The importance of biodiversity in supporting ecosystem functioning is generally well accepted. However, most evidence comes from small-scale studies, and scaling-up patterns of biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (B-EF) remains challenging, in part because the importance of environmental factors in shaping B-EF relations is poorly understood. Using a forest research platform in which 26 ecosystem functions were measured along gradients of tree species richness in six regions across Europe, we investigated the extent and the potential drivers of context dependency of B-EF relations. Despite considerable variation in species richness effects across the continent, we found a tendency for stronger B-EF relations in drier climates as well as in areas with longer growing seasons and more functionally diverse tree species. The importance of water availability in driving context dependency suggests that as water limitation increases under climate change, biodiversity may become even more important to support high levels of functioning in European forests.

Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning relations in European forests depend on environmental context / Ratcliffe, Sophia; Wirth, Christian; Jucker, Tommaso; Van Der Plas, Fons; Scherer-lorenzen, Michael; Verheyen, Kris; Allan, Eric; Benavides, Raquel; Bruelheide, Helge; Ohse, Bettina; Paquette, Alain; Ampoorter, Evy; Bastias, Cristina C; Bauhus, Jürgen; Bonal, Damien; Bouriaud, Olivier; Bussotti, Filippo; Carnol, Monique; Castagneyrol, Bastien; Chećko, Ewa; Dawud, Seid Muhie; Wandeler, Hans De; Domisch, Timo; Finér, Leena; Fischer, Markus; Fotelli, Mariangela; Gessler, Arthur; Granier, André; Grossiord, Charlotte; Guyot, Virginie; Haase, Josephine; Hättenschwiler, Stephan; Jactel, Hervé; Jaroszewicz, Bogdan; Joly, François-xavier; Kambach, Stephan; Kolb, Simon; Koricheva, Julia; Liebersgesell, Mario; Milligan, Harriet; Müller, Sandra; Muys, Bart; Nguyen, Diem; Nock, Charles; Pollastrini, Martina; Purschke, Oliver; Radoglou, Kalliopi; Raulund-rasmussen, Karsten; Roger, Fabian; Ruiz-benito, Paloma; Seidl, Rupert; Selvi, Federico; Seiferling, Ian; Stenlid, Jan; Valladares, Fernando; Vesterdal, Lars; Baeten, Lander. - In: ECOLOGY LETTERS. - ISSN 1461-023X. - STAMPA. - (2017), pp. 1-13. [10.1111/ele.12849]

Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning relations in European forests depend on environmental context

BUSSOTTI, FILIPPO;POLLASTRINI, MARTINA;SELVI, FEDERICO;
2017

Abstract

The importance of biodiversity in supporting ecosystem functioning is generally well accepted. However, most evidence comes from small-scale studies, and scaling-up patterns of biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (B-EF) remains challenging, in part because the importance of environmental factors in shaping B-EF relations is poorly understood. Using a forest research platform in which 26 ecosystem functions were measured along gradients of tree species richness in six regions across Europe, we investigated the extent and the potential drivers of context dependency of B-EF relations. Despite considerable variation in species richness effects across the continent, we found a tendency for stronger B-EF relations in drier climates as well as in areas with longer growing seasons and more functionally diverse tree species. The importance of water availability in driving context dependency suggests that as water limitation increases under climate change, biodiversity may become even more important to support high levels of functioning in European forests.
2017
1
13
Ratcliffe, Sophia; Wirth, Christian; Jucker, Tommaso; Van Der Plas, Fons; Scherer-lorenzen, Michael; Verheyen, Kris; Allan, Eric; Benavides, Raquel; Bruelheide, Helge; Ohse, Bettina; Paquette, Alain; Ampoorter, Evy; Bastias, Cristina C; Bauhus, Jürgen; Bonal, Damien; Bouriaud, Olivier; Bussotti, Filippo; Carnol, Monique; Castagneyrol, Bastien; Chećko, Ewa; Dawud, Seid Muhie; Wandeler, Hans De; Domisch, Timo; Finér, Leena; Fischer, Markus; Fotelli, Mariangela; Gessler, Arthur; Granier, André; Grossiord, Charlotte; Guyot, Virginie; Haase, Josephine; Hättenschwiler, Stephan; Jactel, Hervé; Jaroszewicz, Bogdan; Joly, François-xavier; Kambach, Stephan; Kolb, Simon; Koricheva, Julia; Liebersgesell, Mario; Milligan, Harriet; Müller, Sandra; Muys, Bart; Nguyen, Diem; Nock, Charles; Pollastrini, Martina; Purschke, Oliver; Radoglou, Kalliopi; Raulund-rasmussen, Karsten; Roger, Fabian; Ruiz-benito, Paloma; Seidl, Rupert; Selvi, Federico; Seiferling, Ian; Stenlid, Jan; Valladares, Fernando; Vesterdal, Lars; Baeten, Lander
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Ratcliffe_et_al-2017-Ecology_Letters.pdf

Accesso chiuso

Tipologia: Pdf editoriale (Version of record)
Licenza: Tutti i diritti riservati
Dimensione 367.79 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
367.79 kB Adobe PDF   Richiedi una copia

I documenti in FLORE sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificatore per citare o creare un link a questa risorsa: https://hdl.handle.net/2158/1097224
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 232
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 225
social impact