Structural diversity and tree density drives variation in the biodiversity-ecosystem function relationship of woodlands and savannas.

Autor: Godlee JL; School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FF, UK., Ryan CM; School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FF, UK., Bauman D; Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QY, UK.; Laboratoire d'Écologie Végétale et Biogéochimie, CP 244, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, B-1050, Belgium., Bowers SJ; School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FF, UK., Carreiras JMB; National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO), University of Sheffield, Hicks Building, Hounsfield Road, Sheffield, S3 7RH, UK., Chisingui AV; Herbarium of Lubango, ISCED Huíla, Sarmento Rodrigues Str. No. 2, CP 230, Lubango, Angola., Cromsigt JPGM; Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, SE-907 36, Sweden.; Department of Zoology, Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, 6031, South Africa.; Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Utrecht, 3584CS, the Netherlands., Druce DJ; Ecological Advice, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, 3202, South Africa.; School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 3209, South Africa., Finckh M; Biodiversity, Evolution and Ecology of Plants, Institute of Plant Sciences and Microbiology, University of Hamburg, Ohnhorststr. 18, Hamburg, 22609, Germany., Gonçalves FM; Herbarium of Lubango, ISCED Huíla, Sarmento Rodrigues Str. No. 2, CP 230, Lubango, Angola., Holdo RM; Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, 140 E. Green St., Athens, GA, 30602, USA., Makungwa S; Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), Lilongwe, Malawi., McNicol IM; School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FF, UK., Mitchard ETA; School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FF, UK., Muchawona A; Forest Research Centre, 1 Orange Groove Highlands, Harare, Zimbabwe., Revermann R; Biodiversity, Evolution and Ecology of Plants, Institute of Plant Sciences and Microbiology, University of Hamburg, Ohnhorststr. 18, Hamburg, 22609, Germany.; Faculty of Natural Resources and Spatial Sciences, Namibia University of Science and Technology, Windhoek, 10005, Namibia., Ribeiro NS; Department of Forest Engineering, Faculty of Agronomy and Forest Engineering, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Av. Julius Nyerere, 3453, Campus Universitario, Maputo, Mozambique., Siampale A; Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Cairo Road, Lusaka, Zambia., Syampungani S; School of Natural Resources, Copperbelt University, Kitwe, Zambia., Tchamba JJ; Herbarium of Lubango, ISCED Huíla, Sarmento Rodrigues Str. No. 2, CP 230, Lubango, Angola., Tripathi HG; Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK., Wallenfang J; Biodiversity, Evolution and Ecology of Plants, Institute of Plant Sciences and Microbiology, University of Hamburg, Ohnhorststr. 18, Hamburg, 22609, Germany., Te Beest M; Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Utrecht, 3508, the Netherlands.; Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, 6031, South Africa.; South African Environmental Observation Network, Grasslands-Forests-Wetlands Node, Montrose, 3201, South Africa., Williams M; School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FF, UK., Dexter KG; School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FF, UK.; Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH3 5LR, UK.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: The New phytologist [New Phytol] 2021 Oct; Vol. 232 (2), pp. 579-594. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Aug 11.
DOI: 10.1111/nph.17639
Abstrakt: Positive biodiversity-ecosystem function relationships (BEFRs) have been widely documented, but it is unclear if BEFRs should be expected in disturbance-driven systems. Disturbance may limit competition and niche differentiation, which are frequently posited to underlie BEFRs. We provide the first exploration of the relationship between tree species diversity and biomass, one measure of ecosystem function, across southern African woodlands and savannas, an ecological system rife with disturbance from fire, herbivores and humans. We used > 1000 vegetation plots distributed across 10 southern African countries and structural equation modelling to determine the relationship between tree species diversity and above-ground woody biomass, accounting for interacting effects of resource availability, disturbance by fire, tree stem density and vegetation type. We found positive effects of tree species diversity on above-ground biomass, operating via increased structural diversity. The observed BEFR was highly dependent on organismal density, with a minimum threshold of c. 180 mature stems ha -1 . We found that water availability mainly affects biomass indirectly, via increasing species diversity. The study underlines the close association between tree diversity, ecosystem structure, environment and function in highly disturbed savannas and woodlands. We suggest that tree diversity is an under-appreciated determinant of wooded ecosystem structure and function.
(© 2021 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2021 New Phytologist Foundation.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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