Quantifying interspecific and intraspecific diversity effects on ecosystem functioning

Abstract

Rapid environmental changes result in massive biodiversity loss, with detrimental consequences for the functioning of ecosystems. Recent studies suggest that intraspecific diversity can contribute to ecosystem functioning to an extent comparable to contributions of interspecific diversity. Knowledge on the relative importance of these two sources of biodiversity is essential for predicting ecosystem consequences of biodiversity loss and will aid in the prioritization of conservation targets and implementation of management measures. However, our quantitative insights into how interspecific and intraspecific biodiversity loss affects ecosystem functioning and how the effects of these two sources of biodiversity loss on ecosystem functioning can be compared are still very limited. To facilitate such quantitative insights, we extend the interspecific Price partitioning method originally introduced by J. Fox in 2006, previously used to quantify species loss and gain effects on ecosystem functioning, to also account for the effects of intraspecific diversity loss and gain on ecosystem function. Using this extended version can yield the quantitative information required for answering research questions addressing correlations between interspecific and intraspecific diversity effects on ecosystem functioning, identifying interspecific and intraspecific groups with large effects, and assessing whether intraspecific diversity can compensate for losses in interspecific diversity. Applying this method to carefully designed experiments will provide additional insights into how biodiversity loss at different ecological levels contributes to and changes ecosystem functioning.

Ecosystem effects of intraspecific variation in a colour polymorphic amphibian

“…[15]). Characterization of these linkages remains an important challenge for ecologists [16,17] and an emerging consideration of evolutionary biologists, who must now assess whether intraspecific variation is relevant for ecosystem ecology [18][19][20].…”

Intraspecific demographic and trait responses to environmental change drivers are linked in two species of ciliate

“…While classically, biodiversity has often been based on taxonomy, it has become increasingly apparent that trait-based diversity is a better predictor of ecosystem functioning as it results in a more nuanced view of species' functioning and interactions within an ecosystem [13,14]. Trait-based diversity occurs at multiple scales, from within-individual variation (phenotypic plasticity) to variation between functional groups [15], but is most often quantified at the species level (interspecific trait variation) [16][17][18][19]. Interspecific trait variation has been linked to demography, community composition and ecosystem functioning [20][21][22][23][24].…”