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Xie L, Chen H, Wei L, Chen S, Wang L, Xu B, Yi X, Wang X, Ding H, Fang Y. Scale-dependent effects of species diversity on aboveground biomass and productivity in a subtropical broadleaved forest on Mt. Huangshan. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9786. [PMID: 36744073 PMCID: PMC9891959 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The relationship between species diversity and biomass/productivity is a major scientific question in ecology. Exploring this relationship is essential to understanding the mechanisms underpinning the maintenance of biodiversity. Positive, negative, and neutral relationships have been identified in controlled experiments and observational research. However, increasing evidence suggests that the effects of species diversity on aboveground biomass and productivity are influenced by biotic and abiotic factors, but it remains unclear whether scale-dependent effects affect aboveground biomass and productivity. Herein, we used a generalized linear regression model and a structural equation model to explore relationships between species diversity and productivity/aboveground biomass under different scales and to investigate the effects of topographical factors and species diversity on ecosystem functioning. The results revealed a positive relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning based on species diversity and aboveground biomass. Different sampling scales may impact the relationship between species diversity and ecosystem functioning. A positive relationship was found between species richness and productivity at medium and large scales; however, ambiguous relationships were found in productivity and other species diversity indices. Elevation was a key factor affecting both biomass and productivity. These results suggest that species diversity is not the only factor affecting biomass and productivity, and the positive correlation between species diversity and ecosystem functioning is mediated by abiotic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Xie
- Co‐Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity ConservationNanjing Forestry UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Hao Chen
- Co‐Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity ConservationNanjing Forestry UniversityNanjingChina,Research Center for Biodiversity Conservation and Biosafety, State Environmental Protection Scientific Observation and Research Station for Ecological Environment of Wuyi Mountains, Biodiversity Comprehensive Observation Station for Wuyi Mountains, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory on BiosafetyNanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of ChinaNanjingChina
| | - Lai Wei
- Co‐Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity ConservationNanjing Forestry UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Shuifei Chen
- Research Center for Biodiversity Conservation and Biosafety, State Environmental Protection Scientific Observation and Research Station for Ecological Environment of Wuyi Mountains, Biodiversity Comprehensive Observation Station for Wuyi Mountains, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory on BiosafetyNanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of ChinaNanjingChina
| | - Lu Wang
- Co‐Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity ConservationNanjing Forestry UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Baokun Xu
- Research Center for Biodiversity Conservation and Biosafety, State Environmental Protection Scientific Observation and Research Station for Ecological Environment of Wuyi Mountains, Biodiversity Comprehensive Observation Station for Wuyi Mountains, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory on BiosafetyNanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of ChinaNanjingChina
| | - Xiangui Yi
- Co‐Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity ConservationNanjing Forestry UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Xianrong Wang
- Co‐Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity ConservationNanjing Forestry UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Hui Ding
- Research Center for Biodiversity Conservation and Biosafety, State Environmental Protection Scientific Observation and Research Station for Ecological Environment of Wuyi Mountains, Biodiversity Comprehensive Observation Station for Wuyi Mountains, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory on BiosafetyNanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of ChinaNanjingChina
| | - Yanming Fang
- Co‐Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Biology and the Environment, Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity ConservationNanjing Forestry UniversityNanjingChina
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