Ecosystem stability in space: α, β and γ variability

Wang, Shaopeng; Loreau, Michel

doi:10.1111/ele.12292

Cited by 231 publications

(464 citation statements)

References 72 publications

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“…We calculated threshold-based α-, β-, and γ-multifunctionality in a way that is analogous to calculating α-, β-, and γ-diversity (Fig. 1) and also broadly analogous to a recent method for quantifying the temporal stability of ecosystem functioning at different spatial scales (50). Within plots, thresholdbased multifunctionality was defined as the number of ecosystem function values that exceeded a minimum threshold: 10), in which n is the number of functions and T is the performance threshold value.…”

Section: Measurement Of Ecosystem Functions and Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biotic homogenization can decrease landscape-scale forest multifunctionality

Plas

Manning

Soliveres

et al. 2016

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

228

144

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Many experiments have shown that local biodiversity loss impairs the ability of ecosystems to maintain multiple ecosystem functions at high levels (multifunctionality). In contrast, the role of biodiversity in driving ecosystem multifunctionality at landscape scales remains unresolved. We used a comprehensive pan-European dataset, including 16 ecosystem functions measured in 209 forest plots across six European countries, and performed simulations to investigate how local plot-scale richness of tree species (α-diversity) and their turnover between plots (β-diversity) are related to landscape-scale multifunctionality. After accounting for variation in environmental conditions, we found that relationships between α-diversity and landscape-scale multifunctionality varied from positive to negative depending on the multifunctionality metric used. In contrast, when significant, relationships between β-diversity and landscape-scale multifunctionality were always positive, because a high spatial turnover in species composition was closely related to a high spatial turnover in functions that were supported at high levels. Our findings have major implications for forest management and indicate that biotic homogenization can have previously unrecognized and negative consequences for large-scale ecosystem multifunctionality.Additional co-authors: Damien Bonal, Olivier Bouriaud, Helge Bruelheide, Filippo Bussotti, Monique Carnol, Bastien Castagneyrol, Yohan Charbonnier, David Anthony Coomes, Andrea Coppi, Cristina C. Bastias, Seid Muhie Dawud, Hans De Wandeler, Timo Domisch, Leena Finér, Arthur Gessler, André Granier, Charlotte Grossiord, Virginie Guyot, Stephan Hättenschwiler, Hervé Jactel, Bogdan Jaroszewicz, Tommaso Jucker, Julia Koricheva, Harriet Milligan, Sandra Mueller, Bart Muys, Diem Nguyen, Martina Pollastrini, Sophia Ratcliffe, Karsten Raulund-Rasmussen, Federico Selvi, Jan Stenlid, Fernando Valladares, Lars Vesterdal, Dawid Zielínski, and Markus Fische

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Section: Measurement Of Ecosystem Functions and Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biotic homogenization can decrease landscape-scale forest multifunctionality

Plas

Manning

Soliveres

et al. 2016

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

228

144

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“…As a consequence, losing species may impair ecosystem stability and functioning at large spatial scales by reducing the capacity of connected systems to share or replace potential key functions. This is particularly important for management decisions which are often made at the landscape scale [41]. Given that this spatial biodiversitystability relationship is primarily driven by differences in the fundamental niches and complementarity of the species [42], keeping the pool of traits and the functional structure of regional assemblages is critical to maintain the functional insurance within and across ecosystems.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rare species contribute disproportionately to the functional structure of species assemblages

et al. 2016

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There is broad consensus that the diversity of functional traits within species assemblages drives several ecological processes. It is also widely recognized that rare species are the first to become extinct following human-induced disturbances. Surprisingly, however, the functional importance of rare species is still poorly understood, particularly in tropical species-rich assemblages where the majority of species are rare, and the rate of species extinction can be high. Here, we investigated the consequences of local and regional extinctions on the functional structure of species assemblages. We used three extensive datasets (stream fish from the Brazilian Amazon, rainforest trees from French Guiana, and birds from the Australian Wet Tropics) and built an integrative measure of species rarity versus commonness, combining local abundance, geographical range, and habitat breadth. Using different scenarios of species loss, we found a disproportionate impact of rare species extinction for the three groups, with significant reductions in levels of functional richness, specialization, and originality of assemblages, which may severely undermine the integrity of ecological processes. The whole breadth of functional abilities within species assemblages, which is disproportionately supported by rare species, is certainly critical in maintaining ecosystems particularly under the ongoing rapid environmental transitions.

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“…89 There has been much semantic and theoretical treatment of the resilience concept, but 90 here we are concerned with identifying metrics for real world applications. An ecological 91 system can be defined by the species composition at any point in time [26] and there is a 92 rich ecological literature, both theoretical and experimental, that focusses on the stability of 93 communities [16,[27][28][29] with potential relevance to resilience. Of course, the species in a 94 community are essential to the provision of many ecosystem functions which are the 95 biological foundation of ecosystem services [3].…”

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confidence: 99%