Biodiversity–ecosystem function

2021 ◽  
pp. 137-146
Author(s):  
Simon F. Thrush ◽  
Judi E. Hewitt ◽  
Conrad A. Pilditch ◽  
Alf Norkko
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Ecosystem Function ◽  
Functional Performance ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Soft Sediment ◽  
Multiple Functions ◽  
Service Relationships ◽  
Biodiversity And Ecosystem Function ◽  
Up Scaling

This chapter looks at the links between biodiversity and ecosystem function in soft sediments to help understand the implications of biodiversity loss on ecosystem services. The chapter contains a focus on the challenges in developing real-world tests of biodiversity–ecosystem function (BEF) relationships. The various forms of BEF relationships, their implications and the different elements of biodiversity that link to function are described. Given the multiple functions that occur in soft-sediment ecosystems, this has important implications for the assessment and implications of BEF relationships and functional performance in the up-scaling of BEF relationships. The role of BEF in underpinning many ecosystem services and the interconnections in biodiversity and ecosystem service relationships close out the chapter.

scholarly journals Changes in the location of biodiversity–ecosystem function hot spots across the seafloor landscape with increasing sediment nutrient loading

2017 ◽  
Vol 284 (1852) ◽  
pp. 20162861 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon F. Thrush ◽  
Judi E. Hewitt ◽  
Casper Kraan ◽  
A. M. Lohrer ◽  
Conrad A. Pilditch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Pore Water ◽  
Ecosystem Function ◽  
Nutrient Loading ◽  
Functional Performance ◽  
Nitrogen Concentration ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Coastal Marine ◽  
Intertidal Sandflat

Declining biodiversity and loss of ecosystem function threatens the ability of habitats to contribute ecosystem services. However, the form of the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem function (BEF) and how relationships change with environmental change is poorly understood. This limits our ability to predict the consequences of biodiversity loss on ecosystem function, particularly in real-world marine ecosystems that are species rich, and where multiple ecosystem functions are represented by multiple indicators. We investigated spatial variation in BEF relationships across a 300 000 m 2 intertidal sandflat by nesting experimental manipulations of sediment pore water nitrogen concentration into sites with contrasting macrobenthic community composition. Our results highlight the significance of many different elements of biodiversity associated with environmental characteristics, community structure, functional diversity, ecological traits or particular species (ecosystem engineers) to important functions of coastal marine sediments (benthic oxygen consumption, ammonium pore water concentrations and flux across the sediment–water interface). Using the BEF relationships developed from our experiment, we demonstrate patchiness across a landscape in functional performance and the potential for changes in the location of functional hot and cold spots with increasing nutrient loading that have important implications for mapping and predicating change in functionality and the concomitant delivery of ecosystem services.

Ecosystem functions and the work of soft sediments

2021 ◽  
pp. 121-136
Author(s):  
Simon F. Thrush ◽  
Judi E. Hewitt ◽  
Conrad A. Pilditch ◽  
Alf Norkko
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Ecosystem Function ◽  
Ecosystem Processes ◽  
Ecosystem Dynamics ◽  
Ecosystem Metabolism ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Habitat Creation ◽  
New Methods

This chapter describes various aspects of how we can define ecosystem function and situations ecosystem function in a continuum from ecosystem processes to services. Illustrating that functions are about connections, the chapter uses examples of productivity, organic matter decomposition, ecosystem metabolism, habitat creation and foodwebs. Changes in the contributions of function to ecosystem dynamics are considered. Sedimentary ecosystems are multifunctional, requiring the development of new methods to assess this aspect of sediments and trait-based approaches are discussed. The role of ecosystem functions in underpinning ecosystem services is described to ensure that valuation and mapping exercises do not lose sight of the foundational role of ecosystem functions.

BioLink: Linking belowground biodiversity and ecosystem function in European forests

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas Godbold ◽  
Mark Bakker ◽  
Ivanno Brunner ◽  
Martin Lukac
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Ecosystem Service ◽  
Soil Biota ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Unit Surface Area ◽  
Soil Biodiversity ◽  
European Forests ◽  
Biodiversity And Ecosystem Function ◽  
Belowground Diversity

<p>Biodiversity of ecosystems is an important driver for the supply of ecosystem services to people. Soils often have a larger biodiversity per unit surface area than what can be observed aboveground. Here, we present what is to our knowledge, the most extensive literature-based key-word assessment of the existing information about the relationships between belowground biodiversity and ecosystem services in European forests. The belowground diversity of plant roots, fungi, prokaryota, soil fauna, and protists was evaluated in relation to the supply of Provisioning, Regulating, Cultural, and Supporting Services. The soil biota were divided into 14 subgroups and the ecosystem services into 37 separate services. Out of the 518 possible combinations of biotic groups and ecosystem services, no published study was found for 374 combinations (72%). Of the remaining 144 combinations (28%) where relationships were found, the large majority (87%) showed a positive relationship between biodiversity of a belowground biotic group and an associated ecosystem service. We concluded that (1) soil biodiversity is generally positively related to ecosystem services in European forests; (2) the links between soil biodiversity and Cultural or Supporting services are better documented than those relating to Provisioning and Regulating services; (3) there is a huge knowledge gap for most possible combinations of soil biota and ecosystem services regarding how a more biodiverse soil biota is associated with a given ecosystem service. Given the drastically increasing societal demand for knowledge of the role of biodiversity in the functioning of ecosystems and the supply of ecosystem services, we strongly encourage the scientific community to conduct well-designed studies incorporating the belowground diversity and the functions and services associated with this diversity.</p>

scholarly journals Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function in the Gulf of Maine: Pattern and Role of Zooplankton and Pelagic Nekton

PLoS ONE ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. e16491 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine L. Johnson ◽  
Jeffrey A. Runge ◽  
K. Alexandra Curtis ◽  
Edward G. Durbin ◽  
Jonathan A. Hare ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Function ◽  
Gulf Of Maine ◽  
Biodiversity And Ecosystem Function ◽  
Pelagic Nekton

Consequences of realistic patterns of biodiversity loss: an experimental test from the intertidal zone

2010 ◽  
Vol 61 (9) ◽  
pp. 1015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meaghan K. Walker ◽  
Ross M. Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Function ◽  
Sea Water ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Species Identity ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
Biodiversity And Ecosystem Function ◽  
Positive Effect

Studies of the effects of biodiversity on ecosystem function (BDEF) have largely found positive, saturating relationships. However, these studies have been criticised for generating species loss randomly when real extinctions are strongly biased toward rare species. We investigated BDEF relationships in the mollusc fauna of an intertidal rock platform at Griffiths Point, San Remo, south-east Victoria, Australia. Field surveys found that areas with the lowest function (mollusc biomass) were associated with lowest diversity. Excluding individual species from experimental enclosures affected function differentially depending on species’ initial abundance. Rectangular enclosures were attached to the rock platform enabling molluscs to be enclosed while allowing sea water to flow through. Removal of the most abundant species had a positive effect on mollusc biomass, suggesting an inhibition of the other species in the community. In the absence of the most common species, the less abundant species were more productive in combination than when present singly. Taken collectively, these results provide evidence for a relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem function which is a product of both diversity per se and species identity.

scholarly journals Biodiversity in the context of ecosystem services: the applied need for systems approaches

2012 ◽  
Vol 367 (1586) ◽  
pp. 191-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ken Norris
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Biological Organization ◽  
Systems Approaches ◽  
Biodiversity Change ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Species Specific

Recent evidence strongly suggests that biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation continue. How might a systems approach to ecology help us better understand and address these issues? Systems approaches play a very limited role in the science that underpins traditional biodiversity conservation, but could provide important insights into mechanisms that affect population growth. This potential is illustrated using data from a critically endangered bird population. Although species-specific insights have practical value, the main applied challenge for a systems approach is to help improve our understanding of the role of biodiversity in the context of ecosystem services (ES) and the associated values and benefits people derive from these services. This has profound implications for the way we conceptualize and address ecological problems. Instead of focusing directly on biodiversity, the important response variables become measures of values and benefits, ES or ecosystem processes. We then need to understand the sensitivity of these variables to biodiversity change relative to other abiotic or anthropogenic factors, which includes exploring the role of variability at different levels of biological organization. These issues are discussed using the recent UK National Ecosystems Assessment as a framework.

scholarly journals Building towards the marine conservation end‐game: consolidating the role of MPAs in a future ocean

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark D. Spalding ◽  
Imen Meliane ◽  
Nathan Bennett ◽  
Philip Dearden ◽  
Pawan G. Patil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Ecosystem Service ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Marine Conservation ◽  
Conservation Effort ◽  
Marine Protection ◽  
Definition Of

Progress on spatial conservation efforts in marine environments is often summarized with the simplistic metric of extent. However, targets require a more nuanced view, where ecological effectiveness, biodiversity, representation, connectivity and ecosystem services must all be recognized. Furthermore, these targets must be achieved through equitable processes and produce equitable outcomes.This paper calls for a clearer definition of what is to be ‘counted’ in assessing progress in marine conservation, through the use of both traditionally defined marine protected areas and a limited subset of other equivalent areas. It calls for future effort to draw a clear distinction between non‐extractive areas such as no‐take marine reserves, and the more numerous extractive areas. To be considered protected, sites must be ecologically effective, and be equitably managed to support all stakeholders.Spatial extent of coverage is only one constituent part of conservation effort, however, and much greater effort is needed to ensure that sites are selected to achieve optimum conservation outcomes for biodiversity and for ecosystem services. The paper reviews some of the existing views and approaches to defining and delimiting marine protection priorities.It recommends that with a clearer set of metrics for defining protection, and for assessing progress and setting future targets, marine conservation will be better placed to achieve lasting outcomes, including halting biodiversity loss and securing or enhancing ecosystem service provision. Protected spaces will continue to play a major role in future oceans, but they also need to be configured within a wider spatial framework.

Ecosystem services networks: an accessible framework for decision-making

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manu Saunders ◽  
Romina Rader ◽  
Darren Ryder ◽  
Oscar Cacho
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Ecosystem Function ◽  
Multiple Scales ◽  
Landscape Management ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approach ◽  
Unified Framework ◽  
Services Research ◽  
Human Wellbeing ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
Biodiversity And Ecosystem Function

Multifunctional landscapes provide multiple ecosystem services and are managed collaboratively to preserve biodiversity and ecosystem function and support human wellbeing. Linking ecological patterns across systems is essential to advance ecosystem services research and inform ecologically-sustainable landscape management. Network theory provides a robust, accessible framework to build knowledge of ecosystem services, engage with stakeholders, and link disciplinary knowledge and system processes across multiple scales. But two major knowledge gaps need to be overcome to facilitate a unified framework for quantifying ecosystem services via integrated social, ecological and economic networks: (i) methods to link social actors with biodiversity and ecosystem function across different systems (terrestrial—aquatic and social—ecological); and (ii) a simple ecosystem services network typology that is relevant across disciplines and systems, and is accessible to practitioners. We advocate an interdisciplinary approach to ecosystem services networks that is grounded in ecological theory. Research and practice should prioritise understanding critical connections between systems, particularly terrestrial—aquatic energy flows and relationships between biodiversity, ecosystem function and human wellbeing.

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