1
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Emmons S, Woods T, Cashman M, Devereux O, Noe G, Young J, Stranko S, Kilian J, Hanna K, Maloney K. Causal inference approaches reveal both positive and negative unintended effects of agricultural and urban management practices on instream biological condition. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 361:121234. [PMID: 38805958 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Agricultural and urban management practices (MPs) are primarily designed and implemented to reduce nutrient and sediment concentrations in streams. However, there is growing interest in determining if MPs produce any unintended positive effects, or co-benefits, to instream biological and habitat conditions. Identifying co-benefits is challenging though because of confounding variables (i.e., those that affect both where MPs are applied and stream biota), which can be accounted for in novel causal inference approaches. Here, we used two causal inference approaches, propensity score matching (PSM) and Bayesian network learning (BNL), to identify potential MP co-benefits in the Chesapeake Bay watershed portion of Maryland, USA. Specifically, we examined how MPs may modify instream conditions that impact fish and macroinvertebrate indices of biotic integrity (IBI) and functional and taxonomic endpoints. We found evidence of positive unintended effects of MPs for both benthic macroinvertebrates and fish indicated by higher IBI scores and specific endpoints like the number of scraper macroinvertebrate taxa and lithophilic spawning fish taxa in a subset of regions. However, our results also suggest MPs have negative unintended effects, especially on sensitive benthic macroinvertebrate taxa and key instream habitat and water quality metrics like specific conductivity. Overall, our results suggest MPs offer co-benefits in some regions and catchments with largely degraded conditions but can have negative unintended effects in some regions, especially in catchments with good biological conditions. We suggest the number and types of MPs drove these mixed results and highlight carefully designed MP implementation that incorporates instream biological data at the catchment scale could facilitate co-benefits to instream biological conditions. Our study underscores the need for more research on identifying effects of individual MP types on instream biological and habitat conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean Emmons
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Kearneysville, WV, USA.
| | - Taylor Woods
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Kearneysville, WV, USA
| | - Matthew Cashman
- U.S. Geological Survey, Maryland/Delaware/District of Columbia Water Science Center, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Greg Noe
- U.S. Geological Survey, Florence Bascom Geoscience Center, Reston, VA, USA
| | - John Young
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Kearneysville, WV, USA
| | - Scott Stranko
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Annapolis, MD, USA
| | - Jay Kilian
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Annapolis, MD, USA
| | - Katherine Hanna
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Annapolis, MD, USA
| | - Kelly Maloney
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Kearneysville, WV, USA
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2
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Weiskopf SR, Isbell F, Arce-Plata MI, Di Marco M, Harfoot M, Johnson J, Lerman SB, Miller BW, Morelli TL, Mori AS, Weng E, Ferrier S. Biodiversity loss reduces global terrestrial carbon storage. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4354. [PMID: 38778013 PMCID: PMC11111688 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47872-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Natural ecosystems store large amounts of carbon globally, as organisms absorb carbon from the atmosphere to build large, long-lasting, or slow-decaying structures such as tree bark or root systems. An ecosystem's carbon sequestration potential is tightly linked to its biological diversity. Yet when considering future projections, many carbon sequestration models fail to account for the role biodiversity plays in carbon storage. Here, we assess the consequences of plant biodiversity loss for carbon storage under multiple climate and land-use change scenarios. We link a macroecological model projecting changes in vascular plant richness under different scenarios with empirical data on relationships between biodiversity and biomass. We find that biodiversity declines from climate and land use change could lead to a global loss of between 7.44-103.14 PgC (global sustainability scenario) and 10.87-145.95 PgC (fossil-fueled development scenario). This indicates a self-reinforcing feedback loop, where higher levels of climate change lead to greater biodiversity loss, which in turn leads to greater carbon emissions and ultimately more climate change. Conversely, biodiversity conservation and restoration can help achieve climate change mitigation goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah R Weiskopf
- U.S. Geological Survey National Climate Adaptation Science Center, Reston, VA, USA.
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA.
| | - Forest Isbell
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA
| | | | - Moreno Di Marco
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Mike Harfoot
- Vizzuality, 123 Calle de Fuencarral, 28010, Madrid, Spain
| | - Justin Johnson
- Department of Applied Economics, University of Minnesota, 1994 Buford Ave, Saint Paul, MN, 55105, USA
| | | | - Brian W Miller
- U.S. Geological Survey North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Toni Lyn Morelli
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
- U.S. Geological Survey Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Akira S Mori
- Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, the University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro, Tokyo, 153-8904, Japan
| | - Ensheng Weng
- Columbia University/NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, 2880 Broadway, New York, NY, 10025, USA
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3
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Ospina-Bautista F, Srivastava DS, Realpe E, Fernández AM. Environmental heterogeneity at two spatial scales affects litter diversity-decomposition relationships. Ecology 2024; 105:e4280. [PMID: 38566463 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.4280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The effects of biodiversity on ecological processes have been experimentally evaluated mainly at the local scale under homogeneous conditions. To scale up experimentally based biodiversity-functioning relationships, there is an urgent need to understand how such relationships are affected by the environmental heterogeneity that characterizes larger spatial scales. Here, we tested the effects of an 800-m elevation gradient (a large-scale environmental factor) and forest habitat (a fine-scale factor) on litter diversity-decomposition relationships. To better understand local and landscape scale mechanisms, we partitioned net biodiversity effects into complementarity, selection, and insurance effects as applicable at each scale. We assembled different litter mixtures in aquatic microcosms that simulated natural tree holes, replicating mixtures across blocks nested within forest habitats (edge, interior) and elevations (low, mid, high). We found that net biodiversity and complementarity effects increased over the elevation gradient, with their strength modified by forest habitat and the identity of litter in mixtures. Complementarity effects at local and landscape scales were greatest for combinations of nutrient-rich and nutrient-poor litters, consistent with nutrient transfer mechanisms. By contrast, selection effects were consistently weak and negative at both scales. Selection effects at the landscape level were due mainly to nonrandom overyielding rather than spatial insurance effects. Our findings demonstrate that the mechanisms by which litter diversity affects decomposition are sensitive to environmental heterogeneity at multiple scales. This has implications for the scaling of biodiversity-ecosystem function relationships and suggests that future shifts in environmental conditions due to climate change or land use may impact the functioning of aquatic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola Ospina-Bautista
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Caldas, Manizales, Colombia
| | - Diane S Srivastava
- Department of Zoology and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Emilio Realpe
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Ana María Fernández
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Caldas, Manizales, Colombia
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4
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Hisano M, Ghazoul J, Chen X, Chen HYH. Functional diversity enhances dryland forest productivity under long-term climate change. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadn4152. [PMID: 38657059 PMCID: PMC11042740 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adn4152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Short-term experimental studies provided evidence that plant diversity increases ecosystem resilience and resistance to drought events, suggesting diversity to serve as a nature-based solution to address climate change. However, it remains unclear whether the effects of diversity are momentary or still hold over the long term in natural forests to ensure that the sustainability of carbon sinks. By analyzing 57 years of inventory data from dryland forests in Canada, we show that productivity of dryland forests decreased at an average rate of 1.3% per decade, in concert with the temporally increasing temperature and decreasing water availability. Increasing functional trait diversity from its minimum (monocultures) to maximum value increased productivity by 13%. Our results demonstrate the potential role of tree functional trait diversity in alleviating climate change impacts on dryland forests. While recognizing that nature-based climate mitigation (e.g., planting trees) can only be partial solutions, their long-term (decadal) efficacy can be improved by enhancing functional trait diversity across the forest community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masumi Hisano
- Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University, Yoshida-honmachi, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
- Ecosystem Management, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, Department of Environmental System Science, ETH Zürich, Universitätstrasse 16, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Ecosystem Studies, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
- Faculty of Natural Resources Management, Lakehead University, 955 Oliver Road, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 5E1, Canada
| | - Jaboury Ghazoul
- Ecosystem Management, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, Department of Environmental System Science, ETH Zürich, Universitätstrasse 16, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Xinli Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Han Y. H. Chen
- Faculty of Natural Resources Management, Lakehead University, 955 Oliver Road, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 5E1, Canada
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5
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Arnillas CA, Carscadden K. When indices disagree: facing conceptual and practical challenges. Trends Ecol Evol 2024:S0169-5347(24)00038-7. [PMID: 38508921 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2024.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Hypothesis testing requires meaningful ways to quantify biological phenomena and account for alternative mechanisms that could explain the same pattern. Researchers combine experiments, statistics, and indices to account for these confounding mechanisms. Key concepts in ecology and evolution, such as niche breadth (NB) or fitness, can be represented by several indices, which often provide uncorrelated estimates. Is this because the indices use different types of noisy data or because the targeted phenomenon is complex and multidimensional? We discuss implications of these scenarios and propose five steps to aid researchers in identifying and combining indices, experiments, and statistics. Building on prior efforts to construct databases of hypotheses and indices and document assumptions, these steps help provide a formal strategy to reduce self-confirmatory bias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Alberto Arnillas
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto - Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada.
| | - Kelly Carscadden
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, 1900 Pleasant Street, Box 334, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
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6
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Hughes BB, Beheshti KM, Tinker MT, Angelini C, Endris C, Murai L, Anderson SC, Espinosa S, Staedler M, Tomoleoni JA, Sanchez M, Silliman BR. Top-predator recovery abates geomorphic decline of a coastal ecosystem. Nature 2024; 626:111-118. [PMID: 38297171 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06959-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
The recovery of top predators is thought to have cascading effects on vegetated ecosystems and their geomorphology1,2, but the evidence for this remains correlational and intensely debated3,4. Here we combine observational and experimental data to reveal that recolonization of sea otters in a US estuary generates a trophic cascade that facilitates coastal wetland plant biomass and suppresses the erosion of marsh edges-a process that otherwise leads to the severe loss of habitats and ecosystem services5,6. Monitoring of the Elkhorn Slough estuary over several decades suggested top-down control in the system, because the erosion of salt marsh edges has generally slowed with increasing sea otter abundance, despite the consistently increasing physical stress in the system (that is, nutrient loading, sea-level rise and tidal scour7-9). Predator-exclusion experiments in five marsh creeks revealed that sea otters suppress the abundance of burrowing crabs, a top-down effect that cascades to both increase marsh edge strength and reduce marsh erosion. Multi-creek surveys comparing marsh creeks pre- and post-sea otter colonization confirmed the presence of an interaction between the keystone sea otter, burrowing crabs and marsh creeks, demonstrating the spatial generality of predator control of ecosystem edge processes: densities of burrowing crabs and edge erosion have declined markedly in creeks that have high levels of sea otter recolonization. These results show that trophic downgrading could be a strong but underappreciated contributor to the loss of coastal wetlands, and suggest that restoring top predators can help to re-establish geomorphic stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brent B Hughes
- Department of Biology, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA, USA.
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Beaufort, NC, USA.
| | - Kathryn M Beheshti
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
- Marine Science Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - M Tim Tinker
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
- Nhydra Ecological Research, Head of St Margarets Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Christine Angelini
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, Engineering School for Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Charlie Endris
- Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Geological Oceanography Lab, Moss Landing, CA, USA
| | - Lee Murai
- Division of Regional Assistance, California Department of Water Resources, West Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Sean C Anderson
- Pacific Biological Station, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Mathematics, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sarah Espinosa
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | | | - Joseph A Tomoleoni
- Western Ecological Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Madeline Sanchez
- Department of Biology, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA, USA
| | - Brian R Silliman
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Beaufort, NC, USA
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7
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Wang Y, Wang Z, Kang Y, Zhang Z, Bao D, Sun X, Su J. Assessing the win-win situation of forage production and soil organic carbon through a short-term active restoration strategy in alpine grasslands. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 14:1290808. [PMID: 38273956 PMCID: PMC10808524 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1290808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Grassland degradation has seriously affected the ecological environment and human livelihood. To abate these, implementing effective management strategies to restore and improve the service functions and productivity of degraded grasslands is crucial. Methods To evaluate the influences of restoration measures combined with different grazing intensities on short-term (1 year) grassland restoration, the changes in soil physicochemical properties, as well as plant traits under restoration measures of different grazing intensities, reseeding, and fertilization, were analyzed. Results Soil organic carbon (SOC) increased to varying degrees, whereas available nutrients decreased under all combined restoration measures. Reseeding, alone and in combination with fertilization, substantially increased SOC, improved grassland vegetation status, and enhanced grassland productivity. The aboveground biomass of Gramineae and the total aboveground biomass increased under the combined restoration measures of transferring livestock out of the pasture 45 days in advance, reseeding, and fertilization (T4). Redundancy analysis revealed a strong correlation between grassland vegetation characteristics, SOC, and available potassium. Considering soil and vegetation factors, the short-term results suggested that the combination measures in T4had the most marked positive impact on grassland restoration. Discussion These findings offer valuable theoretical insights for the ecological restoration of degraded grasslands in alpine regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- College of Grassland Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zhicheng Wang
- College of Grassland Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yukun Kang
- College of Grassland Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zhiming Zhang
- College of Grassland Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Duanhong Bao
- College of Grassland Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiaomei Sun
- Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- College of Resource and Environmental Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Junhu Su
- College of Grassland Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
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8
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Wilsey B, Martin L, Xu X, Isbell F, Polley HW. Biodiversity: Net primary productivity relationships are eliminated by invasive species dominance. Ecol Lett 2024; 27:e14342. [PMID: 38098152 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Experiments often find that net primary productivity (NPP) increases with species richness when native species are considered. However, relationships may be altered by exotic (non-native) species, which are hypothesized to reduce richness but increase productivity (i.e., 'invasion-diversity-productivity paradox'). We compared richness-NPP relationships using a comparison of exotic versus native-dominated sites across the central USA, and two experiments under common environments. Aboveground NPP was measured using peak biomass clipping in all three studies, and belowground NPP was measured in one study with root ingrowth cores using root-free soil. In all studies, there was a significantly positive relationship between NPP and richness across native species-dominated sites and plots, but no relationship across exotic-dominated ones. These results indicate that relationships between NPP and richness depend on whether native or exotic species are dominant, and that exotic species are 'breaking the rules', altering richness-productivity and richness-C stock relationships after invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Wilsey
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology 251 Bessey Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Leanne Martin
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology 251 Bessey Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Xia Xu
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology 251 Bessey Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | | | - H Wayne Polley
- Grassland, Soil and Water Research Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Temple, Texas, USA
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9
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Ratcliffe H, Kendig A, Vacek S, Carlson D, Ahlering M, Dee LE. Extreme precipitation promotes invasion in managed grasslands. Ecology 2024; 105:e4190. [PMID: 37877294 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.4190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme events like drought and flooding, which threaten to amplify other global change drivers such as species invasion. We investigate the effect of wet and dry extreme precipitation regimes on invasive species' abundances in northern tallgrass prairies. Because soil moisture is a key determinant of prairie composition, theory and evidence suggest drought conditions will hinder invasion, whereas wetter conditions will enhance invasion. To test this hypothesis, we explored the effect of precipitation on invasive plant species abundance from 2010 to 2019 in 25 managed prairies using observations from 267 transects comprising 6675 plots throughout western Minnesota, USA. We estimated how increases in the number of extremely wet or dry months in a year altered overall invasive species abundance and the abundance of the highly invasive grasses Poa pratensis and Bromus inermis. We found that a greater occurrence of abnormally wet months increased invasive species abundance but found mixed evidence that abnormally dry conditions hindered invasion. Further, more moderately wet and dry months reduced native grass abundance. Together, these results suggest that more frequent extremely wet months may intensify invasive dominance and that dry months may not counterbalance these trends. Given the considerable uncertainty still surrounding the interactive effects of climate change and invasion on native plant communities, this research represents an important step toward quantifying the complex influence of precipitation extremes on invasion dynamics in managed ecosystems of critical conservation concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugh Ratcliffe
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Amy Kendig
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Sara Vacek
- US Fish and Wildlife Service, Morris, Minnesota, USA
| | - Daren Carlson
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | | | - Laura E Dee
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA
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10
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D'Andrea R, Khattar G, Koffel T, Frans VF, Bittleston LS, Cuellar-Gempeler C. Reciprocal inhibition and competitive hierarchy cause negative biodiversity-ecosystem function relationships. Ecol Lett 2024; 27:e14356. [PMID: 38193391 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
The relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem function (BEF) captivates ecologists, but the factors responsible for the direction of this relationship remain unclear. While higher ecosystem functioning at higher biodiversity levels ('positive BEF') is not universal in nature, negative BEF relationships seem puzzlingly rare. Here, we develop a dynamical consumer-resource model inspired by microbial decomposer communities in pitcher plant leaves to investigate BEF. We manipulate microbial diversity via controlled colonization and measure their function as total ammonia production. We test how niche partitioning among bacteria and other ecological processes influence BEF in the leaves. We find that a negative BEF can emerge from reciprocal interspecific inhibition in ammonia production causing a negative complementarity effect, or from competitive hierarchies causing a negative selection effect. Absent these factors, a positive BEF was the typical outcome. Our findings provide a potential explanation for the rarity of negative BEF in empirical data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael D'Andrea
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Gabriel Khattar
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Thomas Koffel
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR5558, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Veronica F Frans
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
- Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
- W.K. Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University, Hickory Corners, Michigan, USA
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11
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Chao A, Chiu CH, Hu KH, van der Plas F, Cadotte MW, Mitesser O, Thorn S, Mori AS, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Eisenhauer N, Bässler C, Delory BM, Feldhaar H, Fichtner A, Hothorn T, Peters MK, Pierick K, von Oheimb G, Müller J. Hill-Chao numbers allow decomposing gamma multifunctionality into alpha and beta components. Ecol Lett 2024; 27:e14336. [PMID: 38073071 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) research has provided strong evidence and mechanistic underpinnings to support positive effects of biodiversity on ecosystem functioning, from single to multiple functions. This research has provided knowledge gained mainly at the local alpha scale (i.e. within ecosystems), but the increasing homogenization of landscapes in the Anthropocene has raised the potential that declining biodiversity at the beta (across ecosystems) and gamma scales is likely to also impact ecosystem functioning. Drawing on biodiversity theory, we propose a new statistical framework based on Hill-Chao numbers. The framework allows decomposition of multifunctionality at gamma scales into alpha and beta components, a critical but hitherto missing tool in BEF research; it also allows weighting of individual ecosystem functions. Through the proposed decomposition, new BEF results for beta and gamma scales are discovered. Our novel approach is applicable across ecosystems and connects local- and landscape-scale BEF assessments from experiments to natural settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Chao
- Institute of Statistics, National Tsing Hua University, Hsin-Chu, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Huo Chiu
- Department of Agronomy, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kai-Hsiang Hu
- Institute of Statistics, National Tsing Hua University, Hsin-Chu, Taiwan
| | - Fons van der Plas
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marc W Cadotte
- Biological Sciences, University of Toronto-Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Oliver Mitesser
- Field Station Fabrikschleichach, Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Rauhenebrach, Germany
| | - Simon Thorn
- Hessian Agency for Nature Conservation, Environment and Geology, Biodiversity Center, Gießen, Germany
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Biology Centre, Institute of Entomology, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Akira S Mori
- Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Nico Eisenhauer
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Claus Bässler
- Bavarian Forest National Park, Grafenau, Germany
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Conservation Biology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Ecology of Fungi, Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Benjamin M Delory
- Institute of Ecology, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Lüneburg, Germany
| | - Heike Feldhaar
- Department of Animal Ecology I, Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Andreas Fichtner
- Institute of Ecology, Leuphana University Lüneburg, Lüneburg, Germany
| | - Torsten Hothorn
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marcell K Peters
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Kerstin Pierick
- Silviculture and Forest Ecology of the Temperate Zones, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Department for Spatial Structures and Digitization of Forests, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Goddert von Oheimb
- Institute of General Ecology and Environmental Protection, Technische Universität Dresden, Tharandt, Germany
| | - Jörg Müller
- Field Station Fabrikschleichach, Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Rauhenebrach, Germany
- Bavarian Forest National Park, Grafenau, Germany
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12
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Yan Y, Xu L, Wu X, Xue W, Nie Y, Ye L. Land use intensity controls the diversity-productivity relationship in northern temperate grasslands of China. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1296544. [PMID: 38235199 PMCID: PMC10792768 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1296544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Introduction The diversity-productivity relationship is a central issue in maintaining the grassland ecosystem's multifunctionality and supporting its sustainable management. Currently, the mainstream opinion on the diversity-productivity relationship recognizes that increases in species diversity promote ecosystem productivity. Methods Here, we challenge this opinion by developing a generalized additive model-based framework to quantify the response rate of grassland productivity to plant species diversity using vegetation survey data we collected along a land-use intensity gradient in northern China. Results Our results show that the grassland aboveground biomass responds significantly positively to the Shannon-Wiener diversity index at a rate of 46.8 g m-2 per unit increase of the Shannon-Wiener index in enclosure-managed grasslands, under the co-influence of climate and landscape factors. The aboveground biomass response rate stays positive at a magnitude of 47.1 g m-2 in forest understory grassland and 39.7 g m-2 in wetland grassland. Conversely, the response rate turns negative in heavily grazed grasslands at -55.8 g m-2, transiting via near-neutral rates of -7.0 and -7.3 g m-2 in mowing grassland and moderately grazed grassland, respectively. Discussion These results suggest that the diversity-productivity relationship in temperate grasslands not only varies by magnitude but also switches directions under varying levels of land use intensity. This highlights the need to consider land use intensity as a more important ecological integrity indicator for future ecological conservation programs in temperate grasslands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yidan Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semi-arid Arable Land in Northern China, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lijun Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semi-arid Arable Land in Northern China, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xinjia Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semi-arid Arable Land in Northern China, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semi-arid Arable Land in Northern China, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yingying Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Arid and Semi-arid Arable Land in Northern China, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Liming Ye
- Department of Geology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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13
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Volery L, Vaz Fernandez M, Wegmann D, Bacher S. A general framework to quantify and compare ecological impacts under temporal dynamics. Ecol Lett 2023; 26:1726-1739. [PMID: 37515418 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Biodiversity is diminishing at alarming rates due to multiple anthropogenic drivers. To mitigate these drivers, their impacts must be quantified accurately and comparably across drivers. To enable that, we present a generally applicable framework introducing fundamental principles of ecological impact quantification, including the quantification of interactions between multiple drivers. The framework contrasts biodiversity variables in impacted against those in unimpacted or other reference situations while accounting for their temporal dynamics through modelling. Properly accounting for temporal dynamics reduces biases in impact quantification and comparison. The framework addresses key questions around ecological impacts in global change science, namely, how to compare impacts under temporal dynamics across stressors, how to account for stressor interactions in such comparisons, and how to compare the success of management actions over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Volery
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Margarida Vaz Fernandez
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Wegmann
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Sven Bacher
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
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14
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Veryard R, Wu J, O’Brien MJ, Anthony R, Both S, Burslem DF, Chen B, Fernandez-Miranda Cagigal E, Godfray HCJ, Godoong E, Liang S, Saner P, Schmid B, Sau Wai Y, Xie J, Reynolds G, Hector A. Positive effects of tree diversity on tropical forest restoration in a field-scale experiment. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadf0938. [PMID: 37713486 PMCID: PMC10846868 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf0938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
Experiments under controlled conditions have established that ecosystem functioning is generally positively related to levels of biodiversity, but it is unclear how widespread these effects are in real-world settings and whether they can be harnessed for ecosystem restoration. We used remote-sensing data from the first decade of a long-term, field-scale tropical restoration experiment initiated in 2002 to test how the diversity of planted trees affected recovery of a 500-ha area of selectively logged forest measured using multiple sources of satellite data. Replanting using species-rich mixtures of tree seedlings with higher phylogenetic and functional diversity accelerated restoration of remotely sensed estimates of aboveground biomass, canopy cover, and leaf area index. Our results are consistent with a positive relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in the lowland dipterocarp rainforests of SE Asia and demonstrate that using diverse mixtures of species can enhance their initial recovery after logging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Veryard
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RB, UK
| | - Jinhui Wu
- China Institute of Geo-Environment Monitoring, China Geological Survey, Beijing, China
| | - Michael J. O’Brien
- Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Carretera de Sacramento s/n, E-04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Rosila Anthony
- Sabah Forestry Department, 90000 Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Sabine Both
- School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351 Australia
| | - David F.R.P. Burslem
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Cruickshank Building, St Machar Drives, Aberdeen AB24 3UU, Scotland, UK
| | - Bin Chen
- Division of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | | | | | - Elia Godoong
- Faculty of Tropical Forestry, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Shunlin Liang
- Department of Geography, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Philippe Saner
- Rhino and Forest Fund e.V., Auf dem Stein 2, D-77694 Kehl, Germany
| | - Bernhard Schmid
- Department of Geography, Remote Sensing Laboratories, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Yap Sau Wai
- Conservation and Environmental Management Division, Yayasan Sabah Group, 88817 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Jun Xie
- Energy and Environment Institute, University of Hull, Hull, UK
| | - Glen Reynolds
- The South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership (SEARRP), Danum Valley Field Centre, Sabah, Malaysia
| | - Andy Hector
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RB, UK
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