Precipitation preferences alter the relative importance of herbaceous plant diversity for multifunctionality in the drylands of China
BackgroundMultiple components of biodiversity are excellent predictors of precipitation-induced changes in ecosystem function. However, the importance of differing scales (alpha versus beta) is usually overlooked in biodiversity–ecosystem multifunctionality studies. Consequently, little is known abo...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-02-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2023.1084949/full |
| _version_ | 1797904630505537536 |
|---|---|
| author | Hao Guo Hao Guo Xiaobing Zhou Xiaobing Zhou Ye Tao Ye Tao Jinfei Yin Jinfei Yin Lan Zhang Lan Zhang Xing Guo Xing Guo Chaohong Liu Yajun Lin Yajun Lin Yuanming Zhang Yuanming Zhang |
| author_facet | Hao Guo Hao Guo Xiaobing Zhou Xiaobing Zhou Ye Tao Ye Tao Jinfei Yin Jinfei Yin Lan Zhang Lan Zhang Xing Guo Xing Guo Chaohong Liu Yajun Lin Yajun Lin Yuanming Zhang Yuanming Zhang |
| author_sort | Hao Guo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundMultiple components of biodiversity are excellent predictors of precipitation-induced changes in ecosystem function. However, the importance of differing scales (alpha versus beta) is usually overlooked in biodiversity–ecosystem multifunctionality studies. Consequently, little is known about how precipitation regulates the relationship between multifunctionality and multiple components of alpha and beta diversity.AimsWe investigated geographic patterns of herbaceous plant diversity and ecosystem multifunctionality along a precipitation gradient spanning more than 2010 km in Northwest China.MethodsWe assessed the effects of herbaceous species, phylogenetic, and functional components at different scales on multifunctionality in drylands.ResultsThe alpha diversity of species and functional beta diversity were key components explaining the variation in multifunctionality. As the main environmental factor, MAP (mean annual precipitation) affected multifunctionality by changing the mediating variables (i.e., species alpha and functional beta diversity). More importantly, a certain precipitation threshold was detected for the relationship of multifunctionality to species alpha and functional beta diversity. MAPs of approximately 158 mm and 140 mm modulated this relationship (shifting it from uncorrelated to significantly correlated).ConclusionsOur findings provide insights into previously neglected mechanisms by which diversity in herbaceous layers at different scales affects ecosystem multifunctionality. It is highlighted that MAP regulates the relationship between diversity and multifunctionality in dryland ecosystems at different scales. Further, diversity may have substantial consequences for multifunctionality where MAP is higher. These empirical results provide a comprehensive understanding of the biodiversity–multifunctionality relationship in the context of precipitation, ultimately contributing to conservation and restoration programs for multifunctionality in drylands. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T09:53:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6789e40fb9ea45849e480689bb530ea2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-701X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T09:53:09Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-6789e40fb9ea45849e480689bb530ea22023-02-16T17:18:35ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2023-02-011110.3389/fevo.2023.10849491084949Precipitation preferences alter the relative importance of herbaceous plant diversity for multifunctionality in the drylands of ChinaHao Guo0Hao Guo1Xiaobing Zhou2Xiaobing Zhou3Ye Tao4Ye Tao5Jinfei Yin6Jinfei Yin7Lan Zhang8Lan Zhang9Xing Guo10Xing Guo11Chaohong Liu12Yajun Lin13Yajun Lin14Yuanming Zhang15Yuanming Zhang16State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaBackgroundMultiple components of biodiversity are excellent predictors of precipitation-induced changes in ecosystem function. However, the importance of differing scales (alpha versus beta) is usually overlooked in biodiversity–ecosystem multifunctionality studies. Consequently, little is known about how precipitation regulates the relationship between multifunctionality and multiple components of alpha and beta diversity.AimsWe investigated geographic patterns of herbaceous plant diversity and ecosystem multifunctionality along a precipitation gradient spanning more than 2010 km in Northwest China.MethodsWe assessed the effects of herbaceous species, phylogenetic, and functional components at different scales on multifunctionality in drylands.ResultsThe alpha diversity of species and functional beta diversity were key components explaining the variation in multifunctionality. As the main environmental factor, MAP (mean annual precipitation) affected multifunctionality by changing the mediating variables (i.e., species alpha and functional beta diversity). More importantly, a certain precipitation threshold was detected for the relationship of multifunctionality to species alpha and functional beta diversity. MAPs of approximately 158 mm and 140 mm modulated this relationship (shifting it from uncorrelated to significantly correlated).ConclusionsOur findings provide insights into previously neglected mechanisms by which diversity in herbaceous layers at different scales affects ecosystem multifunctionality. It is highlighted that MAP regulates the relationship between diversity and multifunctionality in dryland ecosystems at different scales. Further, diversity may have substantial consequences for multifunctionality where MAP is higher. These empirical results provide a comprehensive understanding of the biodiversity–multifunctionality relationship in the context of precipitation, ultimately contributing to conservation and restoration programs for multifunctionality in drylands.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2023.1084949/fullbiodiversityecosystem multifunctionalityherbaceous plantsalpha diversitybeta diversitylife history strategies |
| spellingShingle | Hao Guo Hao Guo Xiaobing Zhou Xiaobing Zhou Ye Tao Ye Tao Jinfei Yin Jinfei Yin Lan Zhang Lan Zhang Xing Guo Xing Guo Chaohong Liu Yajun Lin Yajun Lin Yuanming Zhang Yuanming Zhang Precipitation preferences alter the relative importance of herbaceous plant diversity for multifunctionality in the drylands of China Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution biodiversity ecosystem multifunctionality herbaceous plants alpha diversity beta diversity life history strategies |
| title | Precipitation preferences alter the relative importance of herbaceous plant diversity for multifunctionality in the drylands of China |
| title_full | Precipitation preferences alter the relative importance of herbaceous plant diversity for multifunctionality in the drylands of China |
| title_fullStr | Precipitation preferences alter the relative importance of herbaceous plant diversity for multifunctionality in the drylands of China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Precipitation preferences alter the relative importance of herbaceous plant diversity for multifunctionality in the drylands of China |
| title_short | Precipitation preferences alter the relative importance of herbaceous plant diversity for multifunctionality in the drylands of China |
| title_sort | precipitation preferences alter the relative importance of herbaceous plant diversity for multifunctionality in the drylands of china |
| topic | biodiversity ecosystem multifunctionality herbaceous plants alpha diversity beta diversity life history strategies |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2023.1084949/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT haoguo precipitationpreferencesaltertherelativeimportanceofherbaceousplantdiversityformultifunctionalityinthedrylandsofchina AT haoguo precipitationpreferencesaltertherelativeimportanceofherbaceousplantdiversityformultifunctionalityinthedrylandsofchina AT xiaobingzhou precipitationpreferencesaltertherelativeimportanceofherbaceousplantdiversityformultifunctionalityinthedrylandsofchina AT xiaobingzhou precipitationpreferencesaltertherelativeimportanceofherbaceousplantdiversityformultifunctionalityinthedrylandsofchina AT yetao precipitationpreferencesaltertherelativeimportanceofherbaceousplantdiversityformultifunctionalityinthedrylandsofchina AT yetao precipitationpreferencesaltertherelativeimportanceofherbaceousplantdiversityformultifunctionalityinthedrylandsofchina AT jinfeiyin precipitationpreferencesaltertherelativeimportanceofherbaceousplantdiversityformultifunctionalityinthedrylandsofchina AT jinfeiyin precipitationpreferencesaltertherelativeimportanceofherbaceousplantdiversityformultifunctionalityinthedrylandsofchina AT lanzhang precipitationpreferencesaltertherelativeimportanceofherbaceousplantdiversityformultifunctionalityinthedrylandsofchina AT lanzhang precipitationpreferencesaltertherelativeimportanceofherbaceousplantdiversityformultifunctionalityinthedrylandsofchina AT xingguo precipitationpreferencesaltertherelativeimportanceofherbaceousplantdiversityformultifunctionalityinthedrylandsofchina AT xingguo precipitationpreferencesaltertherelativeimportanceofherbaceousplantdiversityformultifunctionalityinthedrylandsofchina AT chaohongliu precipitationpreferencesaltertherelativeimportanceofherbaceousplantdiversityformultifunctionalityinthedrylandsofchina AT yajunlin precipitationpreferencesaltertherelativeimportanceofherbaceousplantdiversityformultifunctionalityinthedrylandsofchina AT yajunlin precipitationpreferencesaltertherelativeimportanceofherbaceousplantdiversityformultifunctionalityinthedrylandsofchina AT yuanmingzhang precipitationpreferencesaltertherelativeimportanceofherbaceousplantdiversityformultifunctionalityinthedrylandsofchina AT yuanmingzhang precipitationpreferencesaltertherelativeimportanceofherbaceousplantdiversityformultifunctionalityinthedrylandsofchina |