Blind spots in global soil biodiversity and ecosystem function research

Nature Communications, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 11(1)

Опубликована: Авг. 3, 2020

Soils harbor a substantial fraction of the world's biodiversity, contributing to many crucial ecosystem functions. It is thus essential identify general macroecological patterns related distribution and functioning soil organisms support their conservation consideration by governance. These analyses need represent diversity environmental conditions that can be found worldwide. Here we characterize existing gaps in taxa data across studies 17,186 sampling sites globe. include important spatial, environmental, taxonomic, functional gaps, an almost complete absence temporally explicit data. We also limitations explore biodiversity-ecosystem relationships, with only 0.3% all having both information about biodiversity function, although different taxonomic groups functions at each site. Based on this information, provide clear priorities expand research. Soil organism contributes but function have not been equivalently studied authors locations, environment types, for which there currently lack literature.

Язык: Английский

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Meta-analysis shows that wild large herbivores shape ecosystem properties and promote spatial heterogeneity

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 8(4), С. 705 - 716

Опубликована: Фев. 9, 2024

Язык: Английский

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Worldwide Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene population declines in extant megafauna are associated with Homo sapiens expansion rather than climate change

Nature Communications, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 14(1)

Опубликована: Ноя. 24, 2023

The worldwide extinction of megafauna during the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene is evident from fossil record, with dominant theories suggesting a climate, human or combined impact cause. Consequently, two disparate scenarios are possible for surviving this time period - they could have declined due to similar pressures, increased in population size reductions competition other biotic pressures. We therefore infer histories 139 extant species using genomic data which reveal declines 91% throughout Quaternary period, larger experiencing strongest decreases. Declines become ubiquitous 32-76 kya across all landmasses, pattern better explained by Homo sapiens expansion than changes climate. estimate that, consequence, total abundance, biomass, energy turnover decreased 92-95% over past 50,000 years, implying major human-driven ecosystem restructuring at global scale.

Язык: Английский

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The late-Quaternary megafauna extinctions: Patterns, causes, ecological consequences and implications for ecosystem management in the Anthropocene

Cambridge Prisms Extinction, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 2

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2024

Across the last ~50,000 years (the late Quaternary) terrestrial vertebrate faunas have experienced severe losses of large species (megafauna), with most extinctions occurring in Late Pleistocene and Early to Middle Holocene. Debate on causes has been ongoing for over 200 years, intensifying from 1960s onward. Here, we outline criteria that any causal hypothesis needs account for. Importantly, this extinction event is unique relative other Cenozoic 66 million years) its strong size bias. For example, only 11 out 57 megaherbivores (body mass ≥1,000 kg) survived present. In addition mammalian megafauna, certain groups also substantial extinctions, mainly non-mammalian vertebrates smaller but megafauna-associated taxa. Further, severity dates varied among continents, severely affected all biomes, Arctic tropics. We synthesise evidence against climatic or modern human (Homo sapiens) causation, existing tenable hypotheses. Our review shows there little support major influence climate, neither global patterns nor fine-scale spatiotemporal mechanistic evidence. Conversely, increasing pressures as key driver these emerging an initial onset linked pre-sapiens hominins prior Pleistocene. Subsequently, synthesize ecosystem consequences megafauna discuss implications conservation restoration. A broad range indicates elicited profound changes structure functioning. The late-Quaternary thereby represent early, large-scale human-driven environmental transformation, constituting a progenitor Anthropocene, where humans are now player planetary Finally, conclude restoration via trophic rewilding can be expected positive effects biodiversity across Anthropocene settings.

Язык: Английский

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Trophic rewilding as a restoration approach under emerging novel biosphere conditions

Current Biology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 34(9), С. R435 - R451

Опубликована: Май 1, 2024

Язык: Английский

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Can large herbivores enhance ecosystem carbon persistence?

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 37(2), С. 117 - 128

Опубликована: Ноя. 17, 2021

Язык: Английский

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Environmental heterogeneity modulates the effect of plant diversity on the spatial variability of grassland biomass

Nature Communications, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 14(1)

Опубликована: Март 31, 2023

Abstract Plant productivity varies due to environmental heterogeneity, and theory suggests that plant diversity can reduce this variation. While there is strong evidence of effects on temporal variability productivity, whether mechanism extends across space remains elusive. Here we determine the relationship between spatial in 83 grasslands, quantify effect experimentally increased heterogeneity conditions relationship. We found communities with higher species richness (alpha gamma diversity) have lower as reduced abundance some be compensated for by other species. In contrast, high dissimilarity among local (beta positively associated suggesting changes composition scale up affect productivity. Experimentally weakens alpha diversity, reveals beta simultaneously decrease increase Our findings unveil generality diversity-stability space, suggest biotic homogenization reliability key ecosystem functions.

Язык: Английский

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Late‐Quaternary megafauna extinctions have strongly reduced mammalian vegetation consumption

Global Ecology and Biogeography, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 32(10), С. 1814 - 1826

Опубликована: Июнь 22, 2023

Abstract Aim How much stronger would the effects of herbivorous mammals be in natural ecosystems if human‐linked extinctions and extirpations had not occurred? Many mammal species have experienced range contractions, numerous gone extinct late Quaternary, completely or large part linked to human pressures. Therefore, herbivore consumption rates seemingly will deviate from their pre‐anthropogenic state. Here, we estimate size this deviation. Location Terrestrial systems, globally. Time period Current. Major taxa studied All late‐Quaternary terrestrial . Methods We estimated mapped vegetation rate by all mammals. did through estimation densities dietary needs. both current ranges present‐natural ranges, that is absence contractions extinctions. compared these net primary productivity (NPP). summarized results across ecosystem types everywhere as well for only last remaining wilderness areas. Results wild consume a median 11% NPP (at scale 96.5 km × grid cells) areas been higher extirpations, namely 21%. Looking at change per cell, losses result 42% reduction rate. Importantly, very similar declines herbivory what are considered Main conclusions Our suggest interaction mammalian herbivores with world strongly reduced prehistoric historic recent losses, even areas, likely major on structure functioning.

Язык: Английский

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Food Webs and Ecosystems: Linking Species Interactions to the Carbon Cycle

Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 51(1), С. 271 - 295

Опубликована: Авг. 18, 2020

All species within ecosystems contribute to regulating carbon cycling because of their functional integration into food webs. Yet modeling and accounting still assumes that only plants, microbes, invertebrate decomposer are relevant the cycle. Our multifaceted review develops a case for considering wider range species, especially herbivorous carnivorous wild animals. Animal control over is shaped by animals’ stoichiometric needs traits in relation stoichiometry resources. Quantitative synthesis reveals failing consider these mechanisms can lead serious inaccuracies budget. Newer carbon-cycle models food-web structure based on organismal offer mechanistically informed predictions about magnitudes animal effects will help guide new empirical research aimed at developing coherent understanding interactions importance all

Язык: Английский

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The ghosts of ecosystem engineers: Legacy effects of biogenic modifications

Functional Ecology, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 38(1), С. 52 - 72

Опубликована: Окт. 31, 2022

Abstract Ecosystem engineers strongly influence the communities in which they live by modifying habitats and altering resource availability. These biogenic changes can persist beyond presence of engineer, such modifications are known as ecosystem engineering legacy effects. Although many authors recognize legacies, some case studies quantify effects few general frameworks describe their causes consequences across species or types. Here, we synthesize evidence for legacies how consideration key traits improves understanding likely to leave persistent modifications. Our review demonstrates that ubiquitous, with substantial on individuals, processes. Attributes may promote persistence influential relate an engineer's traits, including its body size, life span living strategy (individual, conspecific group collection multiple co‐occurring species). Additional lines inquiry, recipients respond (e.g. density richness) mechanism burrowing structure building), should be included future research. Understanding patterns these evaluating losing them is important area research needed long‐term ecological responses global change biodiversity loss. Read free Plain Language Summary this article Journal blog.

Язык: Английский

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