Nitrogen availability and plant functional composition modify biodiversity-multifunctionality relationships

dc.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Bern - Allan, Eric
dc.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Oulu - Pichon, Noémie
dc.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Helsinki - Cappelli, Seraina
dc.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Alicante - Soliveres, Santiago
dc.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Bern - Mannall, Tosca
dc.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Bern - Nwe, Thu Zar
dc.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Münster - Hölzel, Norbert
dc.contributor.affiliationETH Zurich - Klaus, Valentin
dc.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Giessen - Kleinebecker, Till
dc.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Bern - Vincent, Hugo
dc.contributor.authorAllan, Eric
dc.contributor.authorPichon, Noémie
dc.contributor.authorCappelli, Seraina
dc.contributor.authorSoliveres, Santiago
dc.contributor.authorMannall, Tosca
dc.contributor.authorNwe, Thu Zar
dc.contributor.authorHölzel, Norbert
dc.contributor.authorKlaus, Valentin
dc.contributor.authorKleinebecker, Till
dc.contributor.authorVincent, Hugo
dc.date.accessioned2025-03-24T15:21:08Z
dc.date.issued2022-05-24
dc.date.issued2022-05-24
dc.descriptionThe ability of an ecosystem to deliver multiple functions at high levels (multifunctionality) typically increases with biodiversity but there is substantial variation in the strength and direction of biodiversity effects, suggesting context-dependency. A better understanding of the drivers of this context dependency is essential to predict effects of global change on ecosystems. To determine how different factors modulate the effect of diversity on multifunctionality, we established a large grassland experiment with 216 communities, crossing a manipulation of plant species richness (1, 4, 8, 20 species) with manipulations of resources (nitrogen enrichment), plant functional composition (gradient in mean specific leaf area [SLA] to manipulate abundances of exploitative, fast-growing vs. conservative, slow-growing species), plant functional diversity (variance in SLA) and enemy abundance (foliar fungal pathogen removal). We measured ten above- and belowground functions, related to productivity, nutrient cycling and energy transfer between trophic levels, and calculated ecosystem multifunctionality. Plant species richness and functional diversity both increased multifunctionality, but their effects were context dependent. Species richness increased multifunctionality only when communities were assembled with fast growing (high SLA) species. This was because slow species were more redundant in their functional effects, whereas different fast species tended to promote different functions. Functional diversity also increased multifunctionality but this effect was dampened by nitrogen enrichment. However, unfertilised, functionally diverse communities still delivered more functions than low diversity, fertilised communities. Our study suggests that a shift towards fast-growing exploitative communities will not only alter ecosystem functioning but also the strength of biodiversity-functioning relationships, which highlights the potentially complex effects of global change on multifunctionality.
dc.identifierhttps://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.dbrv15f3j
dc.identifier.urihttps://hydatakatalogi-test-24.it.helsinki.fi/handle/123456789/10728
dc.rightsOpen
dc.rights.licensecc-zero
dc.subjectbiodiversity-ecosystem function
dc.subjectEcosystem multifunctionality
dc.subjectfunctional traits
dc.subjectnitrogen (N)
dc.subjectFungal pathogens
dc.titleNitrogen availability and plant functional composition modify biodiversity-multifunctionality relationships
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