Abstract
Biodiversity loss and its effects on humanity is of major global concern. While a growing body of literature confirms positive relationships between biodiversity and multiple ecological functions, the links between biodiversity, ecological functions and multiple ecosystem services is yet unclear. Studies of biodiversity-functionality relationships are mainly based on computer simulations or controlled field experiments using only few species. Here, we use a trait-based approach to integrate plant functions into an ecosystem service assessment to address impacts of restoration on species-rich grasslands over time. We found trade-offs among functions and services when analysing contributions from individual species. At the community level, these trade-offs disappeared for almost all services with time since restoration as an effect of increased species diversity and more evenly distributed species. Restoration to enhance biodiversity also in species-rich communities is therefore essential to secure higher functional redundancy towards disturbances and sustainable provision of multiple ecosystem services over time.
Keywords
grassland; long-term in situ experiments; multifunctionality; plants; restoration; species richness
Published in
Ecology Letters
2023, volume: 26, number: 6, pages: 929-941
UKÄ Subject classification
Ecology
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.14220
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/126477