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Qu Q, Wang S, Hu X, Mu L. The impact of anthropogenic pressures on microbial diversity and river multifunctionality relationships on a global scale. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 950:175293. [PMID: 39111414 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 07/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/03/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
Conserving biodiversity is crucial for maintaining essential ecosystem functions, as indicated by the positive relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. However, the impacts of declining biodiversity on ecosystem functions in response to mounting human pressures remain uncertain. This uncertainty arises from the complexity of trade-offs among human activities, climate change, river properties, and biodiversity, which have not been comprehensively addressed collectively. Here, we provide evidence that river biodiversity was significantly and positively associated with multifunctionality and contributed to key ecosystem functions such as microbially driven water purification, leaf litter decomposition and pathogen control. However, human pressure led to abrupt changes in microbial diversity and river multifunctionality relationships at a human pressure value of 0.5. In approximately 30 % (N = 58) of countries globally, the ratio of area above this threshold exceeded the global average (∼11 %), especially in Europe. Results show that human pressure affected ecosystem functions through direct effects and interactive effects. We provide more direct evidence that the nonadditive effects triggered by prevailing human pressure impact the multifunctionality of rivers globally. Under high levels of human stress, the beneficial effects of biodiversity on nutrient cycling, carbon storage, gross primary productivity, leaf litter decomposition, and pathogen control tend to diminish. Our findings highlight that considering interactions between human pressure and local abiotic and biotic factors is key for understanding the fate of river ecosystems under climate change and increasing human pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Qu
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Shuting Wang
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Xiangang Hu
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China.
| | - Li Mu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment and Product Safety, Key Laboratory for Environmental Factors Controlling Agro-Product Quality Safety (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs), Institute of Agro-Environmental Protection, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, 300191 Tianjin, China.
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2
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Bastos JR, Capellesso ES, Marcilio-Silva V, Zwiener VP, Vibrans AC, Marques MCM. Mixed effects of climate and species richness on aboveground carbon stock in subtropical Atlantic forests. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 945:174156. [PMID: 38909803 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
Tropical forests are global biodiversity hotspots and are crucial in the global carbon (C) cycle. Understanding the drivers of aboveground carbon stock (AGC) in a heterogeneous and biodiverse system can shed light on the processes underlying the relationship between biodiversity and carbon accumulation. Here, we investigate how biodiversity, environment, and landscape structure affect AGC. We examined such associations in 349 plots comprising over 95,346 km2 the Atlantic Forest of southern Brazil, encompassing three forest types: Dense Ombrophylous Forest (DF), Mixed Ombrophylous Forest (MF), and Seasonal Deciduous Forest (SF). Each plot was described by environmental variables, landscape metrics, and biodiversity (species richness and functional diversity). We used diversity, environmental, and landscape variables to build generalized linear mixed models and understand which can affect the forest AGC. We found that species richness is associated positively with AGC in all forest types, combined and separately. Seasonal temperature and isothermality affect AGC in all forest types; additionally, stocks are positively influenced by annual precipitation in SF and isothermality in MF. Among landscape metrics, total fragment edge negatively affects carbon stocks in MF. Our results show the importance of species diversity for carbon stocks in subtropical forests. The climate effect was also relevant, showing the importance of these factors, especially in a world where climate change tends to affect forest stock capacity negatively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Júlio R Bastos
- Laboratório de Ecologia Vegetal, Departamento de Botânica, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Caixa Postal 19031, 81531-980 Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
| | - Elivane S Capellesso
- Laboratório de Ecologia Vegetal, Departamento de Botânica, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Caixa Postal 19031, 81531-980 Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | | | - Victor P Zwiener
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Biogeografia de Plantas, Departamento de Biodiversidade, Setor Palotina, Universidade Federal do Paraná, 2153, 85950-000 Palotina, PR, Brazil
| | - Alexander C Vibrans
- Departamento de Engenharia Florestal, Universidade Regional de Blumenau, Rua São Paulo, 3250, 89030-000 Blumenau, SC, Brazil
| | - Márcia C M Marques
- Laboratório de Ecologia Vegetal, Departamento de Botânica, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Caixa Postal 19031, 81531-980 Curitiba, PR, Brazil
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3
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Larsen AE, Engist D, Noack F. The long shadow of biodiversity loss. Science 2024; 385:1042-1044. [PMID: 39236195 DOI: 10.1126/science.adq2373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/07/2024]
Abstract
Technological substitutes are poor proxies for functioning ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley E Larsen
- Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Dennis Engist
- Food and Resource Economics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Frederik Noack
- Food and Resource Economics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Wojciechowski AA, Blair JM, Collins SL, Baer SG. Heterogeneity promotes resilience in restored prairie: Implications for the environmental heterogeneity hypothesis. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2024; 34:e3006. [PMID: 39030911 DOI: 10.1002/eap.3006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/22/2024]
Abstract
Enhancing resilience in formerly degraded ecosystems is an important goal of restoration ecology. However, evidence for the recovery of resilience and its underlying mechanisms require long-term experiments and comparison with reference ecosystems. We used data from an experimental prairie restoration that featured long-term soil heterogeneity manipulations and data from two long-term experiments located in a comparable remnant (reference) prairie to (1) quantify the recovery of ecosystem functioning (i.e., productivity) relative to remnant prairie, (2) compare the resilience of restored and remnant prairies to a natural drought, and (3) test whether soil heterogeneity enhances resilience of restored prairie. We compared sensitivity and legacy effects between prairie types (remnant and restored) and among four prairie sites that included two remnant prairie sites and prairie restored under homogeneous and heterogeneous soil conditions. We measured sensitivity and resilience as the proportional change in aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) during and following drought (sensitivity and legacy effects, respectively) relative to average ANPP based on 4 pre-drought years (2014-2017). In nondrought years, total ANPP was similar between remnant and restored prairie, but remnant prairie had higher grass productivity and lower forb productivity compared with restored prairie. These ANPP patterns generally persisted during drought. The sensitivity of total ANPP to drought was similar between restored and remnant prairie, but grasses in the restored prairie were more sensitive to drought. Post-drought legacy effects were more positive in the restored prairie, and we attributed this to the more positive and less variable legacy response of forb ANPP in the restored prairie, especially in the heterogeneous soil treatment. Our results suggest that productivity recovers in restored prairie and exhibits similar sensitivity to drought as in remnant prairie. Furthermore, creating heterogeneity promotes forb productivity and enhances restored prairie resilience to drought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley A Wojciechowski
- Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research and Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - John M Blair
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Scott L Collins
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Sara G Baer
- Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research and Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
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Chaturvedi RK, Tripathi A, Pandey R, Raghubanshi AS, Singh JS. Assessment of habitat features modulated carbon sequestration strategies for drought management in tropical dry forest fragments. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 951:175703. [PMID: 39179036 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2024] [Revised: 07/17/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024]
Abstract
Habitat features, such as species diversity, functional diversity, tree size, disturbances and fragment sizes have differential impacts on carbon (C) storage and C-sequestration in forest ecosystems. Present study attempted to understand the tree strategies for modulating C-sequestration capacity across tropical dry forest fragments with variable edge distances. We evaluated the differences between drought strategies (i.e., drought avoiding and drought tolerant) for variations in stem density, relative growth rate (RGR), C-storage and C-sequestration, species diversity, functional diversity, tree size and disturbance indicators along edge distance gradient, besides analyzed the differences between drought strategies for responses of C-storage and C-sequestration to variations in species diversity, functional diversity, tree size and disturbance indicators. Various traits and functional indices were analyzed using standard statistical techniques. For total trees and for the two drought strategies, generalized linear modeling results showed a significant decline in stem density, RGR, C-stock, C-sequestration, species diversity, functional diversity and tree size indicators, while a considerable increase in disturbance indicators, along decreasing edge distance across the fragments. The drought strategies exhibited a high degree of variation in the slope of associations for above variables with edge distance across fragments. For predicting C-sequestration, structural equation modeling results showed highly significant influence of functional diversity indicators for drought avoiding strategy, while species diversity indicators were strongly significant for drought tolerant strategy. Moreover, fire index and drought index were critical predictors for C-sequestration for drought avoiding and drought tolerant strategies, respectively. This study provide inputs to understand the largely ignored processes of C-storage and C-sequestration in fragmented forests, which are currently prevalent due to heavy anthropogenic pressures. Our findings are useful for forest managers to understand vegetation responses to interactions of species diversity, functional diversity, tree size and disturbance indicators, for predicting the stability of larger fragments and for planning restoration of smaller fragments.
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Affiliation(s)
- R K Chaturvedi
- Center for Integrative Conservation & Yunnan Key Laboratory for Conservation of Tropical Rainforests and Asian Elephant, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun 666303, Yunnan, China.
| | - Anshuman Tripathi
- National Mineral Development Corporation Limited, Bailadila Iron Ore Mine, Bacheli Complex, Dantewada, 494553, Chhattisgarh, India
| | - Rajiv Pandey
- Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Dehradun, India
| | - A S Raghubanshi
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - J S Singh
- Ecosystems Analysis Laboratory, Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Luo S, Schmid B, Hector A, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Verheyen K, Barsoum N, Bauhus J, Beyer F, Bruelheide H, Ferlian O, Godbold D, Hall JS, Hajek P, Huang Y, Hölscher D, Kreft H, Liu X, Messier C, Nock C, Paquette A, Parker JD, Parker WC, Paterno GB, Reich PB, Rewald B, Sandén H, Sinacore K, Stefanski A, Williams L, Eisenhauer N. Mycorrhizal associations modify tree diversity-productivity relationships across experimental tree plantations. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 243:1205-1219. [PMID: 38855965 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Decades of studies have demonstrated links between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, yet the generality of the relationships and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear, especially for forest ecosystems. Using 11 tree-diversity experiments, we tested tree species richness-community productivity relationships and the role of arbuscular (AM) or ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal-associated tree species in these relationships. Tree species richness had a positive effect on community productivity across experiments, modified by the diversity of tree mycorrhizal associations. In communities with both AM and ECM trees, species richness showed positive effects on community productivity, which could have resulted from complementarity between AM and ECM trees. Moreover, both AM and ECM trees were more productive in mixed communities with both AM and ECM trees than in communities assembled by their own mycorrhizal type of trees. In communities containing only ECM trees, species richness had a significant positive effect on productivity, whereas species richness did not show any significant effects on productivity in communities containing only AM trees. Our study provides novel explanations for variations in diversity-productivity relationships by suggesting that tree-mycorrhiza interactions can shape productivity in mixed-species forest ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Luo
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
- Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
| | - Bernhard Schmid
- Department of Geography, Remote Sensing Laboratories, University of Zürich, Zürich, CH-8006, Switzerland
| | - Andy Hector
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RB, UK
| | | | - Kris Verheyen
- Department of Environment, Forest & Nature Lab, Ghent University, Melle-Gontorde, B-9090, Belgium
| | - Nadia Barsoum
- Forest Research, Alice Holt Lodge, Farnham, Surrey, GU10 4LH, UK
| | - Juergen Bauhus
- Chair of Silviculture, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79108, Germany
| | - Friderike Beyer
- Chair of Silviculture, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79108, Germany
| | - Helge Bruelheide
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, 06108, Germany
| | - Olga Ferlian
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
- Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
| | - Douglas Godbold
- Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, Forest Ecology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, 1190, Austria
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, 61300, Czech Republic
| | - Jefferson S Hall
- Agua Salud Project, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, 401 Ancón, Panamá, Panama
| | - Peter Hajek
- Geobotany, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, 79104, Germany
| | - Yuanyuan Huang
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
- Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
| | - Dirk Hölscher
- Tropical Silviculture and Forest Ecology, University of Goettingen, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Holger Kreft
- Biodiversity, Macroecology and Biogeography, Faculty of Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
- Centre of Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use (CBL), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Xiaojuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Christian Messier
- Centre for Forest Research, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, QC, H2X 3Y7, Canada
- Institut des Sciences de la Forêt Tempérée, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Ripon, QC, J0V 1V0, Canada
| | - Charles Nock
- Department of Renewables Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Alain Paquette
- Centre for Forest Research, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, QC, H2X 3Y7, Canada
| | - John D Parker
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD, 21037, USA
| | - William C Parker
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Sault Ste. Marie, ON, P6A 2E5, Canada
| | - Gustavo B Paterno
- Biodiversity, Macroecology and Biogeography, Faculty of Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
| | - Peter B Reich
- Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia
- Institute for Global Change Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Boris Rewald
- Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, Forest Ecology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, 1190, Austria
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, 61300, Czech Republic
| | - Hans Sandén
- Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, Forest Ecology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, 1190, Austria
| | - Katherine Sinacore
- Agua Salud Project, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, 401 Ancón, Panamá, Panama
| | - Artur Stefanski
- Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Laura Williams
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia
| | - Nico Eisenhauer
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
- Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
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Illarze M, Arim M, Ramos-Jiliberto R, Borthagaray AI. Community connectivity and local heterogeneity explain animal species co-occurrences within pond communities. J Anim Ecol 2024; 93:1123-1134. [PMID: 38877697 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.14129] [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: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Metacommunity processes have the potential to determine most features of the community structure. However, species diversity has been the dominant focus of studies. Nestedness, modularity and checkerboard distribution of species occurrences are main components of biodiversity organisation. Within communities, these patterns emerge from the interaction between functional diversity, spatial heterogeneity and resource availability. Additionally, the connectivity determines the pool of species for community assembly and, eventually, the pattern of species co-occurrence within communities. Despite the recognised theoretical expectations, the change in occurrence patterns within communities along ecological gradients has seldom been considered. Here, we analyse the spatial occurrence of animal species along sampling units within 18 temporary ponds and its relationship with pond environments and geographic isolation. Isolated ponds presented a nested organisation of species with low spatial segregation-modularity and checkerboard-and the opposite was found for communities with high connectivity. A pattern putatively explained by high functional diversity in ponds with large connectivity and heterogeneity, which determines that species composition tracks changes in microhabitats. On the contrary, nestedness is promoted in dispersal-limited communities with low functional diversity, where microhabitat filters mainly affect richness without spatial replacement between functional groups. Vegetation biomass promotes nestedness, probably due to the observed increase in spatial variance in biomass with the mean biomass. Similarly, the richness of vegetation reduced the spatial segregation of animals within communities. This result may be due to the high plant diversity of the pond that is observed similarly along all sampling units, which promotes the spatial co-occurrence of species at this scale. In the study system, the spatial arrangement of species within communities is related to local drivers as heterogeneity and metacommunity processes by means of dispersal between communities. Patterns of species co-occurrence are interrelated with community biodiversity and species interactions, and consequently with most functional and structural properties of communities. These results indicate that understanding the interplay between metacommunity processes and co-occurrence patterns is probably more important than previously thought to understand biodiversity assembly and functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Illarze
- Departamento de Ecología y Gestión Ambiental, Centro Universitario Regional del Este (CURE), Universidad de la República, Maldonado, Uruguay
| | - Matías Arim
- Departamento de Ecología y Gestión Ambiental, Centro Universitario Regional del Este (CURE), Universidad de la República, Maldonado, Uruguay
| | | | - Ana I Borthagaray
- Departamento de Ecología y Gestión Ambiental, Centro Universitario Regional del Este (CURE), Universidad de la República, Maldonado, Uruguay
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8
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Martins CSC, Delgado-Baquerizo M, Jayaramaiah RH, Tao D, Wang JT, Sáez-Sandino T, Liu H, Maestre FT, Reich PB, Singh BK. Aboveground and belowground biodiversity have complementary effects on ecosystem functions across global grasslands. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002736. [PMID: 39141639 PMCID: PMC11324184 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Grasslands are integral to maintaining biodiversity and key ecosystem services and are under threat from climate change. Plant and soil microbial diversity, and their interactions, support the provision of multiple ecosystem functions (multifunctionality). However, it remains virtually unknown whether plant and soil microbial diversity explain a unique portion of total variation or shared contributions to supporting multifunctionality across global grasslands. Here, we combine results from a global survey of 101 grasslands with a novel microcosm study, controlling for both plant and soil microbial diversity to identify their individual and interactive contribution to support multifunctionality under aridity and experimental drought. We found that plant and soil microbial diversity independently predict a unique portion of total variation in above- and belowground functioning, suggesting that both types of biodiversity complement each other. Interactions between plant and soil microbial diversity positively impacted multifunctionality including primary production and nutrient storage. Our findings were also climate context dependent, since soil fungal diversity was positively associated with multifunctionality in less arid regions, while plant diversity was strongly and positively linked to multifunctionality in more arid regions. Our results highlight the need to conserve both above- and belowground diversity to sustain grassland multifunctionality in a drier world and indicate climate change may shift the relative contribution of plant and soil biodiversity to multifunctionality across global grasslands.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo
- Laboratorio de Biodiversidad y Funcionamiento Ecosistémico, Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS), CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
| | | | - Dongxue Tao
- Laboratorio de Biodiversidad y Funcionamiento Ecosistémico, Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS), CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
- Institute of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology of the Ministry of Education, Jilin Songnen Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Jun-Tao Wang
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia
| | - Tadeo Sáez-Sandino
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia
| | - Hongwei Liu
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia
| | - Fernando T. Maestre
- Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Instituto Multidisciplinar para el Estudio del Medio “Ramón Margalef”, Universidad de Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, Spain
| | - Peter B. Reich
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia
- Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
- Institute for Global Change Biology, School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Brajesh K. Singh
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia
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9
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Abdala-Roberts L, Moreira X. Effects of phytochemical diversity on multitrophic interactions. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 64:101228. [PMID: 38944275 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2024.101228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 06/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024]
Abstract
The ecological effects of plant diversity have been well studied, but the extent to which they are driven by variation in specialized metabolites is not well understood. Here, we provide theoretical background on phytochemical diversity effects on herbivory and its expanded consequences for higher trophic levels. We then review empirical evidence for effects on predation and parasitism by focusing on a handful of studies that have undertaken manipulative approaches and link back their results to theory on mechanisms. We close by summarizing key aspects for future research, building on knowledge gained thus far.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Abdala-Roberts
- Departamento de Ecología Tropical, Campus de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Apartado Postal 4-116, Itzimná, 97000 Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico.
| | - Xoaquín Moreira
- Misión Biológica de Galicia (MBG-CSIC), Apartado de Correos 28, 36080 Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain
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Bernardin JR, Gray SM, Bittleston LS. Arthropod prey type drives decomposition rates and microbial community processes. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0039424. [PMID: 38916291 PMCID: PMC11267907 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00394-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Microbial communities perform various functions, many of which contribute to ecosystem-level nutrient cycling via decomposition. Factors influencing leaf detrital decomposition are well understood in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, but much less is known about arthropod detrital inputs. Here, we sought to infer how differences in arthropod detritus affect microbial-driven decomposition and community function in a carnivorous pitcher plant, Sarracenia purpurea. Using sterile mesh bags filled with different types of sterile arthropod prey, we assessed if prey type influenced the rate of decomposition in pitcher plants over 7 weeks. Additionally, we measured microbial community composition and function, including hydrolytic enzyme activity and carbon substrate use. When comparing decomposition rates, we found that ant and beetle prey with higher exoskeleton content lost less mass compared with fly prey. We observed the highest protease activity in the fly treatment, which had the lowest exoskeleton content. Additionally, we saw differences in the pH of the pitcher fluid, driven by the ant treatment which had the lowest pH. According to our results from 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding, prey treatments with the highest bacterial amplicon sequence variant (ASV) richness (ant and beetle) were associated with prey that lost a lower proportion of mass over the 7 weeks. Overall, arthropod detritus provides unique nutrient sources to decomposer communities, with different prey influencing microbial hydrolytic enzyme activity and composition. IMPORTANCE Microbial communities play pivotal roles in nutrient cycling via decomposition and nutrient transformation; however, it is often unclear how different substrates influence microbial activity and community composition. Our study highlights how different types of insects influence decomposition and, in turn, microbial composition and function. We use the aquatic pools found in a carnivorous pitcher plant as small, discrete ecosystems that we can manipulate and study independently. We find that some insect prey (flies) breaks down faster than others (beetles or ants) likely because flies contain more things that are easy for microbes to eat and derive essential nutrients from. This is also reflected in higher enzyme activity in the microbes decomposing the flies. Our work bridges a knowledge gap about how different substrates affect microbial decomposition, contributing to the broader understanding of ecosystem function in a nutrient cycling context.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah M. Gray
- Department of Biology-Ecology and Evolution, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
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11
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Debaba GH, Li K, Wang X, Wang Y, Bai W, Li G. Effect of Nitrogen Application Rate on the Relationships between Multidimensional Plant Diversity and Ecosystem Production in a Temperate Steppe. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:554. [PMID: 39194492 DOI: 10.3390/biology13080554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2024] [Revised: 07/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) deposition, as one of the global change drivers, can alter terrestrial plant diversity and ecosystem function. However, the response of the plant diversity-ecosystem function relationship to N deposition remains unclear. On one hand, in the previous studies, taxonomic diversity (i.e., species richness, SR) was solely considered the common metric of plant diversity, compared to other diversity metrics such as phylogenetic and functional diversity. On the other hand, most previous studies simulating N deposition only included two levels of control versus N enrichment. How various N deposition rates affect multidimensional plant diversity-ecosystem function relationships is poorly understood. Here, a field manipulative experiment with a N addition gradient (0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64 g N m-2 yr-1) was carried out to examine the effects of N addition rates on the relationships between plant diversity metrics (taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional diversity) and ecosystem production in a temperate steppe. Production initially increased and reached the maximum value at the N addition rate of 47 g m-2 yr-1, then decreased along the N-addition gradient in the steppe. SR, functional diversity calculated using plant height (FDis-Height) and leaf chlorophyll content (FDis-Chlorophyll), and phylogenetic diversity (net relatedness index, NRI) were reduced, whereas community-weighted means of plant height (CWMHeight) and leaf chlorophyll content (CWMChlorophyll) were enhanced by N addition. N addition did not affect the relationships of SR, NRI, and FDis-Height with production but significantly affected the strength of the correlation between FDis-Chlorophyll, CWMHeight, and CWMChlorophyll with biomass production across the eight levels of N addition. The findings indicate the robust relationships of taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity and production and the varying correlations between functional diversity and production under increased N deposition in the temperate steppe, highlighting the importance of a trait-based approach in studying the plant diversity-ecosystem function under global change scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gossaye Hailu Debaba
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Global Change Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Kunyu Li
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Global Change Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Xiaowei Wang
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Global Change Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Yanan Wang
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Global Change Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Wenming Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Guoyong Li
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Global Change Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
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12
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Williams GL, Brewer JS. Naturally diverse plant communities do not resist invasion by the strong competitor, Microstegium vimineum. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2024; 111:e16362. [PMID: 38943238 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.16362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024]
Abstract
PREMISE Theory predicts and empirical studies have shown that ecologically manipulated communities with high species diversity are resistant to invasion, but do these predictions and results hold true when applied to highly competitive invaders in natural communities? Few studies of diversity-mediated invasion resistance have measured both invasion resistance and invader impact in the same study. METHODS We used a two-year field experiment to test: (1) diversity-mediated competitive resistance to patch expansion by the grass, Microstegium vimineum; and (2) the competitive effect of M. vimineum on resident plant diversity. We examined responses of M. vimineum to two native plant density-reduction treatments that had opposite effects on species diversity: (1) reducing species richness via the removal of rare species; and (2) reducing dominance by reducing the density of the dominant resident species. We examined the effects of M. vimineum reduction by pre-emergent herbicide on resident diversity in the second year of the study. RESULTS Neither rare species removal nor dominant species reduction significantly increased M. vimineum density (relative growth rate). The pre-emergent herbicide dramatically reduced M. vimineum in year 2 of the study, but not most resident plants, which were perennials and indirectly benefited from the herbicide at a more productive site, presumably due to reduced competition from M. vimineum. CONCLUSIONS Diversity-mediated resistance did not effectively deter invasion by a highly competitive invader. In the case of M. vimineum and at more productive sites, it would appear that nearly complete removal of this invader is necessary to preserve plant species diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Griffin Lee Williams
- Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, University, 38677-1848, Mississippi, USA
| | - J Stephen Brewer
- Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, University, 38677-1848, Mississippi, USA
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13
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Wang S, Hong P, Adler PB, Allan E, Hautier Y, Schmid B, Spaak JW, Feng Y. Towards mechanistic integration of the causes and consequences of biodiversity. Trends Ecol Evol 2024; 39:689-700. [PMID: 38503639 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2024.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
The global biodiversity crisis has stimulated decades of research on three themes: species coexistence, biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships (BEF), and biodiversity-ecosystem functional stability relationships (BEFS). However, studies on these themes are largely independent, creating barriers to an integrative understanding of the causes and consequences of biodiversity. Here we review recent progress towards mechanistic integration of coexistence, BEF, and BEFS. Mechanisms underlying the three themes can be linked in various ways, potentially creating either positive or negative relationships between them. That said, we generally expect positive associations between coexistence and BEF, and between BEF and BEFS. Our synthesis represents an initial step towards integrating causes and consequences of biodiversity; future developments should include more mechanistic approaches and broader ecological contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaopeng Wang
- Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Science, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
| | - Pubin Hong
- Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Science, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Peter B Adler
- Department of Wildland Resources and the Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Eric Allan
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Altenbergrain 21, 3013 Bern, Switzerland; Centre for Development and Environment, University of Bern, Mittelstrasse 43, Bern 3012, Switzerland
| | - Yann Hautier
- Ecology and Biodiversity Group, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584, CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Bernhard Schmid
- Remote Sensing Laboratories, Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jurg W Spaak
- Landscape ecology, RPTU Kaiserslautern Landau, 76829 Landau, Germany
| | - Yanhao Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China
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14
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Repetto MF, Torchin ME, Ruiz GM, Schlöder C, Freestone AL. Biogeographic and seasonal differences in consumer pressure underlie strong predation in the tropics. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20240868. [PMID: 38955327 PMCID: PMC11334995 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.0868] [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: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Biotic interactions play a critical role in shaping patterns of global biodiversity. While several macroecological studies provide evidence for stronger predation in tropical regions compared with higher latitudes, results are variable even within the tropics, and the drivers of this variability are not well understood. We conducted two complementary standardized experiments on communities of sessile marine invertebrate prey and their associated predators to test for spatial and seasonal differences in predation across the tropical Atlantic and Pacific coastlines of Panama. We further tested the prediction that higher predator diversity contributes to stronger impacts of predation, using both direct observations of predators and data from extensive reef surveys. Our results revealed substantially higher predation rates and stronger effects of predators on prey in the Pacific than in the Atlantic, demonstrating striking variation within tropical regions. While regional predator diversity was high in the Atlantic, functional diversity at local scales was markedly low. Peak predation strength in the Pacific occurred during the wet, non-upwelling season when ocean temperatures were warmer and predator communities were more functionally diverse. Our results highlight the importance of regional biotic and abiotic drivers that shape interaction strength and the maintenance of tropical communities, which are experiencing rapid environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele F. Repetto
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA19122, USA
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancon, Panama
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD21037-0028, USA
| | - Mark E. Torchin
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancon, Panama
| | - Gregory M. Ruiz
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD21037-0028, USA
| | - Carmen Schlöder
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancon, Panama
| | - Amy L. Freestone
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA19122, USA
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancon, Panama
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD21037-0028, USA
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15
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Hu Y, Zhang H, Sun X, Zhang B, Wang Y, Rafiq A, Jia H, Liang C, An S. Impact of grassland degradation on soil multifunctionality: Linking to protozoan network complexity and stability. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 929:172724. [PMID: 38663601 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Soil protozoa, as predators of microbial communities, profoundly influence multifunctionality of soils. Understanding the relationship between soil protozoa and soil multifunctionality (SMF) is crucial to unraveling the driving mechanisms of SMF. However, this relationship remains unclear, particularly in grassland ecosystems that are experiencing degradation. By employing 18S rRNA gene sequencing and network analysis, we examined the diversity, composition, and network patterns of the soil protozoan community along a well-characterized gradient of grassland degradation at four alpine sites, including two alpine meadows (Cuona and Jiuzhi) and two alpine steppes (Shuanghu and Gonghe) on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Our findings showed that grassland degradation decreased SMF for 1-2 times in all four sites but increased soil protozoan diversity (Shannon index) for 13.82-298.01 % in alpine steppes. Grassland degradation-induced changes in soil protozoan composition, particularly to the Intramacronucleata with a large body size, were consistently observed across all four sites. The enhancing network complexity (average degree), stability (robustness), and cooperative relationships (positive correlation) are the responses of protozoa to grassland degradation. Further analyses revealed that the increased network complexity and stability led to a decrease in SMF by affecting microbial biomass. Overall, protozoa increase their diversity and strengthen their cooperative relationships to resist grassland degradation, and emphasize the critical role of protozoan network complexity and stability in regulating SMF. Therefore, not only protozoan diversity and composition but also their interactions should be considered in evaluating SMF responses to grassland degradation, which has important implications for predicting changes in soil function under future scenarios of anthropogenic change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Hu
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; College of Resources and Environment, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
| | - Haolin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dry Land Farming on Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Xinya Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dry Land Farming on Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Bicheng Zhang
- Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, CAS & MWR, Yangling, Shannxi 712100, China; University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yubin Wang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Anum Rafiq
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dry Land Farming on Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Hongtao Jia
- College of Resources and Environment, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
| | - Chao Liang
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Shaoshan An
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dry Land Farming on Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
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16
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Buxton RT, Hudgins EJ, Lavigne E, Villeneuve PJ, Prince SA, Pearson AL, Halsall T, Robichaud C, Bennett JR. Mental health is positively associated with biodiversity in Canadian cities. COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT 2024; 5:310. [PMID: 38873360 PMCID: PMC11166573 DOI: 10.1038/s43247-024-01482-9] [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: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Cities concentrate problems that affect human well-being and biodiversity. Exploring the link between mental health and biodiversity can inform more holistic public health and urban planning. Here we examined associations between bird and tree species diversity estimates from eBird community science datasets and national forest inventories with self-rated mental health metrics from the Canadian Community Health Survey. We linked data across 36 Canadian Metropolitan Areas from 2007-2022 at a postal code level. After controlling for covariates, we found that bird and tree species diversity were significantly positively related to good self-reported mental health. Living in a postal code with bird diversity one standard deviation higher than the mean increased reporting of good mental health by 6.64%. Postal codes with tree species richness one standard deviation more than the mean increased reporting of good mental health by 5.36%. Our results suggest that supporting healthy urban ecosystems may also benefit human well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel T. Buxton
- Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Emma J. Hudgins
- Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON Canada
- School of Agriculture, Food, and Ecosystem Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC Australia
| | - Eric Lavigne
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Paul J. Villeneuve
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, University, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Stephanie A. Prince
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON Canada
- Centre for Surveillance and Applied Research, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Amber L. Pearson
- CS Mott Department of Public Health, Michigan State University, Flint, MI USA
| | - Tanya Halsall
- University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research at the Royal, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Courtney Robichaud
- Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Joseph R. Bennett
- Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON Canada
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17
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Sasanifar S, Alijanpour A, Banj Shafiei A, Eshaghi Rad J, Molaei M. Forest conservation mediating soil quality relationship with diversity of various plant layers in the biosphere of Arasabran, Iran. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 928:172475. [PMID: 38621541 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
The link between biodiversity and ecosystem multi-functionality is an ongoing concern in ecological studies. Ecologists have focused on soil quality (SQ) as an ecosystem function and its relationship to biodiversity. Developing an appropriate and sensitive soil quality index (SQI) is critical, but it is severely restricted particularly in the forests. This study determined the most appropriate SQI for both protected and unprotected areas of Arasbaran biosphere reserve forests (Northwest Iran), as well as its relationship to the diversity of three layers of forest plant species (tree, tree regeneration, and forest floor plant cover), NDVI index, and litter amount. Three approaches were utilized to establish SQI for two types of soil data sets, including total data set (TDS) (pH, EC, SP. OC, caco3, clay, silt, sand, N, P, K, BD, gravel, C·N) and the minimum data sets (MDS) (SP. OC, clay, silt, N, K, BD, C·N): (1) SQI-1 (simple additive), (2) SQI-2 (Nemero quality index), and (3) SQI-3 (weighted additive modeled). Three SQI strategies were assessed using three different methods: Overall Sensitivity Index, Efficiency Index and Sensitivity Index. The findings revealed that the SQI-3 is the best SQI for employing only a limited number of soil properties (MDS). The findings revealed that the SQI-3 has a positive and significant relationship with the Evenness-tree and Taxa-Regeneration in the protected region (P-Value: 0.02). In contrast, the SQI-3 has a negative correlation with the NDVI (Normalized Difference vegetation Index) (P-Value: 0.02) but a positive significant relationship with the litter and Taxa-Grass indicators in the unprotected region (P-Value: 0.00). The study's findings demonstrated that forest preservation affected the link between the SQI and the studied parameters. As a result, it is concluded that biodiversity-ecosystem function is impacted by management changes and cannot be maintained constant under varied management conditions. This shift in the links between plant and SQ emphasizes the fact that plants biodiversity loss and SQ can have particularly severe consequences in non-protective conditions, necessitating biodiversity conservation measures to mitigate the effects of conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samira Sasanifar
- Department of forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
| | - Ahmad Alijanpour
- Department of forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
| | - Abbas Banj Shafiei
- Department of forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
| | - Javad Eshaghi Rad
- Department of forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
| | - Morteza Molaei
- Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
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18
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Maestre FT, Biancari L, Chen N, Corrochano-Monsalve M, Jenerette GD, Nelson C, Shilula KN, Shpilkina Y. Research needs on the biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationship in drylands. NPJ BIODIVERSITY 2024; 3:12. [PMID: 39242863 PMCID: PMC11332164 DOI: 10.1038/s44185-024-00046-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024]
Abstract
Research carried out in drylands over the last decade has provided major insights on the biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationship (BEFr) and about how biodiversity interacts with other important factors, such as climate and soil properties, to determine ecosystem functioning and services. Despite this, there are important gaps in our understanding of the BEFr in drylands that should be addressed by future research. In this perspective we highlight some of these gaps, which include: 1) the need to study the BEFr in bare soils devoid of perennial vascular vegetation and biocrusts, a major feature of dryland ecosystems, 2) evaluating how intra-specific trait variability, a key but understudied facet of functional diversity, modulate the BEFr, 3) addressing the influence of biotic interactions on the BEFr, including plant-animal interactions and those between microorganisms associated to biocrusts, 4) studying how differences in species-area relationships and beta diversity are associated with ecosystem functioning, and 5) considering the role of temporal variability and human activities, both present and past, particularly those linked to land use (e.g., grazing) and urbanization. Tackling these gaps will not only advance our comprehension of the BEFr but will also bolster the effectiveness of management and ecological restoration strategies, crucial for safeguarding dryland ecosystems and the livelihoods of their inhabitants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando T Maestre
- Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
| | - Lucio Biancari
- IFEVA, Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET, Facultad de Agronomía, Av. San Martín 4453, Buenos Aires, C1417DSE, Argentina
- Cátedra de Ecología, Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambiente, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. San Martín 4453, Buenos Aires, C1417DSE, Argentina
| | - Ning Chen
- Instituto Multidisciplinar Para el Estudio del Medio "Ramon Margalef", Universidad de Alicante, Carretera de San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, 03690, San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, No.222, Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Mario Corrochano-Monsalve
- Instituto Multidisciplinar Para el Estudio del Medio "Ramon Margalef", Universidad de Alicante, Carretera de San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, 03690, San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain
- Departamento de Genética, Antropología Física y Fisiología Animal, Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain
| | - G Darrel Jenerette
- Instituto Multidisciplinar Para el Estudio del Medio "Ramon Margalef", Universidad de Alicante, Carretera de San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, 03690, San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Corey Nelson
- Instituto Multidisciplinar Para el Estudio del Medio "Ramon Margalef", Universidad de Alicante, Carretera de San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, 03690, San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain
| | - Kaarina N Shilula
- Instituto Multidisciplinar Para el Estudio del Medio "Ramon Margalef", Universidad de Alicante, Carretera de San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, 03690, San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain
- Departamento de Ecología, Universidad de Alicante, Carretera de San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, 03690, San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain
| | - Yelyzaveta Shpilkina
- Instituto Multidisciplinar Para el Estudio del Medio "Ramon Margalef", Universidad de Alicante, Carretera de San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, 03690, San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain
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19
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Riva F, Haddad N, Fahrig L, Banks-Leite C. Principles for area-based biodiversity conservation. Ecol Lett 2024; 27:e14459. [PMID: 38877751 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Recent international agreements have strengthened and expanded commitments to protect and restore native habitats for biodiversity protection ("area-based biodiversity conservation"). Nevertheless, biodiversity conservation is hindered because how such commitments should be implemented has been strongly debated, which can lead to suboptimal habitat protection decisions. We argue that, despite the debates, there are three essential principles for area-based biodiversity conservation. These principles are related to habitat geographic coverage, amount, and connectivity. They emerge from evidence that, while large areas of nature are important and must be protected, conservation or restoration of multiple small habitat patches is also critical for global conservation, particularly in regions with high land use. We contend that the many area-based conservation initiatives expected in the coming decades should follow the principles we identify, regardless of ongoing debates. Considering the importance of biodiversity for maintenance of ecosystem services, we suggest that this would bring widespread societal benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Riva
- Institute for Environmental Studies, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Nick Haddad
- Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University, Hickory Corners, Michigan, USA
| | - Lenore Fahrig
- Geomatic and Landscape Ecology Research Laboratory, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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20
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Sasaki T, Berdugo M, Kinugasa T, Batdelger G, Baasandai E, Eisenhauer N. Aridity-dependent shifts in biodiversity-stability relationships but not in underlying mechanisms. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17365. [PMID: 38864217 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Climate change will affect the way biodiversity influences the stability of plant communities. Although biodiversity, associated species asynchrony, and species stability could enhance community stability, the understanding of potential nonlinear shifts in the biodiversity-stability relationship across a wide range of aridity (measured as the aridity index, the precipitation/potential evapotranspiration ratio) gradients and the underlying mechanisms remain limited. Using an 8-year dataset from 687 sites in Mongolia, which included 5496 records of vegetation and productivity, we found that the temporal stability of plant communities decreased more rapidly in more arid areas than in less arid areas. The result suggests that future aridification across terrestrial ecosystems may adversely affect community stability. Additionally, we identified nonlinear shifts in the effects of species richness and species synchrony on temporal community stability along the aridity gradient. Species synchrony was a primary driver of community stability, which was consistently negatively affected by species richness while being positively affected by the synchrony between C3 and C4 species across the aridity gradient. These results highlight the crucial role of C4 species in stabilizing communities through differential responses to interannual climate variations between C3 and C4 species. Notably, species richness and the synchrony between C3 and C4 species independently regulated species synchrony, ultimately affecting community stability. We propose that maintaining plant communities with a high diversity of C3 and C4 species will be key to enhancing community stability across Mongolian grasslands. Moreover, species synchrony, species stability, species richness and the synchrony between C3 and C4 species across the aridity gradient consistently mediated the impacts of aridity on community stability. Hence, strategies aimed at promoting the maintenance of biological diversity and composition will help ecosystems adapt to climate change or mitigate its adverse effects on ecosystem stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takehiro Sasaki
- Graduate School of Environment and Information Sciences, Yokohama National University, Yokohama, Japan
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Yokohama National University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Miguel Berdugo
- Department of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Environment Systems Science, Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | - Gantsetseg Batdelger
- Information and Research Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Environment (IRIMHE) of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
| | - Erdenetsetseg Baasandai
- Information and Research Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Environment (IRIMHE) of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
| | - Nico Eisenhauer
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Yokohama National University, Yokohama, Japan
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21
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Zhou J, Feng Y, Wu X, Feng Y, Zhao Y, Pan J, Liu S. Communication leads to bacterial heterogeneous adaptation to changing conditions in partial nitrification reactor. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 927:172110. [PMID: 38565348 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Recently, it is reported that bacterial communication coordinates the whole consortia to jointly resist the adverse environments. Here, we found the bacterial communication inevitably distinguished bacterial adaptation among different species in partial nitrification reactor under decreasing temperatures. We operated a partial nitrification reactor under temperature gradient from 30 °C to 5 °C and found the promotion of bacterial communication on adaptation of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) was greater than that of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB). Signal pathways with single-component sensing protein in AOB can regulate more genes involved in bacterial adaptation than that with two-component sensing protein in NOB. The negative effects of bacterial communication, which were seriously ignored, have been highlighted, and Clp regulator downstream diffusible signal factor (DSF) based signal pathways worked as transcription activators and inhibitors of adaptation genes in AOB and NOB respectively. Bacterial communication can induce differential adaptation through influencing bacterial interactions. AOB inclined to cooperate with DSF synthesis bacteria as temperature declined, however, cooperation between NOB and DSF synthesis bacteria inclined to get weakening. According to the regulatory effects of signal pathways, bacterial survival strategies for self-protection were revealed. This study hints a potential way to govern niche differentiation in the microbiota by bacterial communication, contributing to forming an efficient artificial ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhang Zhou
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Ying Feng
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Xiaogang Wu
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yiming Feng
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yunpeng Zhao
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Juejun Pan
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Sitong Liu
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of All Material Fluxes in River Ecosystems, Beijing 100871, China.
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22
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Goodale E, Magrath RD. Species diversity and interspecific information flow. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:999-1014. [PMID: 38279871 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13055] [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: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/29/2024]
Abstract
Interspecific information flow is known to affect individual fitness, population dynamics and community assembly, but there has been less study of how species diversity affects information flow and thereby ecosystem functioning and services. We address this question by first examining differences among species in the sensitivity, accuracy, transmissibility, detectability and value of the cues and signals they produce, and in how they receive, store and use information derived from heterospecifics. We then review how interspecific information flow occurs in communities, involving a diversity of species and sensory modes, and how this flow can affect ecosystem-level functions, such as decomposition, seed dispersal or algae removal on coral reefs. We highlight evidence that some keystone species are particularly critical as a source of information used by eavesdroppers, and so have a disproportionate effect on information flow. Such keystone species include community informants producing signals, particularly about predation risk, that influence other species' landscapes of fear, and aggregation initiators creating cues or signals about resources. We suggest that the presence of keystone species means that there will likely be a positive relationship in many communities between species diversity and information through a 'sampling effect', in which larger pools of species are more likely to include the keystone species by chance. We then consider whether the number and relative abundance of species, irrespective of the presence of keystone species, matter to interspecific information flow; on this issue, the theory is less developed, and the evidence scant and indirect. Higher diversity could increase the quantity or quality of information that is used by eavesdroppers because redundancy increases the reliability of information or because the species provide complementary information. Alternatively, there could be a lack of a relationship between species diversity and information if there is widespread information parasitism where users are not sources, or if information sourced from heterospecifics is of lower value than that gained personally or sourced from conspecifics. Recent research suggests that species diversity does have information-modulated community and ecosystem consequences, especially in birds, such as the diversity of species at feeders increasing resource exploitation, or the number of imitated species increasing responses to vocal mimics. A first step for future research includes comprehensive observations of information flow among different taxa and habitats. Then studies should investigate whether species diversity influences the cumulative quality or quantity of information at the community level, and consequently ecosystem-level processes. An applied objective is to conserve species in part for their value as sources of information for other species, including for humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eben Goodale
- Department of Health and Environmental Science, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Robert D Magrath
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2600, Australia
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23
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Li C, Lambers H, Jing J, Zhang C, Bezemer TM, Klironomos J, Cong WF, Zhang F. Belowground cascading biotic interactions trigger crop diversity benefits. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024:S1360-1385(24)00115-8. [PMID: 38821841 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2024.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Crop diversification practices offer numerous synergistic benefits. So far, research has traditionally been confined to exploring isolated, unidirectional single-process interactions among plants, soil, and microorganisms. Here, we present a novel and systematic perspective, unveiling the intricate web of plant-soil-microbiome interactions that trigger cascading effects. Applying the principles of cascading interactions can be an alternative way to overcome soil obstacles such as soil compaction and soil pathogen pressure. Finally, we introduce a research framework comprising the design of diversified cropping systems by including commercial varieties and crops with resource-efficient traits, the exploration of cascading effects, and the innovation of field management. We propose that this provides theoretical and methodological insights that can reveal new mechanisms by which crop diversity increases productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunjie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Hans Lambers
- State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; School of Biological Sciences and Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Jingying Jing
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, 100193 Beijing, China
| | - Chaochun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - T Martijn Bezemer
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, 2333, BE, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - John Klironomos
- Department of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, American University of Sharjah, PO Box 26666, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Wen-Feng Cong
- State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
| | - Fusuo Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Nutrient Use and Management, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
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24
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Cheng C, Liu Z, Song W, Chen X, Zhang Z, Li B, van Kleunen M, Wu J. Biodiversity increases resistance of grasslands against plant invasions under multiple environmental changes. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4506. [PMID: 38802365 PMCID: PMC11130343 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48876-z] [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: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Biodiversity often helps communities resist invasion. However, it is unclear whether this diversity-invasion relationship holds true under environmental changes. Here, we conduct a meta-analysis of 1010 observations from 25 grassland studies in which plant species richness is manipulated together with one or more environmental change factors to test invasibility (measured by biomass or cover of invaders). We find that biodiversity increases resistance to invaders across various environmental conditions. However, the positive biodiversity effect on invasion resistance is strengthened under experimental warming, whereas it is weakened under experimentally imposed drought. When multiple factors are imposed simultaneously, the positive biodiversity effect is strengthened. Overall, we show that biodiversity helps grassland communities resist plant invasions under multiple environmental changes. Therefore, investment in the protection and restoration of native biodiversity is not only important for prevention of invasions under current conditions but also under continued global environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cai Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, National Observations and Research Station of Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, Institute of Biodiversity Science and Institute of Eco-Chongming, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Zekang Liu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, National Observations and Research Station of Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, Institute of Biodiversity Science and Institute of Eco-Chongming, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Wei Song
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, National Observations and Research Station of Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, Institute of Biodiversity Science and Institute of Eco-Chongming, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Xue Chen
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, National Observations and Research Station of Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, Institute of Biodiversity Science and Institute of Eco-Chongming, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Zhijie Zhang
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, 78464, Germany
| | - Bo Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Transboundary Ecosecurity of Southwest China, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plant Reproductive Adaptation and Evolutionary Ecology and Centre for Invasion Biology, Institute of Biodiversity, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650504, China
| | - Mark van Kleunen
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, 78464, Germany
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation, Taizhou University, Taizhou, 318000, China
| | - Jihua Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
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25
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Vafeiadou AM, Geldhof K, Barhdadi W, Baetens JM, De Baets B, Moens T, Daly AJ. Temperature-driven dynamics: unraveling the impact of climate change on cryptic species interactions within the Litoditis marina complex. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17324. [PMID: 38784398 PMCID: PMC11114120 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic climate change and the associated increase in sea temperatures are projected to greatly impact marine ecosystems. Temperature variation can influence the interactions between species, leading to cascading effects on the abundance, diversity and composition of communities. Such changes in community structure can have consequences on ecosystem stability, processes and the services it provides. Therefore, it is important to better understand the role of species interactions in the development of communities and how they are influenced by environmental factors like temperature. The coexistence of closely related cryptic species, with significant biological and ecological differences, makes this even more complex. This study investigated the effect of temperature on species growth and both intra- and interspecific interactions of three species within the free-living nematode Litoditis marina complex. To achieve this, closed microcosm experiments were conducted on the L. marina species Pm I, Pm III and Pm IV in monoculture and combined cultures at two temperature treatments of 15 °C and 20 °C. A population model was constructed to elucidate and quantify the effects of intra- and interspecific interactions on nematode populations. The relative competitive abilities of the investigated species were quantified using the Modern Coexistence Theory (MCT) framework. Temperature had strong and disparate effects on the population growth of the distinct L. marina species. This indicates temperature could play an important role in the distribution of these cryptic species. Both competitive and facilitative interactions were observed in the experiments. Temperature affected both the type and the strength of the species interactions, suggesting a change in temperature could impact the coexistence of these closely related species, alter community dynamics and consequently affect ecosystem processes and services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Maria Vafeiadou
- Department of Biology, Marine Biology Research Group, Universiteit Gent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kevin Geldhof
- Department of Biology, Marine Biology Research Group, Universiteit Gent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wissam Barhdadi
- Department of Data Analysis and Mathematical Modelling, Universiteit Gent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jan M. Baetens
- Department of Data Analysis and Mathematical Modelling, Universiteit Gent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bernard De Baets
- Department of Data Analysis and Mathematical Modelling, Universiteit Gent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tom Moens
- Department of Biology, Marine Biology Research Group, Universiteit Gent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Aisling J. Daly
- Department of Data Analysis and Mathematical Modelling, Universiteit Gent, Ghent, Belgium
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26
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Nishisaka CS, Ventura JP, Bais HP, Mendes R. Role of Bacillus subtilis exopolymeric genes in modulating rhizosphere microbiome assembly. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME 2024; 19:33. [PMID: 38745256 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-024-00567-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bacillus subtilis is well known for promoting plant growth and reducing abiotic and biotic stresses. Mutant gene-defective models can be created to understand important traits associated with rhizosphere fitness. This study aimed to analyze the role of exopolymeric genes in modulating tomato rhizosphere microbiome assembly under a gradient of soil microbiome diversities using the B. subtilis wild-type strain UD1022 and its corresponding mutant strain UD1022eps-TasA, which is defective in exopolysaccharide (EPS) and TasA protein production. RESULTS qPCR revealed that the B. subtilis UD1022eps-TasA- strain has a diminished capacity to colonize tomato roots in soils with diluted microbial diversity. The analysis of bacterial β-diversity revealed significant differences in bacterial and fungal community structures following inoculation with either the wild-type or mutant B. subtilis strains. The Verrucomicrobiota, Patescibacteria, and Nitrospirota phyla were more enriched with the wild-type strain inoculation than with the mutant inoculation. Co-occurrence analysis revealed that when the mutant was inoculated in tomato, the rhizosphere microbial community exhibited a lower level of modularity, fewer nodes, and fewer communities compared to communities inoculated with wild-type B. subtilis. CONCLUSION This study advances our understanding of the EPS and TasA genes, which are not only important for root colonization but also play a significant role in shaping rhizosphere microbiome assembly. Future research should concentrate on specific microbiome genetic traits and their implications for rhizosphere colonization, coupled with rhizosphere microbiome modulation. These efforts will be crucial for optimizing PGPR-based approaches in agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Sayuri Nishisaka
- Embrapa Environment, Jaguariúna, SP, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Agricultural Microbiology, College of Agriculture "Luiz de Queiroz", University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
| | - João Paulo Ventura
- Embrapa Environment, Jaguariúna, SP, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Agricultural Microbiology, College of Agriculture "Luiz de Queiroz", University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
| | - Harsh P Bais
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
- Ammon Pinizzotto Biopharmaceutical Innovation Center (BPI), Newark, DE, USA
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27
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Silliman BR, Hensel MJS, Gibert JP, Daleo P, Smith CS, Wieczynski DJ, Angelini C, Paxton AB, Adler AM, Zhang YS, Altieri AH, Palmer TM, Jones HP, Gittman RK, Griffin JN, O'Connor MI, van de Koppel J, Poulsen JR, Rietkerk M, He Q, Bertness MD, van der Heide T, Valdez SR. Harnessing ecological theory to enhance ecosystem restoration. Curr Biol 2024; 34:R418-R434. [PMID: 38714175 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.03.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
Ecosystem restoration can increase the health and resilience of nature and humanity. As a result, the international community is championing habitat restoration as a primary solution to address the dual climate and biodiversity crises. Yet most ecosystem restoration efforts to date have underperformed, failed, or been burdened by high costs that prevent upscaling. To become a primary, scalable conservation strategy, restoration efficiency and success must increase dramatically. Here, we outline how integrating ten foundational ecological theories that have not previously received much attention - from hierarchical facilitation to macroecology - into ecosystem restoration planning and management can markedly enhance restoration success. We propose a simple, systematic approach to determining which theories best align with restoration goals and are most likely to bolster their success. Armed with a century of advances in ecological theory, restoration practitioners will be better positioned to more cost-efficiently and effectively rebuild the world's ecosystems and support the resilience of our natural resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian R Silliman
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA.
| | - Marc J S Hensel
- Biological Sciences Department, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, VA 23062, USA; Nature Coast Biological Station, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Cedar Key, FL 32625, USA
| | - Jean P Gibert
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Pedro Daleo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), FCEyN, UNMdP-CONICET, CC 1260 Correo Central, B7600WAG, Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Carter S Smith
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
| | | | - Christine Angelini
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Avery B Paxton
- National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 101 Pivers Island Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
| | - Alyssa M Adler
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
| | - Y Stacy Zhang
- Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Andrew H Altieri
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Todd M Palmer
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Holly P Jones
- Department of Biological Sciences and Institute for the Study of the Environment, Sustainability, and Energy, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, USA
| | - Rachel K Gittman
- Department of Biology and Coastal Studies Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - John N Griffin
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, Wales, UK
| | - Mary I O'Connor
- Department of Zoology and Biodiversity Research Centre, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6R 1W4, Canada
| | - Johan van de Koppel
- Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Yerseke, The Netherlands; Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - John R Poulsen
- The Nature Conservancy, 2424 Spruce Street, Boulder, CO 80302, USA; Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, PO Box 90328, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Max Rietkerk
- Department Environmental Sciences, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Qiang He
- Coastal Ecology Lab, MOE Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Mark D Bertness
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Brown University, 90 Witman Street, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Tjisse van der Heide
- Department of Coastal Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Den Burg, The Netherlands; Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Stephanie R Valdez
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
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28
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Liang M, Lamy T, Reuman DC, Wang S, Bell TW, Cavanaugh KC, Castorani MCN. A marine heatwave changes the stabilizing effects of biodiversity in kelp forests. Ecology 2024; 105:e4288. [PMID: 38522859 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.4288] [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: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Biodiversity can stabilize ecological communities through biological insurance, but climate and other environmental changes may disrupt this process via simultaneous ecosystem destabilization and biodiversity loss. While changes to diversity-stability relationships (DSRs) and the underlying mechanisms have been extensively explored in terrestrial plant communities, this topic remains largely unexplored in benthic marine ecosystems that comprise diverse assemblages of producers and consumers. By analyzing two decades of kelp forest biodiversity survey data, we discovered changes in diversity, stability, and their relationships at multiple scales (biological organizational levels, spatial scales, and functional groups) that were linked with the most severe marine heatwave ever documented in the North Pacific Ocean. Moreover, changes in the strength of DSRs during/after the heatwave were more apparent among functional groups than both biological organizational levels (population vs. ecosystem levels) and spatial scales (local vs. broad scales). Specifically, the strength of DSRs decreased for fishes, increased for mobile invertebrates and understory algae, and were unchanged for sessile invertebrates during/after the heatwave. Our findings suggest that biodiversity plays a key role in stabilizing marine ecosystems, but the resilience of DSRs to adverse climate impacts primarily depends on the functional identities of ecological communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maowei Liang
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, University of Minnesota, East Bethel, Minnesota, USA
| | - Thomas Lamy
- MARBEC, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Daniel C Reuman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Center for Ecological Research, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Shaopeng Wang
- Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Tom W Bell
- Department of Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kyle C Cavanaugh
- Department of Geography, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Max C N Castorani
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
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29
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Cui Z, Sun J, Wu GL. Plant diversity increases spatial stability of aboveground productivity in alpine grasslands. Oecologia 2024; 205:27-38. [PMID: 38652294 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-024-05552-9] [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: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Plant diversity can significantly affect the grassland productivity and its stability. However, it remains unclear how plant diversity affects the spatial stability of natural grassland productivity, especially in alpine regions that are sensitive to climate change. We analyzed the interaction between plant (species richness and productivity, etc.) and climatic factors (precipitation, temperature, and moisture index, etc.) of alpine natural grassland on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. In addition, we tested the relationship between plant diversity and spatial stability of grassland productivity. Results showed that an increase in plant diversity significantly enhanced community productivity and its standard deviation, while reducing the coefficient of variation in productivity. The influence of plant diversity on productivity and the reciprocal of productivity variability coefficient was not affected by vegetation types. The absolute values of the regression slopes between climate factors and productivity in alpine meadow communities with higher plant diversity were smaller than those in alpine meadow communities with lower plant diversity. In other words, alpine meadow communities with higher plant diversity exhibited a weaker response to climatic factors in terms of productivity, whereas those with lower plant diversity showed a stronger response. Our results indicate that high plant diversity buffers the impact of ambient pressure (e.g., precipitation, temperature) on alpine meadow productivity, and significantly enhanced the spatial stability of grassland productivity. This finding provides a theoretical basis for maintaining the stability of grassland ecosystems and scientifically managing alpine grasslands under the continuous climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeng Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming On the Loess Plateau, College of Soil and Water Conservation Science and Engineering (Institute of Soil and Water Conservation), Northwest A & F University, Yangling, 712100, China
- Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jian Sun
- Key Laboratory of Alpine Ecology and Biodiversity, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Gao-Lin Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming On the Loess Plateau, College of Soil and Water Conservation Science and Engineering (Institute of Soil and Water Conservation), Northwest A & F University, Yangling, 712100, China.
- Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China.
- CAS Center for Excellence in Quaternary Science and Global Change, Xi'an, 710061, China.
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30
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de Bruin T, De Laender F, Jadoul J, Schtickzelle N. Intraspecific demographic and trait responses to environmental change drivers are linked in two species of ciliate. BMC Ecol Evol 2024; 24:47. [PMID: 38632521 PMCID: PMC11022343 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-024-02241-2] [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: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Over the past decade, theory and observations have suggested intraspecific variation, trait-based differences within species, as a buffer against biodiversity loss from multiple environmental changes. This buffering effect can only occur when different populations of the same species respond differently to environmental change. More specifically, variation of demographic responses fosters buffering of demography, while variation of trait responses fosters buffering of functioning. Understanding how both responses are related is important for predicting biodiversity loss and its consequences. In this study, we aimed to empirically assess whether population-level trait responses to multiple environmental change drivers are related to the demographic response to these drivers. To this end, we measured demographic and trait responses in microcosm experiments with two species of ciliated protists. For three clonal strains of each species, we measured responses to two environmental change drivers (climate change and pollution) and their combination. We also examined if relationships between demographic and trait responses existed across treatments and strains. RESULTS We found different demographic responses across strains of the same species but hardly any interactive effects between the two environmental change drivers. Also, trait responses (summarized in a survival strategy index) varied among strains within a species, again with no driver interactions. Demographic and trait responses were related across all strains of both species tested in this study: Increasing intrinsic growth and self-limitation were associated with a shift in survival strategy from sit-and-wait towards flee. CONCLUSIONS Our results support the existence of a link between a population's demographic and trait responses to environmental change drivers in two species of ciliate. Future work could dive deeper into the specifics of phenotypical trait values, and changes therein, related to specific life strategies in different species of ciliate and other zooplankton grazers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa de Bruin
- Earth and Life Institute (ELI), Biodiversity Research Center (BDIV), Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain‑La‑Neuve, Belgium.
| | - Frederik De Laender
- Research Unit in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology (URBE), Institute of Life-Earth-Environment (ILEE), Namur Institute for Complex Systems (NAXYS), Université de Namur, Namur, Belgium
| | - Julie Jadoul
- Earth and Life Institute (ELI), Biodiversity Research Center (BDIV), Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain‑La‑Neuve, Belgium
| | - Nicolas Schtickzelle
- Earth and Life Institute (ELI), Biodiversity Research Center (BDIV), Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain‑La‑Neuve, Belgium
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Wu S, Lu J, Li C, Du H, Xu Y. Pediococcus spp. -mediated competition interaction within Daqu microbiota determines the temperature formation and metabolic profiles. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0179023. [PMID: 38506521 PMCID: PMC11022566 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01790-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Fermented microbiota is critical to the formation of microenvironment and metabolic profiles in spontaneous fermentation. Microorganisms generate a diverse array of metabolites concurrent with the release of heat energy. In the case of Daqu fermentation, the peak temperature exceeded 60°C, forming a typical high-temperature fermentation system known as high-temperature Daqu. However, microorganisms that cause the quality variation in Daqu and how they affect the functional microbiota and microenvironment in the fermentation process are not yet clear. This study adopted high-throughput sequencing and monitored the dynamic fluctuations of metabolites and environmental factors to identify the pivotal microorganism responsible for the alterations in interaction patterns of functional keystone taxa and quality decline in the fermentation system of different operational areas during the in situ fermentation process that had been mainly attributed to operational taxonomic unit (OTU)_22 (Pediococcus acidilactici). Additionally, we used isothermal microcalorimetry, plate inhibition experiments, and in vitro simulation fermentation experiments to explore the impact of Pediococcus spp. on heat generation, microorganisms, and metabolite profiles. Results showed the heat peak generated by Pediococcus spp. was significantly lower than that of Bacillus spp., filamentous fungi, and yeast. In addition, the preferential growth of P. acidilactici strain AA3 would obviously affect other strains to colonize through competition, and its metabolites made a significant impact on filamentous fungi. The addition of P. acidilactici strain AA3 in simulated fermentation would cause the loss of pyrazines and acids in metabolites. These evidences showed that the overgrowth of Pediococcus spp. greatly influenced the formation of high temperatures and compounds in solid-state fermentation systems. Our work illustrated the vital impact of interaction variability mediated by Pediococcus spp. for microbial assembly and metabolites, as well as in forming temperature. These results emphasized the functional role of Daqu microbiota in metabolites and heat production and the importance of cooperation in improving the fermentation quality.IMPORTANCEThe stable and high-quality saccharifying and fermenting starter in traditional solid-state fermentation was the prerequisite for liquor brewing. An imbalance of microbial homeostasis in fermentation can adversely impact production quality. Identification of such critical microorganisms and verifying their associations with other fermentation parameters pose a challenge in a traditional fermentation environment. To enhance the quality of spontaneous fermented products, strategies such as bioaugmentation or the control of harmful microorganisms would be employed. This work started with the differences in high-temperature Daqu metabolites to explore a series of functional microorganisms that could potentially contribute to product disparities, and found that the differences in interactions facilitated directly or indirectly by Pediococcus spp. seriously affected the development of microbial communities and metabolites, as well as the formation of the microenvironment. This study not only identified functional microbiota in Daqu that affected fermentation quality, but also demonstrated how microorganisms interact to affect the fermentation system, which would provide guidance for microbial supervision in the actual production process. Besides, the application of isothermal microcalorimetry in this study was helpful for us to understand the heat production capacity of microorganisms and their adaptability to the environment. This study presented a commendable framework for improving and controlling the quality of traditional fermentation and inspired further investigations in similar systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shenglu Wu
- Lab of Brewing Microbiology and Applied Enzymology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jun Lu
- Guizhou Guotai Liquor Group Co. Ltd., Zunyi, Guizhou, China
| | - Changwen Li
- Guizhou Guotai Liquor Group Co. Ltd., Zunyi, Guizhou, China
| | - Hai Du
- Lab of Brewing Microbiology and Applied Enzymology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yan Xu
- Lab of Brewing Microbiology and Applied Enzymology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
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Sun C, Yao J, Xu H, Zhou C, Zang R. Assessing the functional vulnerability of woody plant communities within a large scale tropical rainforest dynamics plot. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1372122. [PMID: 38693923 PMCID: PMC11061514 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1372122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Tropical forests are characterized by intricate mosaics of species-rich and structurally complex forest communities. Evaluating the functional vulnerability of distinct community patches is of significant importance in establishing conservation priorities within tropical forests. However, previous assessments of functional vulnerability in tropical forests have often focused solely on isolated factors or individual disturbance events, with limited consideration for a broad spectrum of disturbances and the responses of diverse species. Methods We assessed the functional vulnerability of woody plant communities in a 60-ha dynamic plot within a tropical montane rainforest by conducting in silico simulations of a wide range disturbances. These simulations combined plant functional traits and community properties, including the distribution of functional redundancy across the entire trait space, the distribution of abundance across species, and the relationship between species trait distinctiveness and species abundance. We also investigated the spatial distribution patterns of functional vulnerability and their scale effects, and employed a spatial autoregressive model to examine the relationships between both biotic and abiotic factors and functional vulnerability at different scales. Results The functional vulnerability of tropical montane rainforest woody plant communities was generally high (the functional vulnerability of observed communities was very close to that of the most vulnerable virtual community, with a value of 72.41% on average at the 20m×20m quadrat scale), and they exhibited significant spatial heterogeneity. Functional vulnerability decreased with increasing spatial scale and the influence of both biotic and abiotic factors on functional vulnerability was regulated by spatial scale, with soil properties playing a dominant role. Discussion Our study provides new specific insights into the comprehensive assessment of functional vulnerability in the tropical rainforest. We highlighted that functional vulnerabilities of woody plant communities and their sensitivity to environmental factors varied significantly within and across spatial scales in the tropical rainforest landscape. Preserving and maintaining the functionality of tropical ecosystems should take into consideration the variations in functional vulnerability among different plant communities and their sensitivity to environmental factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Sun
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jie Yao
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Han Xu
- Research Institute of Tropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chaofan Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Runguo Zang
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
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Luo Q, Li S, Kinouchi T, Wu N, Fu X, Ling C, Cai Q, Chiu MC, Resh VH. Existing levels of biodiversity and river location may determine changes from small hydropower developments. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 357:120697. [PMID: 38565031 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Global ecosystems are facing anthropogenic threats that affect their ecological functions and biodiversity. However, we still lack an understanding of how biodiversity can mediate the responses of ecosystems or communities to human disturbance across spatial gradients. Here, we examined how existing, spatial patterns of biodiversity influence the ecological effects of small hydropower plants (SHPs) on macroinvertebrates in river ecosystems. This study found that levels of biodiversity (e.g., number of species) can influence the degrees of its alterations by SHPs occurring along elevational gradients. The results of the study reveal that the construction of SHPs has various effects on biodiversity. For example, low-altitude areas with low biodiversity (species richness less than 12) showed a small increase in biodiversity compared to high-altitude areas (species richness more than 12) under SHP disturbances. The increases in the effective habitat area of the river segment could be a driver of the enhanced biodiversity in response to SHP effects. Changes in the numerically dominant species contributed to the overall level of community variation from disturbances. Location-specific strategies may mitigate the effects of SHPs and perhaps other disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingyi Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430061, China; College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100084, China; Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, 152-8550, Japan.
| | - Shuyin Li
- Yangtze River Basin Ecological Environment Monitoring and Scientific Research Center, Yangtze River Basin Ecological Environment Supervision and Administration Bureau, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Wuhan, 430010, China; Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, 152-8550, Japan.
| | - Tsuyoshi Kinouchi
- Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, 152-8550, Japan.
| | - Naicheng Wu
- Department of Geography and Spatial Information Techniques, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China.
| | - Xiaocheng Fu
- Shanghai Nuclear Engineering Research & Design Institute Co., LTD., Shanghai, 200233, China.
| | - Chang Ling
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430061, China; College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Qinghua Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430061, China.
| | - Ming-Chih Chiu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430061, China.
| | - Vincent H Resh
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, 94720, USA.
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Qiu J, Zhang Y, Ma J. Wetland habitats supporting waterbird diversity: Conservation perspective on biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationship. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 357:120663. [PMID: 38552509 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Wetlands, as core habitats for supporting waterbird diversity, provide a variety of ecosystem services through diverse ecosystem functioning. Wetland degradation and wetland-habitat loss undermine the relationship between biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF), affecting the diversity of habitats and waterbirds. The conservation of waterbird diversity is closely linked to the proper functioning of wetland ecosystems (nutrient cycling, energy storage, and productivity). Waterbirds have complex habitat preferences and sensitivities, which affect biotic interactions. By highlighting the importance of temporal and spatial scales guided by BEF, a habitat-waterbird conservation framework is presented (BEF relationships are described at three levels: habitat, primary producers, and waterbird diversity). We present a novel perspective on habitat conservation for waterbirds by incorporating research on the effects of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning to address the crucial challenges in global waterbird diversity loss, ecosystem degradation, and habitat conservation. Last, it is imperative to prioritize strategies of habitat protection with the incorporation of BEF for future waterbird conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Qiu
- Department of Landscape Architecture, Gold Mantis School of Architecture, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.
| | - Yixin Zhang
- Department of Landscape Architecture, Gold Mantis School of Architecture, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China; Sino-Portugal Joint Laboratory of Cultural Heritage Conservation Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.
| | - Jianwu Ma
- Department of Landscape Architecture, Gold Mantis School of Architecture, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.
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Wang L, Tan L, Cai Q. Distinct differences of vertical phytoplankton community structure in mainstream and a tributary bay of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1381798. [PMID: 38584942 PMCID: PMC10995247 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1381798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
The vertical distribution of phytoplankton plays a crucial role in shaping the dynamics and structure of aquatic communities. In highly dynamic reservoir systems, water level fluctuations significantly affect the physiochemical conditions and the phytoplankton community. However, the specific effects on the vertical characteristics of phytoplankton between the mainstream and the tributary bay of the reservoir remain unstudied. This study investigated the vertical aspects of phytoplankton density, biomass, α and β diversity through monthly sampling over two years in the mainstream (Chang Jiang, CJ) and a tributary bay (Xiang Xi, XX) of the Three Gorges Reservoir in China. Phytoplankton density and biomass were significantly higher in XX, indicating an increased risk of algal blooms in the tributary. The phytoplankton community in CJ showed more stable species-environment relationships, a lower Shannon index and a higher evenness index, suggesting a relatively simple structure and a more uniform distribution of phytoplankton among different water layers. Conversely, XX showed greater differences between water layers (higher β diversity), with significant negative correlations with water level and positive correlations with DO difference, dissolved silica (DSi) difference, and stratification. Peak phytoplankton density and biomass, as well as high β diversity in XX, occurred during periods of decreased water levels with strong stratification in spring and summer. A structural equation model complemented by path analysis revealed that a decrease in water level could increase β diversity either directly through internal processes with extended residence time or indirectly by modifying stratification and the vertical distribution of DSi in XX. Therefore, a proposed water quality management strategy for XX was to increase the water level or reduce β diversity by implementing artificial mixing during stratification periods. Overall, this study lies in its comprehensive investigation of the vertical characteristics of the phytoplankton community in both the mainstream and the tributary bay of the Three Gorges Reservoir, elucidating the significant impact of water level fluctuations and providing insights for targeted water quality management strategies in the tributary bay to mitigate potential ecological impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Wetland Evolution & Ecological Restoration, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Lu Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Qinghua Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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Liu B, Yao J, Xu Y, Huang J, Ding Y, Zang R. Latitudinal variation and driving factors of above-ground carbon proportion of large trees in old-growth forests across China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 917:170586. [PMID: 38301777 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Large trees play a vital role in forest carbon stocks, dominating the distribution of community biomass. However, climate change and deforestation are reducing large trees globally, resulting in regional differences in their contribution to carbon stocks. Here, we examined the latitudinal change pattern and drivers of large trees' contributions to stand carbon stocks. Above-ground carbon storage was calculated for 530 plots in old-growth forests across China. Linear regression was used to calculate latitudinal variation in the proportion of above-ground carbon in large trees (i.e., AGC proportion). Variance partitioning and multiple linear regression were used to calculate the relative importance of species diversity, stand structure, functional traits, and environmental factors to AGC proportion. The study found that AGC proportion decreased with increasing latitude, averaging at 64.44 %. Stand structure, particularly the coefficient of variation of DBH, was identified as the key drivers of the AGC proportion. The number of common species (Hill's 1D) had no direct effect on the AGC proportion, while wood density, maximum tree height, and leaf nitrogen-to‑phosphorus ratio showed negative effects. The mass-ratio effects on AGC proportion were stronger than diversity effects. Climate variables primarily affected the AGC proportion through stand variables. These results indicate that simultaneously managing high diversity and AGC proportion may pose challenges. Moreover, considering the substantial contribution of large trees to carbon stocks, their storage capacity and sensitivity to environmental changes exert significant control over forest carbon cycles. Therefore, preserving and enhancing the carbon sink function of old-growth forests in the face of climate change and disturbance may depend primarily on protecting existing large trees and soon-to-be large-diameter trees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Jie Yao
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Yue Xu
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Jihong Huang
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Yi Ding
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Runguo Zang
- Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China.
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Wang X, Chen S, Yang X, Zhu R, Liu M, Wang R, He N. Adaptation mechanisms of leaf vein traits to drought in grassland plants. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 917:170224. [PMID: 38246381 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Leaf veins play an important role in water transport, and are closely associated with photosynthesis and transpiration. Resource heterogeneity in the environment, particularly in water resources, causes changes in leaf vein structure and function, thereby affecting plant growth and community assemblages. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the spatial variation and evolutionary mechanisms of leaf veins in natural communities. Natural communities are composed of dominant and non-dominant species. However, few studies to date have explored the trait variation of dominant and non-dominant species on a large scale. In this study, we set up 10 sampling sites along the water gradient (from east to west) in the Loess Plateau of China, and measured and calculated the vein density (vein length per unit area, VLA), vein diameter (VD), and vein volume ratio (VVR) of 173 species, including dominant and non-dominant species. The mean values of VLA, VD, and VVR were 10.95 mm mm-2, 22.24 μm, and 3%, respectively. VD and VVR of the dominant species were significantly higher than those of the non-dominant species. Unexpectedly, there was no significant change in the VLA with the water gradient, although the VD increased with drought. Leaf vein traits did not change significantly with evolution. There was a significant trade-off between VLA and VD. Our findings demonstrate that the response of veins to environmental changes is dependent on the degree of drought and provide new insights for further large-scale studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaochun Wang
- College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Shuang Chen
- College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Xue Yang
- College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Rong Zhu
- College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Miao Liu
- College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Ruili Wang
- College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Qinling National Forest Ecosystem Research Station, Yangling, Shaanxi 711600, China.
| | - Nianpeng He
- Key Laboratory of Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management-Ministry of Education, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China.
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Li H, Chen J, Yu L, Fan G, Li T, Li L, Yuan H, Wang J, Wang C, Li D, Lin S. In situ community transcriptomics illuminates CO 2-fixation potentials and supporting roles of phagotrophy and proton pump in plankton in a subtropical marginal sea. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0217723. [PMID: 38319114 PMCID: PMC10913738 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02177-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Lineage-wise physiological activities of plankton communities in the ocean are important but challenging to characterize. Here, we conducted whole-assemblage metatranscriptomic profiling at continental shelf and slope sites in the South China Sea to investigate carbon fixation potential in different lineages. RuBisCO expression, the proxy of Calvin carbon fixation (CCF) potential, was mainly contributed by Bacillariophyta, Chlorophyta, Cyanobacteria, and Haptophyta, which was differentially affected by environmental factors among lineages. CCF potential exhibited positive or negative correlations with phagotrophy gene expression, suggesting phagotrophy possibly enhances or complements CCF. Our data also reveal significant non-Calvin carbon fixation (NCF) potential, as indicated by the active expression of genes in all five currently recognized NCF pathways, mainly contributed by Flavobacteriales, Alteromonadales, and Oceanospirillales. Furthermore, in Flavobacteriales, Alteromonadales, Pelagibacterales, and Rhodobacterales, NCF potential was positively correlated with proton-pump rhodopsin (PPR) expression, suggesting that NCF might be energetically supported by PPR. The novel insights into the lineage-differential potential of carbon fixation, widespread mixotrophy, and PPR as an energy source for NCF lay a methodological and informational foundation for further research to understand carbon fixation and the trophic landscape in the ocean.IMPORTANCEMarine plankton plays an important role in global carbon cycling and climate regulation. Phytoplankton and cyanobacteria fix CO2 to produce organic compounds using solar energy and mainly by the Calvin cycle, whereas autotrophic bacteria and archaea may fix CO2 by non-Calvin cycle carbon fixation pathways. How active individual lineages are in carbon fixation and mixotrophy, and what energy source bacteria may employ in non-Calvin carbon fixation, in a natural plankton assemblage are poorly understood and underexplored. Using metatranscriptomics, we studied carbon fixation in marine plankton with lineage resolution in tropical marginal shelf and slope areas. Based on the sequencing results, we characterized the carbon fixation potential of different lineages and assessed Calvin- and non-Calvin- carbon fixation activities and energy sources. Data revealed a high number of unigenes (4.4 million), lineage-dependent differential potentials of Calvin carbon fixation and responses to environmental conditions, major contributors of non-Calvin carbon fixation, and their potential energy source.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongfei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
- National Engineering Research Center for Marine Aquaculture, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, Groton, Connecticut, USA
| | - Jianwei Chen
- Qingdao Key Laboratory of Marine Genomics, BGI Research, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Liying Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Guangyi Fan
- Qingdao Key Laboratory of Marine Genomics, BGI Research, Qingdao, Shandong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, BGI Research, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Tangcheng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Ling Li
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Huatao Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Jingtian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Cong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Denghui Li
- Qingdao Key Laboratory of Marine Genomics, BGI Research, Qingdao, Shandong, China
- Qingdao Innovation Center of Seaweed Biotechnology, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Senjie Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, Groton, Connecticut, USA
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Maciel EB, Jovem-Azevêdo D, Lima CSDS, Pessanha ALM. Multiple habitats drive the functional diversity of fish assemblages in a tropical estuary. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 195:106379. [PMID: 38306951 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
Understanding estuarine diversity patterns is crucial to highlight the ecological value of coastal ecosystems for fish assemblages. To increase our knowledge, we investigated the functional diversity of fish assemblages in five estuarine habitats (sandy beaches, mudflats, seagrass meadows, mangrove fringes, and estuarine riparian vegetation) in a tropical estuary of Brazil. Functional diversity metrics were assessed considering seven fish functional traits and calculated using functional indices, PCoA (functional spaces), and community-weighted mean (CWM). Then, a unified RLQ and fourth-corner analysis were used to evaluate environment-trait relationships. A total of 27,036 individuals of 119 species were recorded in all habitats. Functional diversity showed similar trends to estuarine habitats, which were more driven by the spatial configuration rather than by their structure, emphasizing the importance of environmental heterogeneity. There was a greater occupation of functional space to habitats located in the lower estuary compared to the upper estuary. Furthermore, body shapes and trophic guilds were the most common traits related to changes in functional diversity between habitats. The RLQ analysis revealed differences in trait composition between habitats influenced by salinity and transparency, although the fourth corner method did not show a significant relationship between fish functional traits and environmental variables. Our results suggest that the mosaic of habitats support the high functional diversity of fishes in tropical estuaries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuelle Bezerra Maciel
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Laboratório de Ecologia de Peixes, Avenida das Baraúnas, 351, Bairro Universitário, CEP: 58429-500, Campina Grande, PB, Brazil
| | - Daniele Jovem-Azevêdo
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Laboratório de Ecologia de Peixes, Avenida das Baraúnas, 351, Bairro Universitário, CEP: 58429-500, Campina Grande, PB, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Naturais e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Acesso Prof(a). Maria Anita Furtado Coelho, Sítio o Olho D'Água da Bica, CEP: 58175-000, Cuité, PB, Brazil; Instituto Federal do Sertão Pernambucano, Rua Projetada s/n, Bairro Caetano II, CEP: 56400-000, Floresta, PE, Brazil
| | - Caroline Stefani da Silva Lima
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Laboratório de Ecologia de Peixes, Avenida das Baraúnas, 351, Bairro Universitário, CEP: 58429-500, Campina Grande, PB, Brazil
| | - André Luiz Machado Pessanha
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Laboratório de Ecologia de Peixes, Avenida das Baraúnas, 351, Bairro Universitário, CEP: 58429-500, Campina Grande, PB, Brazil.
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Waters SM, Mitchell RM, Brown ER, Taber EM. Prescribed fire increases plant-pollinator network robustness to losses of rare native forbs. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2024; 34:e2928. [PMID: 37876286 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
Restoration efforts often focus on changing the composition and structure of invaded plant communities, with two implicit assumptions: (1) functional interactions with species of other trophic levels, such as pollinators, will reassemble automatically when native plant diversity is restored and (2) restored communities will be more resilient to future stressors. However, the impact of restoration activities on pollinator richness, plant-pollinator interaction network structure, and network robustness is incompletely understood. Leveraging a restoration chronosequence in Pacific Northwest prairies, we examined the effects of restoration-focused prescribed fire and native forb replanting on floral resources, pollinator visitation, and plant-pollinator network structure. We then simulated the effects of plant species loss/removal scenarios on secondary extinction cascades in the networks. Specifically, we explored three management-relevant plant loss scenarios (removal of an abundant exotic forb, removal of an abundant forb designated a noxious weed, and loss of the rarest native forb) and compared them to control scenarios. Pyrodiversity and proportion of area recently burned increased the abundance and diversity of floral resources, with concomitant increases in pollinator visitation and diversity. Pyrodiversity also decreased network connectance and nestedness, increased modularity, and buffered networks against secondary extinction cascades. Rare forbs contributed disproportionately to network robustness in less restored prairies, while removal of typical "problem" plants like exotic and noxious species had relatively small impacts on network robustness, particularly in prairies with a long history of restoration activities. Restoration actions aimed mainly at improving the diversity and abundance of pollinator-provisioning plants may also produce plant-pollinator networks with increased resilience to plant species losses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rachel M Mitchell
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | | | - Ethan M Taber
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
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Lv P, Sun S, Li Y, Zhao S, Zhang J, Hu Y, Yue P, Zuo X. Growing-season drought and nitrogen addition interactively impair grassland ecosystem stability by reducing species diversity, asynchrony, and stability. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169122. [PMID: 38065502 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Aboveground net primary productivity controls the amount of energy available to sustain all living organisms, and its sustainable provision relies on the stability of grassland ecosystems. Human activities leading to global changes, such as increased nitrogen (N) deposition and the more frequent occurrence of extreme precipitation events, with N addition increasing the sensitivity of ecosystem production stability to changes in the precipitation regime. However, whether N addition, in combination with seasonal precipitation increases or severe drought, affects ecosystem stability remains unclear. In this study, we conducted a six-year environmental change monitoring experiment in a semiarid grassland in northern China to test the effects of N addition, seasonal drought, and precipitation increases on the temporal stability of ecosystem productivity. Our study revealed that an interaction between drought and N addition reduced species diversity, species asynchrony, species stability, and thus ecosystem stability. These environmental change drivers (except for precipitation increase) induced a positive relationship between species asynchrony and diversity, whereas N addition interactively with drought and precipitation increase led to a negative relationship between diversity and species stability. Only N addition interactively with drought induced a positive species diversity-ecosystem stability relationship because lower species stability was overcome by increased species asynchrony. Our study is great importance to illustrate that production temporal stability tends to be inhibited with drought, though interactively with nutrient N addition. These findings highlight the primary role of asynchronous dynamics among species in modulating the effects of environmental change on diversity-stability relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Lv
- Naiman Desertification Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; Urat Desert-Grassland Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology in Cold and Arid Regions, Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Shanshan Sun
- Urat Desert-Grassland Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yuqiang Li
- Naiman Desertification Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology in Cold and Arid Regions, Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Shenglong Zhao
- College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Tianshui Normal University, Tianshui 741000, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Information Center, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Ya Hu
- Urat Desert-Grassland Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology in Cold and Arid Regions, Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Ping Yue
- Urat Desert-Grassland Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology in Cold and Arid Regions, Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Xiaoan Zuo
- Naiman Desertification Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; Urat Desert-Grassland Research Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology in Cold and Arid Regions, Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, China.
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42
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Liu X, Chu H, Godoy O, Fan K, Gao GF, Yang T, Ma Y, Delgado-Baquerizo M. Positive associations fuel soil biodiversity and ecological networks worldwide. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2308769121. [PMID: 38285947 PMCID: PMC10861899 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2308769121] [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: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Microbial interactions are key to maintaining soil biodiversity. However, whether negative or positive associations govern the soil microbial system at a global scale remains virtually unknown, limiting our understanding of how microbes interact to support soil biodiversity and functions. Here, we explored ecological networks among multitrophic soil organisms involving bacteria, protists, fungi, and invertebrates in a global soil survey across 20 regions of the planet and found that positive associations among both pairs and triads of soil taxa governed global soil microbial networks. We further revealed that soil networks with greater levels of positive associations supported larger soil biodiversity and resulted in lower network fragility to withstand potential perturbations of species losses. Our study provides unique evidence of the widespread positive associations between soil organisms and their crucial role in maintaining the multitrophic structure of soil biodiversity worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing210008, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100049, China
| | - Haiyan Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing210008, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100049, China
| | - Oscar Godoy
- Departamento de Biología, Instituto Universitario de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad de Cádiz, Puerto RealE-11510, Spain
| | - Kunkun Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing210008, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100049, China
| | - Gui-Feng Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing210008, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100049, China
| | - Teng Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing210008, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100049, China
| | - Yuying Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing210008, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100049, China
| | - Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo
- Laboratorio de Biodiversidad y Funcionamiento Ecosistémico. Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, SevillaE-41012, Spain
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43
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Mak YL, Tett P, Yung YK, Sun WC, Tsang HL, Chan CT, Liu H, Chiu WL, Leung KF, Yang R, Chui HK. Phytoplankton Community Integrity Index (PCII) - A potential supplementary tool for evaluating nutrient enrichment status of Hong Kong marine waters. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 199:115964. [PMID: 38194823 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Diagnosis of eutrophication requires evidence of disturbance to the balance of organisms. We describe a tool, the Plankton Community Integrity Index (PCII), derived from the Plankton Index (PI) for tracking change in the seasonal patterns of abundance of diatom and dinoflagellate lifeforms when plotted in state space. The tool uses a nutrient-minimum reference period to interpret PCII values as status indicators, with values close to 1 indicating "High" status and 0.6 a Biological Water Quality Criterion (BioWQC) target set at the "Fair"/"Good" status boundary. It has been applied to Hong Kong marine waters, using data from monthly samples from 1995 through 2021. A preliminary analysis, required for the PI method, confirmed monsoonal seasonality in the diatom lifeform. In 5 of the 9 water bodies examined, PCII time series correlated with those of Total Inorganic Nitrogen (TIN). Since 2020, all Water Control Zones met the operationally defined BioWQC target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yim Ling Mak
- Water Quality Management Group, Environmental Protection Department, Hong Kong SAR Government, 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Paul Tett
- Scottish Association for Marine Science, Scottish Marine Institute, Oban, Argyll PZ37 1QA, Scotland, UK
| | - Ying-Kit Yung
- Water Quality Management Group, Environmental Protection Department, Hong Kong SAR Government, 999077, Hong Kong.
| | - Wai-Choi Sun
- Water Quality Management Group, Environmental Protection Department, Hong Kong SAR Government, 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Hin-Long Tsang
- Water Quality Management Group, Environmental Protection Department, Hong Kong SAR Government, 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Chun-Tat Chan
- Water Quality Management Group, Environmental Protection Department, Hong Kong SAR Government, 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Hongbin Liu
- Department of Ocean Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Wing-Leung Chiu
- Water Quality Management Group, Environmental Protection Department, Hong Kong SAR Government, 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Kim-Fung Leung
- Water Quality Management Group, Environmental Protection Department, Hong Kong SAR Government, 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Rong Yang
- Water Quality Management Group, Environmental Protection Department, Hong Kong SAR Government, 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Ho-Kwong Chui
- Water Quality Management Group, Environmental Protection Department, Hong Kong SAR Government, 999077, Hong Kong
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44
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Welsh JE, Markovic M, van der Meer J, Thieltges DW. Non-linear effects of non-host diversity on the removal of free-living infective stages of parasites. Oecologia 2024; 204:339-349. [PMID: 38300256 PMCID: PMC10907414 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05462-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Among the ecological functions and services of biodiversity is the potential buffering of diseases through dilution effects where increased biodiversity results in a reduction in disease risk for humans and wildlife hosts. Whether such effects are a universal phenomenon is still under intense debate and diversity effects are little studied in cases when non-host organisms remove free-living parasite stages during their transmission from one host to the next by consumption or physical obstruction. Here, we investigated non-host diversity effects on the removal of cercarial stages of trematodes, ubiquitous parasites in aquatic ecosystems. In laboratory experiments using response surface designs, varying both diversity and density at same time, we compared three combinations of two non-hosts at four density levels: predatory crabs that actively remove cercariae from the water column via their mouth parts and gills, filter feeding oysters that passively filter cercariae from the water column while not becoming infected themselves, and seaweed which physically obstructs cercariae. The addition of a second non-host did not generally result in increased parasite removal but neutralised, amplified or reduced the parasite removal exerted by the first non-host, depending on the density and non-host combination. These non-linear non-host diversity effects were probably driven by intra- and interspecific interactions and suggest the need to integrate non-host diversity effects in understanding the links between community diversity and infection risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer E Welsh
- Department of Coastal Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PO Box 59, 1790 AB, Den Burg, The Netherlands
| | - Mirjana Markovic
- Department of Coastal Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PO Box 59, 1790 AB, Den Burg, The Netherlands
| | - Jaap van der Meer
- Wageningen Marine Research, Korringaweg 7, 4401 NT, Yerseke, The Netherlands
- Aquaculture and Fisheries Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - David W Thieltges
- Department of Coastal Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PO Box 59, 1790 AB, Den Burg, The Netherlands.
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life-Sciences, GELIFES, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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45
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Feng Z, Marsland R, Rocks JW, Mehta P. Emergent competition shapes top-down versus bottom-up control in multi-trophic ecosystems. PLoS Comput Biol 2024; 20:e1011675. [PMID: 38330086 PMCID: PMC10852287 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Ecosystems are commonly organized into trophic levels-organisms that occupy the same level in a food chain (e.g., plants, herbivores, carnivores). A fundamental question in theoretical ecology is how the interplay between trophic structure, diversity, and competition shapes the properties of ecosystems. To address this problem, we analyze a generalized Consumer Resource Model with three trophic levels using the zero-temperature cavity method and numerical simulations. We derive the corresponding mean-field cavity equations and show that intra-trophic diversity gives rise to an effective "emergent competition" term between species within a trophic level due to feedbacks mediated by other trophic levels. This emergent competition gives rise to a crossover from a regime of top-down control (populations are limited by predators) to a regime of bottom-up control (populations are limited by primary producers) and is captured by a simple order parameter related to the ratio of surviving species in different trophic levels. We show that our theoretical results agree with empirical observations, suggesting that the theoretical approach outlined here can be used to understand complex ecosystems with multiple trophic levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijie Feng
- Department of Physics, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Robert Marsland
- Department of Physics, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jason W Rocks
- Department of Physics, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Pankaj Mehta
- Department of Physics, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Faculty of Computing and Data Science, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
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46
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Xiang C, Du Y, Han W, Guan B, Liu H, An Y, Liu Y, Jiang H, Chang J, Ge Y. Proper C/N ratio enhances the effect of plant diversity on nitrogen removal and greenhouse effect mitigation in floating constructed wetlands. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:12036-12051. [PMID: 38225493 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-31985-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Treating wastewater with low carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratios by constructed wetlands (CWs) is still problematic. Adding chemicals is costly and may cause secondary pollution. Configuring plant diversity in substrate-based CWs has been found to be a better way to treat low-C/N wastewater, but wastewater treatment in floating CWs needs to be studied. In this study, wastewater with C/N ratios of 5 and 10 were set in simulated floating CWs, and 9 combinations with plant species richness (SR) of 1, 3, and 4 were configured. The results showed that (1) increasing SR improved the total N mass removal (NMR) by 29% at a C/N ratio of 5 but not 10; (2) the presence of Oenanthe javanica in the microcosms increased the NMR by 13% and 20% with C/N ratios of 5 and 10, respectively; (3) increasing SR mitigated the net global warming potential (GWP) by 120% at a C/N ratio of 5 but not 10; and (4) a Hemerocallis fulva × O. javanica × Echinodorus parviflours × Iris hybrids mixture resulted in a high NMR and low net GWP. In summary, assembling plant diversity in floating CWs is an efficient and clean measure during the treatment of wastewater with a C/N ratio of 5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenxu Xiang
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanyuan Du
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China
- Huaxin Design Group Co., Ltd, Wuxi, 214100, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenjuan Han
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, 325035, People's Republic of China
| | - Baohua Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, People's Republic of China
| | - Hua Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu An
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Hang Jiang
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Chang
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Ge
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China.
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Xu X, Yang L, Shen K, Cao H, Lin Y, Liu J, Han W. Nitrogen Addition and Heterotroph Exclusion Affected Plant Species Diversity-Biomass Relationship by Affecting Plant Functional Traits. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:258. [PMID: 38256811 PMCID: PMC10818353 DOI: 10.3390/plants13020258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
(1) Background: Heterotrophs can affect plant biomass and alter species diversity-productivity relationships. However, these studies were conducted in systems with a low nitrogen (N) availability, and it is unclear how heterotroph removal affects the relationship between plant species diversity and productivity in different N habitats. (2) Methods: Three typical understory herbaceous plants were selected to assemble the plant species diversity (three plant species richness levels (1, 2, and 3) and seven plant species compositions), and the control, insecticide, fungicide, and all removal treatments were performed at each plant species diversity level in systems with or without N addition treatments. (3) Results: In systems without N addition, the insecticide treatment increased the plant aboveground biomass, total biomass, and leaf area, while the fungicide treatment reduced the plant belowground biomass, root length, and root tip number; the presence of Bidens pilosa increased the plant aboveground biomass. Similarly, the presence of Bletilla striata increased the plant belowground biomass and root diameter under each heterotroph removal treatment. In systems with N addition, all removal treatments reduced the plant belowground biomass and increased the plant leaf area; the presence of B. pilosa significantly increased the plant aboveground biomass, total biomass, and root length under each heterotroph removal treatment. The presence of B. striata significantly increased the plant belowground biomass and leaf area under insecticide and fungicide treatments. (4) Conclusions: Heterotroph removal alters the plant species diversity-biomass relationship by affecting the plant functional traits in systems with different N availabilities. The impact of biodiversity at different trophic levels on ecosystem functioning should be considered under the background of global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xile Xu
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China; (X.X.); (L.Y.); (K.S.); (H.C.); (Y.L.); (J.L.)
| | - Luping Yang
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China; (X.X.); (L.Y.); (K.S.); (H.C.); (Y.L.); (J.L.)
| | - Kai Shen
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China; (X.X.); (L.Y.); (K.S.); (H.C.); (Y.L.); (J.L.)
| | - Huijuan Cao
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China; (X.X.); (L.Y.); (K.S.); (H.C.); (Y.L.); (J.L.)
| | - Yishi Lin
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China; (X.X.); (L.Y.); (K.S.); (H.C.); (Y.L.); (J.L.)
| | - Jinliang Liu
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China; (X.X.); (L.Y.); (K.S.); (H.C.); (Y.L.); (J.L.)
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Water Environment and Marine Biological Resources Protection, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Wenjuan Han
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China; (X.X.); (L.Y.); (K.S.); (H.C.); (Y.L.); (J.L.)
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Water Environment and Marine Biological Resources Protection, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
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48
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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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49
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Zhai C, Han L, Xiong C, Ge A, Yue X, Li Y, Zhou Z, Feng J, Ru J, Song J, Jiang L, Yang Y, Zhang L, Wan S. Soil microbial diversity and network complexity drive the ecosystem multifunctionality of temperate grasslands under changing precipitation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 906:167217. [PMID: 37751844 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
Soil microbiomes play a critical role in regulating ecosystem multifunctionality. However, whether and how soil protists and microbiome interactions affect ecosystem multifunctionality under climate change is unclear. Here, we transplanted 54 soil monoliths from three typical temperate grasslands (i.e., desert, typical, and meadow steppes) along a precipitation gradient in the Mongolian Plateau and examined their response to nighttime warming, decreased, and increased precipitation. Across the three steppes, nighttime warming only stimulated protistan diversity by 15.61 (absolute change, phylogenetic diversity) but had no effect on ecosystem multifunctionality. Decreased precipitation reduced bacterial (8.78) and fungal (22.28) diversity, but significantly enhanced soil microbiome network complexity by 1.40. Ecosystem multifunctionality was reduced by 0.23 under decreased precipitation, which could be largely attributed to the reduced soil moisture that negatively impacted bacterial and fungal communities. In contrast, increased precipitation had little impact on soil microbial communities. Overall, both bacterial and fungal diversity and network complexity play a fundamental role in maintaining ecosystem multifunctionality in response to drought stress. Protists alter ecosystem multifunctionality by indirectly affecting microbial network complexity. Therefore, not only microbial diversity but also their interactions (regulated by soil protists) should be considered in evaluating the responses of ecosystem multifunctionality, which has important implications for predicting changes in ecosystem functioning under future climate change scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changchun Zhai
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei 071002, China; State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Lili Han
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Chao Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Anhui Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Xiaojing Yue
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei 071002, China
| | - Ying Li
- School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan 475004, China
| | - Zhenxing Zhou
- School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan 475004, China
| | - Jiayin Feng
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei 071002, China
| | - Jingyi Ru
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei 071002, China
| | - Jian Song
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei 071002, China
| | - Lin Jiang
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Yunfeng Yang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Limei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Shiqiang Wan
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei 071002, China.
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50
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Teixidó N, Carlot J, Alliouane S, Ballesteros E, De Vittor C, Gambi MC, Gattuso JP, Kroeker K, Micheli F, Mirasole A, Parravacini V, Villéger S. Functional changes across marine habitats due to ocean acidification. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17105. [PMID: 38273554 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Global environmental change drives diversity loss and shifts in community structure. A key challenge is to better understand the impacts on ecosystem function and to connect species and trait diversity of assemblages with ecosystem properties that are in turn linked to ecosystem functioning. Here we quantify shifts in species composition and trait diversity associated with ocean acidification (OA) by using field measurements at marine CO2 vent systems spanning four reef habitats across different depths in a temperate coastal ecosystem. We find that both species and trait diversity decreased, and that ecosystem properties (understood as the interplay between species, traits, and ecosystem function) shifted with acidification. Furthermore, shifts in trait categories such as autotrophs, filter feeders, herbivores, and habitat-forming species were habitat-specific, indicating that OA may produce divergent responses across habitats and depths. Combined, these findings reveal the importance of connecting species and trait diversity of marine benthic habitats with key ecosystem properties to anticipate the impacts of global environmental change. Our results also generate new insights on the predicted general and habitat-specific ecological consequences of OA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Núria Teixidó
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and Biotechnology, Ischia Marine Center, Naples, Italy
- Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Villefranche-sur-mer, France
| | - Jérémy Carlot
- Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Villefranche-sur-mer, France
| | - Samir Alliouane
- Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Villefranche-sur-mer, France
| | | | - Cinzia De Vittor
- National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics-OGS, Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Jean-Pierre Gattuso
- Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Villefranche-sur-mer, France
- Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations, Sciences Po, Paris, France
| | - Kristy Kroeker
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, California, USA
| | - Fiorenza Micheli
- Oceans Department, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, California, USA
- Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions, Pacific Grove, California, USA
| | - Alice Mirasole
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and Biotechnology, Ischia Marine Center, Naples, Italy
| | - Valeriano Parravacini
- PSL Université Paris: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan, France
| | - Sébastien Villéger
- MARBEC, Université de Montpellier, CNRS-IRD-IFREMER-UM, Montpellier, France
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