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Soliveres S, Manning P, Prati D, Gossner MM, Alt F, Arndt H, Baumgartner V, Binkenstein J, Birkhofer K, Blaser S, Blüthgen N, Boch S, Böhm S, Börschig C, Buscot F, Diekötter T, Heinze J, Hölzel N, Jung K, Klaus VH, Klein AM, Kleinebecker T, Klemmer S, Krauss J, Lange M, Morris EK, Müller J, Oelmann Y, Overmann J, Pašalić E, Renner SC, Rillig MC, Schaefer HM, Schloter M, Schmitt B, Schöning I, Schrumpf M, Sikorski J, Socher SA, Solly EF, Sonnemann I, Sorkau E, Steckel J, Steffan-Dewenter I, Stempfhuber B, Tschapka M, Türke M, Venter P, Weiner CN, Weisser WW, Werner M, Westphal C, Wilcke W, Wolters V, Wubet T, Wurst S, Fischer M, Allan E. Locally rare species influence grassland ecosystem multifunctionality. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2017; 371:rstb.2015.0269. [PMID: 27114572 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2015.0269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/27/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Species diversity promotes the delivery of multiple ecosystem functions (multifunctionality). However, the relative functional importance of rare and common species in driving the biodiversity-multifunctionality relationship remains unknown. We studied the relationship between the diversity of rare and common species (according to their local abundances and across nine different trophic groups), and multifunctionality indices derived from 14 ecosystem functions on 150 grasslands across a land-use intensity (LUI) gradient. The diversity of above- and below-ground rare species had opposite effects, with rare above-ground species being associated with high levels of multifunctionality, probably because their effects on different functions did not trade off against each other. Conversely, common species were only related to average, not high, levels of multifunctionality, and their functional effects declined with LUI. Apart from the community-level effects of diversity, we found significant positive associations between the abundance of individual species and multifunctionality in 6% of the species tested. Species-specific functional effects were best predicted by their response to LUI: species that declined in abundance with land use intensification were those associated with higher levels of multifunctionality. Our results highlight the importance of rare species for ecosystem multifunctionality and help guiding future conservation priorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Soliveres
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Altenbergrain 21, Bern 3013, Switzerland
| | - Peter Manning
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Altenbergrain 21, Bern 3013, Switzerland Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre BIK-F, Senckenberganlage 25, Frankfurt 60325, Germany
| | - Daniel Prati
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Altenbergrain 21, Bern 3013, Switzerland
| | - Martin M Gossner
- Institute of Ecology, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Dornburger Straße 159, Jena 07743, Germany Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2, Freising 85354, Germany
| | - Fabian Alt
- Geocology, University of Tuebingen, Ruemelinstr. 19-23, Tuebingen 72070, Germany
| | - Hartmut Arndt
- Department of General Ecology, Institute for Zoology, University of Cologne, Cologne 50674, Germany
| | - Vanessa Baumgartner
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Inhoffenstr. 7B, Braunschweig 38124, Germany
| | - Julia Binkenstein
- Institute for Biology 1, Albert Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Hauptstr. 1, Freiburg 79104, Germany
| | | | - Stefan Blaser
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Altenbergrain 21, Bern 3013, Switzerland
| | - Nico Blüthgen
- Ecological Networks, Biology, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstr. 3, Darmstadt 64287, Germany
| | - Steffen Boch
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Altenbergrain 21, Bern 3013, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Böhm
- Institute of Experimental Ecology, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, Ulm 89069, Germany
| | - Carmen Börschig
- Agroecology, Department of Crop Sciences, Georg-August University of Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 6, Göttingen 37077, Germany
| | - Francois Buscot
- Department of Soil Ecology, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Theodor-Lieser-Straße 4, Halle (Saale) 06120, Germany German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Tim Diekötter
- Department of Landscape Ecology, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Johannes Heinze
- Biodiversity Research/Systematic Botany, University of Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 1, Potsdam 14469, Germany
| | - Norbert Hölzel
- Institute of Landscape Ecology, University of Münster, Heisenbergstr. 2, Münster 48149, Germany
| | - Kirsten Jung
- Institute of Experimental Ecology, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, Ulm 89069, Germany
| | - Valentin H Klaus
- Institute of Landscape Ecology, University of Münster, Heisenbergstr. 2, Münster 48149, Germany
| | - Alexandra-Maria Klein
- Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Till Kleinebecker
- Institute of Landscape Ecology, University of Münster, Heisenbergstr. 2, Münster 48149, Germany
| | - Sandra Klemmer
- Department of Soil Ecology, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Theodor-Lieser-Straße 4, Halle (Saale) 06120, Germany
| | - Jochen Krauss
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocentre, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg 97074, Germany
| | - Markus Lange
- Institute of Ecology, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Dornburger Straße 159, Jena 07743, Germany Max-Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Hans-Knoell-Str. 10, Jena 07745, Germany
| | - E Kathryn Morris
- Department of Biology, Xavier University, 3800 Victory Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45207, USA Institut für Biologie Funktionelle Biodiversität, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 1-3, Berlin 14195, Germany
| | - Jörg Müller
- Biodiversity Research/Systematic Botany, University of Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 1, Potsdam 14469, Germany
| | - Yvonne Oelmann
- Geocology, University of Tuebingen, Ruemelinstr. 19-23, Tuebingen 72070, Germany
| | - Jörg Overmann
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Inhoffenstr. 7B, Braunschweig 38124, Germany
| | - Esther Pašalić
- Institute of Ecology, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Dornburger Straße 159, Jena 07743, Germany
| | - Swen C Renner
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, 1500 Remount Road, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA Institute of Zoology, University of Natural Resources and Life Science, Gregor-Mendel-Straße 33, 1180 Vienna, Austria
| | - Matthias C Rillig
- Institut für Biologie Funktionelle Biodiversität, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 1-3, Berlin 14195, Germany Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin 14195, Germany
| | - H Martin Schaefer
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Hauptstraße 1, Freiburg i. Br 79104, Germany
| | - Michael Schloter
- Research Unit for Environmental Genomics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, Oberschleissheim 85758, Germany
| | - Barbara Schmitt
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Altenbergrain 21, Bern 3013, Switzerland
| | - Ingo Schöning
- Max-Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Hans-Knoell-Str. 10, Jena 07745, Germany
| | - Marion Schrumpf
- Max-Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Hans-Knoell-Str. 10, Jena 07745, Germany
| | - Johannes Sikorski
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Inhoffenstr. 7B, Braunschweig 38124, Germany
| | - Stephanie A Socher
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Universität Salzburg, Kapitelgasse, Salzburg 4-65020, Austria
| | - Emily F Solly
- Max-Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Hans-Knoell-Str. 10, Jena 07745, Germany
| | - Ilja Sonnemann
- Institut für Biologie Funktionelle Biodiversität, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 1-3, Berlin 14195, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Sorkau
- Geocology, University of Tuebingen, Ruemelinstr. 19-23, Tuebingen 72070, Germany
| | - Juliane Steckel
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocentre, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg 97074, Germany
| | - Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocentre, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg 97074, Germany
| | - Barbara Stempfhuber
- Research Unit for Environmental Genomics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, Oberschleissheim 85758, Germany
| | - Marco Tschapka
- Institute of Experimental Ecology, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, Ulm 89069, Germany
| | - Manfred Türke
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, Leipzig 04103, Germany Institute for Biology, Leipzig University, Johannisallee 21, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Paul Venter
- Department of General Ecology, Institute for Zoology, University of Cologne, Cologne 50674, Germany
| | - Christiane N Weiner
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocentre, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg 97074, Germany
| | - Wolfgang W Weisser
- Institute of Ecology, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Dornburger Straße 159, Jena 07743, Germany Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2, Freising 85354, Germany
| | - Michael Werner
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocentre, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg 97074, Germany
| | - Catrin Westphal
- Agroecology, Department of Crop Sciences, Georg-August University of Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 6, Göttingen 37077, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Wilcke
- Institute of Geography and Geoecology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Reinhard-Baumeister-Platz 1, Karlsruhe 76131, Germany
| | - Volkmar Wolters
- Department of Animal Ecology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Gießen, Germany
| | - Tesfaye Wubet
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Susanne Wurst
- Institute of Biology, Functional Biodiversity, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 1-3, Berlin 14195, Germany
| | - Markus Fischer
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Altenbergrain 21, Bern 3013, Switzerland Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre BIK-F, Senckenberganlage 25, Frankfurt 60325, Germany
| | - Eric Allan
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Altenbergrain 21, Bern 3013, Switzerland
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2
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Gossner MM, Lewinsohn TM, Kahl T, Grassein F, Boch S, Prati D, Birkhofer K, Renner SC, Sikorski J, Wubet T, Arndt H, Baumgartner V, Blaser S, Blüthgen N, Börschig C, Buscot F, Diekötter T, Jorge LR, Jung K, Keyel AC, Klein AM, Klemmer S, Krauss J, Lange M, Müller J, Overmann J, Pašalić E, Penone C, Perović DJ, Purschke O, Schall P, Socher SA, Sonnemann I, Tschapka M, Tscharntke T, Türke M, Venter PC, Weiner CN, Werner M, Wolters V, Wurst S, Westphal C, Fischer M, Weisser WW, Allan E. Land-use intensification causes multitrophic homogenization of grassland communities. Nature 2016; 540:266-269. [PMID: 27919075 DOI: 10.1038/nature20575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 199] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2016] [Accepted: 10/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Land-use intensification is a major driver of biodiversity loss. Alongside reductions in local species diversity, biotic homogenization at larger spatial scales is of great concern for conservation. Biotic homogenization means a decrease in β-diversity (the compositional dissimilarity between sites). Most studies have investigated losses in local (α)-diversity and neglected biodiversity loss at larger spatial scales. Studies addressing β-diversity have focused on single or a few organism groups (for example, ref. 4), and it is thus unknown whether land-use intensification homogenizes communities at different trophic levels, above- and belowground. Here we show that even moderate increases in local land-use intensity (LUI) cause biotic homogenization across microbial, plant and animal groups, both above- and belowground, and that this is largely independent of changes in α-diversity. We analysed a unique grassland biodiversity dataset, with abundances of more than 4,000 species belonging to 12 trophic groups. LUI, and, in particular, high mowing intensity, had consistent effects on β-diversity across groups, causing a homogenization of soil microbial, fungal pathogen, plant and arthropod communities. These effects were nonlinear and the strongest declines in β-diversity occurred in the transition from extensively managed to intermediate intensity grassland. LUI tended to reduce local α-diversity in aboveground groups, whereas the α-diversity increased in belowground groups. Correlations between the β-diversity of different groups, particularly between plants and their consumers, became weaker at high LUI. This suggests a loss of specialist species and is further evidence for biotic homogenization. The consistently negative effects of LUI on landscape-scale biodiversity underscore the high value of extensively managed grasslands for conserving multitrophic biodiversity and ecosystem service provision. Indeed, biotic homogenization rather than local diversity loss could prove to be the most substantial consequence of land-use intensification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin M Gossner
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2, Freising D-85354, Germany.,Institute of Ecology, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Dornburger Str 159, Jena D-07743, Germany.,Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf CH-8903, Switzerland
| | - Thomas M Lewinsohn
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2, Freising D-85354, Germany.,Department of Animal Biology, IB, UNICAMP-University of Campinas, Campinas, Sao Paulo, CEP, 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Tiemo Kahl
- Chair of Silviculture, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacherstraße 4, Freiburg im Breisgau D-79106, Germany.,Biosphere Reserve Vessertal-Thuringian Forest, Brunnenstr 1, Schmiedefeld am Rennsteig D-98711, Germany
| | - Fabrice Grassein
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Altenbergrain 21, Bern CH-3013, Switzerland
| | - Steffen Boch
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Altenbergrain 21, Bern CH-3013, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Prati
- Biosphere Reserve Vessertal-Thuringian Forest, Brunnenstr 1, Schmiedefeld am Rennsteig D-98711, Germany
| | - Klaus Birkhofer
- Department of Biology, Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, Lund S-22362, Sweden.,Chair of Ecology, Faculty Environment and Natural Sciences, BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, Großenhainer Str 57, Senftenberg D-01968, Germany
| | - Swen C Renner
- Institute of Zoology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Wien A-1180, Austria.,Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm D-89069, Germany
| | - Johannes Sikorski
- Leibniz-Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Inhoffenstraße 7B, Braunschweig D-38302, Germany
| | - Tesfaye Wubet
- Department of Soil Ecology, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Halle-Saale D-06120, Germany.,Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Johannisallee 21, Leipzig D-04103, Germany
| | - Hartmut Arndt
- Biocentre, Institute for Zoology, General Ecology, University of Cologne, Zuelpicher Str 47b, Cologne (Köln) D-50674, Germany
| | - Vanessa Baumgartner
- Leibniz-Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Inhoffenstraße 7B, Braunschweig D-38302, Germany
| | - Stefan Blaser
- Biosphere Reserve Vessertal-Thuringian Forest, Brunnenstr 1, Schmiedefeld am Rennsteig D-98711, Germany
| | - Nico Blüthgen
- Department of Biology, Ecological Networks, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstraße 3, Darmstadt D-64287, Germany
| | - Carmen Börschig
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocentre, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg D-97074, Germany
| | - Francois Buscot
- Department of Soil Ecology, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Halle-Saale D-06120, Germany.,Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Johannisallee 21, Leipzig D-04103, Germany
| | - Tim Diekötter
- Animal Ecology, Justus-Liebig-University, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, Giessen D-35392, Germany.,Landscape Ecology, Institute for Natural Resource Conservation, Kiel University, Olshausenstr 75, Kiel D-24118, Germany
| | - Leonardo Ré Jorge
- Department of Animal Biology, IB, UNICAMP-University of Campinas, Campinas, Sao Paulo, CEP, 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Kirsten Jung
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm D-89069, Germany
| | - Alexander C Keyel
- Department of Ecosystem Modelling, University of Göttingen, Büsgenweg 4, Göttingen D-37077, Germany
| | - Alexandra-Maria Klein
- Chair of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacherstraße 4, Freiburg im Breisgau D-79106, Germany
| | - Sandra Klemmer
- Department of Soil Ecology, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Halle-Saale D-06120, Germany.,German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, Leipzig D-04103, Germany
| | - Jochen Krauss
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocentre, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, Würzburg D-97074, Germany
| | - Markus Lange
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2, Freising D-85354, Germany.,Institute of Ecology, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Dornburger Str 159, Jena D-07743, Germany.,Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Hans-Knoell-Str 10, Jena D-07745, Germany
| | - Jörg Müller
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 1, Potsdam D-14469, Germany
| | - Jörg Overmann
- Leibniz-Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Inhoffenstraße 7B, Braunschweig D-38302, Germany
| | - Esther Pašalić
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2, Freising D-85354, Germany.,Institute of Ecology, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Dornburger Str 159, Jena D-07743, Germany
| | - Caterina Penone
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Altenbergrain 21, Bern CH-3013, Switzerland
| | - David J Perović
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China.,Agroecology, Department of Crop Sciences, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen D-37077, Germany
| | - Oliver Purschke
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, Leipzig D-04103, Germany.,Department of Computer Science, Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale) D-06120, Germany.,Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale) D-06108, Germany
| | - Peter Schall
- Department Silviculture and Forest Ecology of the Temperate Zones, University of Göttingen, Göttingen D-37077, Germany
| | - Stephanie A Socher
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Botanical Garden, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstrasse 34, Salzburg 5020, Austria
| | - Ilja Sonnemann
- Functional Biodiversity, Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 1-3, Berlin D-14195, Germany
| | - Marco Tschapka
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm D-89069, Germany
| | - Teja Tscharntke
- Agroecology, Department of Crop Sciences, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen D-37077, Germany
| | - Manfred Türke
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2, Freising D-85354, Germany.,Institute of Ecology, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Dornburger Str 159, Jena D-07743, Germany.,Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Johannisallee 21, Leipzig D-04103, Germany.,German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, Leipzig D-04103, Germany
| | - Paul Christiaan Venter
- Biocentre, Institute for Zoology, General Ecology, University of Cologne, Zuelpicher Str 47b, Cologne (Köln) D-50674, Germany
| | - Christiane N Weiner
- Department of Biology, Ecological Networks, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstraße 3, Darmstadt D-64287, Germany
| | - Michael Werner
- Department of Biology, Ecological Networks, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstraße 3, Darmstadt D-64287, Germany
| | - Volkmar Wolters
- Animal Ecology, Justus-Liebig-University, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, Giessen D-35392, Germany
| | - Susanne Wurst
- Functional Biodiversity, Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 1-3, Berlin D-14195, Germany
| | - Catrin Westphal
- Agroecology, Department of Crop Sciences, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen D-37077, Germany
| | - Markus Fischer
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2, Freising D-85354, Germany
| | - Wolfgang W Weisser
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2, Freising D-85354, Germany.,Institute of Ecology, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Dornburger Str 159, Jena D-07743, Germany
| | - Eric Allan
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Altenbergrain 21, Bern CH-3013, Switzerland.,Centre for Development and Environment, University of Bern, Hallerstrasse, 10, Bern CH-3012, Switzerland
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3
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Manning P, Gossner MM, Bossdorf O, Allan E, Zhang YY, Prati D, Blüthgen N, Boch S, Böhm S, Börschig C, Hölzel N, Jung K, Klaus VH, Klein AM, Kleinebecker T, Krauss J, Lange M, Müller J, Pašalić E, Socher SA, Tschapka M, Türke M, Weiner C, Werner M, Gockel S, Hemp A, Renner SC, Wells K, Buscot F, Kalko EKV, Linsenmair KE, Weisser WW, Fischer M. Grassland management intensification weakens the associations among the diversities of multiple plant and animal taxa. Ecology 2015. [DOI: 10.1890/14-1307.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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4
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Simons NK, Gossner MM, Lewinsohn TM, Boch S, Lange M, Müller J, Pašalić E, Socher SA, Türke M, Fischer M, Weisser WW. Resource-mediated indirect effects of grassland management on arthropod diversity. PLoS One 2014; 9:e107033. [PMID: 25188423 PMCID: PMC4154770 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0107033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2014] [Accepted: 07/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Intensive land use is a driving force for biodiversity decline in many ecosystems. In semi-natural grasslands, land-use activities such as mowing, grazing and fertilization affect the diversity of plants and arthropods, but the combined effects of different drivers and the chain of effects are largely unknown. In this study we used structural equation modelling to analyse how the arthropod communities in managed grasslands respond to land use and whether these responses are mediated through changes in resource diversity or resource quantity (biomass). Plants were considered resources for herbivores which themselves were considered resources for predators. Plant and arthropod (herbivores and predators) communities were sampled on 141 meadows, pastures and mown pastures within three regions in Germany in 2008 and 2009. Increasing land-use intensity generally increased plant biomass and decreased plant diversity, mainly through increasing fertilization. Herbivore diversity decreased together with plant diversity but showed no response to changes in plant biomass. Hence, land-use effects on herbivore diversity were mediated through resource diversity rather than quantity. Land-use effects on predator diversity were mediated by both herbivore diversity (resource diversity) and herbivore quantity (herbivore biomass), but indirect effects through resource quantity were stronger. Our findings highlight the importance of assessing both direct and indirect effects of land-use intensity and mode on different trophic levels. In addition to the overall effects, there were subtle differences between the different regions, pointing to the importance of regional land-use specificities. Our study underlines the commonly observed strong effect of grassland land use on biodiversity. It also highlights that mechanistic approaches help us to understand how different land-use modes affect biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadja K. Simons
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München, Freising, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Martin M. Gossner
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München, Freising, Germany
| | - Thomas M. Lewinsohn
- Department of Animal Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Steffen Boch
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Markus Lange
- Max-Planck-Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena, Germany
| | - Jörg Müller
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Esther Pašalić
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München, Freising, Germany
| | | | - Manfred Türke
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München, Freising, Germany
| | - Markus Fischer
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, Frankfurt/Main, Germany
| | - Wolfgang W. Weisser
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München, Freising, Germany
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Gossner MM, Pašalić E, Lange M, Lange P, Boch S, Hessenmöller D, Müller J, Socher SA, Fischer M, Schulze ED, Weisser WW. Differential responses of herbivores and herbivory to management in temperate European beech. PLoS One 2014; 9:e104876. [PMID: 25119984 PMCID: PMC4132021 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0104876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2014] [Accepted: 07/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Forest management not only affects biodiversity but also might alter ecosystem processes mediated by the organisms, i.e. herbivory the removal of plant biomass by plant-eating insects and other arthropod groups. Aiming at revealing general relationships between forest management and herbivory we investigated aboveground arthropod herbivory in 105 plots dominated by European beech in three different regions in Germany in the sun-exposed canopy of mature beech trees and on beech saplings in the understorey. We separately assessed damage by different guilds of herbivores, i.e. chewing, sucking and scraping herbivores, gall-forming insects and mites, and leaf-mining insects. We asked whether herbivory differs among different forest management regimes (unmanaged, uneven-aged managed, even-aged managed) and among age-classes within even-aged forests. We further tested for consistency of relationships between regions, strata and herbivore guilds. On average, almost 80% of beech leaves showed herbivory damage, and about 6% of leaf area was consumed. Chewing damage was most common, whereas leaf sucking and scraping damage were very rare. Damage was generally greater in the canopy than in the understorey, in particular for chewing and scraping damage, and the occurrence of mines. There was little difference in herbivory among differently managed forests and the effects of management on damage differed among regions, strata and damage types. Covariates such as wood volume, tree density and plant diversity weakly influenced herbivory, and effects differed between herbivory types. We conclude that despite of the relatively low number of species attacking beech; arthropod herbivory on beech is generally high. We further conclude that responses of herbivory to forest management are multifaceted and environmental factors such as forest structure variables affecting in particular microclimatic conditions are more likely to explain the variability in herbivory among beech forest plots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin M. Gossner
- Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Institute of Ecology, Jena, Germany
- Technische Universität München, Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management, Center for Food and Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany
| | - Esther Pašalić
- Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Institute of Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Markus Lange
- Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Institute of Ecology, Jena, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena, Germany
| | - Patricia Lange
- Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Institute of Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Steffen Boch
- University of Bern, Institute of Plant Sciences, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Jörg Müller
- University of Potsdam, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, Potsdam, Germany
| | | | - Markus Fischer
- University of Bern, Institute of Plant Sciences, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Wolfgang W. Weisser
- Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Institute of Ecology, Jena, Germany
- Technische Universität München, Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management, Center for Food and Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany
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Allan E, Weisser WW, Fischer M, Schulze ED, Weigelt A, Roscher C, Baade J, Barnard RL, Beßler H, Buchmann N, Ebeling A, Eisenhauer N, Engels C, Fergus AJF, Gleixner G, Gubsch M, Halle S, Klein AM, Kertscher I, Kuu A, Lange M, Le Roux X, Meyer ST, Migunova VD, Milcu A, Niklaus PA, Oelmann Y, Pašalić E, Petermann JS, Poly F, Rottstock T, Sabais ACW, Scherber C, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Scheu S, Steinbeiss S, Schwichtenberg G, Temperton V, Tscharntke T, Voigt W, Wilcke W, Wirth C, Schmid B. A comparison of the strength of biodiversity effects across multiple functions. Oecologia 2013; 173:223-37. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-012-2589-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2012] [Accepted: 12/22/2012] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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