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

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Diversity, stability and resilience of the human gut microbiota

Nature, Journal Year: 2012, Volume and Issue: 489(7415), P. 220 - 230

Published: Sept. 1, 2012

Language: Английский

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Consequences of changing biodiversity

Nature, Journal Year: 2000, Volume and Issue: 405(6783), P. 234 - 242

Published: May 1, 2000

Language: Английский

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The Population Biology of Invasive Species

Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, Journal Year: 2001, Volume and Issue: 32(1), P. 305 - 332

Published: Nov. 1, 2001

▪ Abstract Contributions from the field of population biology hold promise for understanding and managing invasiveness; invasive species also offer excellent opportunities to study basic processes in biology. Life history studies demographic models may be valuable examining introduction identifying life stages where management will most effective. Evolutionary key features determining whether establish spread. Studies genetic diversity evolutionary changes should useful potential colonization establishment, geographic patterns invasion range expansion, lag times, responses novel environments, including practices. The consequences biological invasions permit processes, as invaders often evolve rapidly response abiotic biotic conditions, native invasion.

Language: Английский

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Inclusion of facilitation into ecological theory

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2003, Volume and Issue: 18(3), P. 119 - 125

Published: March 1, 2003

Language: Английский

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Quantifying the evidence for biodiversity effects on ecosystem functioning and services

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2006, Volume and Issue: 9(10), P. 1146 - 1156

Published: Aug. 29, 2006

Concern is growing about the consequences of biodiversity loss for ecosystem functioning, provision services, and human well being. Experimental evidence a relationship between process rates compelling, but issue remains contentious. Here, we present first rigorous quantitative assessment this through meta-analysis experimental work spanning 50 years to June 2004. We analysed 446 measures effects (252 in grasslands), 319 which involved primary producer manipulations or measurements. Our analyses show that: are weaker if less controlled; change on processes at compared with community level negative population level; productivity-related decline increasing number trophic links those elements manipulated measured; stability ('insurance' effects) not stronger than performance measures. For services could be assessed here, there clear that has positive most. Whilst such patterns should further confirmed, precautionary approach management would seem prudent meantime.

Language: Английский

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Community ecology theory as a framework for biological invasions

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2002, Volume and Issue: 17(4), P. 170 - 176

Published: April 1, 2002

Language: Английский

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Effects of Exotic Plant Invasions on Soil Nutrient Cycling Processes

Ecosystems, Journal Year: 2003, Volume and Issue: 6(6), P. 503 - 523

Published: Oct. 1, 2003

Language: Английский

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Mechanisms underlying the impacts of exotic plant invasions

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2003, Volume and Issue: 270(1517), P. 775 - 781

Published: April 22, 2003

Although the impacts of exotic plant invasions on community structure and ecosystem processes are well appreciated, pathways or mechanisms that underlie these poorly understood. Better exploration is essential to understanding why plants impact only certain systems, some invaders have large impacts. Here, we review over 150 studies evaluate underlying animal structure, nutrient cycling, hydrology fire regimes. We find that, while numerous examined diversity composition, less than 5% test whether effects arise through competition, allelopathy, alteration variables other processes. Nonetheless, competition was often hypothesized, nearly all competing native alien against each found strong competitive species. In contrast higher trophic levels, research examining nitrogen regimes generally highly mechanistic, motivated by specific invader traits. encourage future link processes, relate controls invasibility impact.

Language: Английский

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Niche tradeoffs, neutrality, and community structure: A stochastic theory of resource competition, invasion, and community assembly

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2004, Volume and Issue: 101(30), P. 10854 - 10861

Published: July 8, 2004

Stochastic niche theory resolves many of the differences between neutral and classical tradeoff-based theories resource competition community structure. In stochastic theory, invading species become established only if propagules can survive mortality while growing to maturity on resources left unconsumed by species. The makes three predictions about First, assembly creates communities in which dominate approximately equally wide “slices” habitat's spatial heterogeneity. These widths generate realistic distributions relative abundances for which, contrary but consistent with numerous observations, there are strong correlations among traits, abundances, environmental conditions. Second, slight decreases levels predicted cause large probability that a propagule would be an adult. local diversity limited inhibitory effects use establishment (recruitment) potential invaders. If pulses or disturbance allowed invaders overcome this recruitment limitation, more could indefinitely coexist. Third, low invasibility high is result not from per se , uniformly occur high-diversity created competitive assembly. This prediction provides solution invasion paradox, tendency highly diverse regions heavily invaded.

Language: Английский

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