoming more accurate shown cost-effective.

Language: Английский

---