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

Ecological Monographs, Год журнала: 2005, Номер 75(1), С. 3 - 35

Опубликована: Фев. 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.

Язык: Английский

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Biodiversity loss and its impact on humanity

Nature, Год журнала: 2012, Номер 486(7401), С. 59 - 67

Опубликована: Июнь 1, 2012

Язык: Английский

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Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning: Current Knowledge and Future Challenges

Science, Год журнала: 2001, Номер 294(5543), С. 804 - 808

Опубликована: Окт. 26, 2001

The ecological consequences of biodiversity loss have aroused considerable interest and controversy during the past decade. Major advances been made in describing relationship between species diversity ecosystem processes, identifying functionally important species, revealing underlying mechanisms. There is, however, uncertainty as to how results obtained recent experiments scale up landscape regional levels generalize across types processes. Larger numbers are probably needed reduce temporal variability processes changing environments. A major future challenge is determine dynamics, abiotic factors interact.

Язык: Английский

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Consequences of changing biodiversity

Nature, Год журнала: 2000, Номер 405(6783), С. 234 - 242

Опубликована: Май 1, 2000

Язык: Английский

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Mycorrhizal fungal diversity determines plant biodiversity, ecosystem variability and productivity

Nature, Год журнала: 1998, Номер 396(6706), С. 69 - 72

Опубликована: Ноя. 1, 1998

Язык: Английский

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Partitioning selection and complementarity in biodiversity experiments

Nature, Год журнала: 2001, Номер 412(6842), С. 72 - 76

Опубликована: Июль 5, 2001

Язык: Английский

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The diversity–stability debate

Nature, Год журнала: 2000, Номер 405(6783), С. 228 - 233

Опубликована: Май 1, 2000

Язык: Английский

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The Influence of Functional Diversity and Composition on Ecosystem Processes

Science, Год журнала: 1997, Номер 277(5330), С. 1300 - 1302

Опубликована: Авг. 29, 1997

Humans are modifying both the identities and numbers of species in ecosystems, but impacts such changes on ecosystem processes controversial. Plant diversity, functional composition were experimentally varied grassland plots. Each factor by itself had significant effects many processes, diversity principal factors explaining plant productivity, percent nitrogen, total light penetration. Thus, habitat modifications management practices that change likely to have large processes.

Язык: Английский

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Soil Fertility and Biodiversity in Organic Farming

Science, Год журнала: 2002, Номер 296(5573), С. 1694 - 1697

Опубликована: Май 31, 2002

An understanding of agroecosystems is key to determining effective farming systems. Here we report results from a 21-year study agronomic and ecological performance biodynamic, bioorganic, conventional systems in Central Europe. We found crop yields be 20% lower the organic systems, although input fertilizer energy was reduced by 34 53% pesticide 97%. Enhanced soil fertility higher biodiversity plots may render these less dependent on external inputs.

Язык: Английский

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Benefits of plant diversity to ecosystems: immediate, filter and founder effects

Journal of Ecology, Год журнала: 1998, Номер 86(6), С. 902 - 910

Опубликована: Дек. 1, 1998

1 It is useful to distinguish between the immediate effects of species richness on ecosystems and those which become apparent a longer time scale, described here as filter founder effects. 2 Relationships plant diversity ecosystem properties can be explored by classifying component into three categories – dominants, subordinates transients. Dominants recur in particular vegetation types, are relatively large, exhibit coarse-grained foraging for resources and, individual species, make substantial contribution biomass. Subordinates also show high fidelity association with types but they smaller stature, forage more restricted scale tend occupy microhabitats delimited architecture phenology their associated dominants. Transients comprise heterogeneous assortment low abundance persistence; proportion juveniles that occur dominants or neighbouring ecosystems. 3 A 'mass ratio' theory proposes controls inputs primary production, determined an overwhelming extent traits functional dominant plants insensitive Recent experiments support mass ratio hypothesis conclusion Huston (1997) claims benefits functions arise from misinterpretation data. 4 Attribution control does not exclude transients involvement determination function sustainability. Both suspected play crucial, if intermittent, role influencing recruitment Some may act regeneration following major perturbations. 5 originate seed rain banks provide index pool potential at specific sites. Where landscape carousel operates against background declining reservoir colonizing transients, we predict progressive loss will decline precision engage re-assembly relocation

Язык: Английский

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