Does β diversity predict ecosystem productivity better than species diversity?

There is consensus that greater biodiversity is essential to maintain the ecosystem function and stability. Variation in spatial plant community heterogeneity (β diversity) affects productivity and ecosystems function; however, relatively few studies have addressed how β diversity and its components...

Descripción completa

Guardado en:
Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Reza Omidipour, Pejman Tahmasebi, Mohsen Faal Faizabadi, Marzban Faramarzi, Ataollah Ebrahimi
Formato: article
Lenguaje:EN
Publicado: Elsevier 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://doaj.org/article/430f6cc893c04ac6bb49a1ac7318814e
Etiquetas: Agregar Etiqueta
Sin Etiquetas, Sea el primero en etiquetar este registro!
id oai:doaj.org-article:430f6cc893c04ac6bb49a1ac7318814e
record_format dspace
spelling oai:doaj.org-article:430f6cc893c04ac6bb49a1ac7318814e2021-12-01T04:39:02ZDoes β diversity predict ecosystem productivity better than species diversity?1470-160X10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.107212https://doaj.org/article/430f6cc893c04ac6bb49a1ac7318814e2021-03-01T00:00:00Zhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X20311511https://doaj.org/toc/1470-160XThere is consensus that greater biodiversity is essential to maintain the ecosystem function and stability. Variation in spatial plant community heterogeneity (β diversity) affects productivity and ecosystems function; however, relatively few studies have addressed how β diversity and its components (i.e. species turnover and nestedness) may relate to ecosystems function. In this study, we assessed plant community diversity (richness and evenness) and spatial heterogeneity along a productivity gradient in different bioclimatic regions including desert-steppe, steppe, semi-steppe and Mediterranean rangelands in south west of Iran, and tested (1): how and to what extent the different components of plant diversity affect aboveground biomass (AGB; as ecosystem productivity) and (2): the mechanisms underlying the relationship between β diversity and ecosystem productivity; i.e. niche complementary and selection effects. Sampling was executed in each bioclimatic region by choosing eight sites and estimating AGB of plant species in 2 × 2 m plots nested within 3 macro plots of 30 × 30 m.The results showed that AGB was significantly predicted by species richness; positively in desert-steppe, steppe and semi-steppe rangelands and negatively in Mediterranean rangeland. Furthermore, AGB was negatively predicted by evenness in desert-steppe and semi-steppe rangelands. There were significantly negative relationships between β diversity and AGB in desert-steppe, steppe and semi-steppe rangelands, while, the significantly positive relationship was found for Mediterranean rangeland. The AGB was significantly and positively related to the turnover and nestedness components of β diversity in Mediterranean rangeland. However, a negative relationship was found with turnover in desert-steppe and semi-steppe rangelands.Our results indicate that niche complementarity may play a critical role in providing and provision ecosystems productivity in steppe and Mediterranean rangelands, while, both selection effects and niche complementarity hypotheses could be verified in low-productive regions (desert-steppe and semi-steppe rangelands). Comparing the strength of species diversity with β diversity in predicting ecosystems productivity across different bioclimatic regions, our results revealed that β diversity predict ecosystems productivity more effectively and provide support for biodiversity-ecosystems function theories.Reza OmidipourPejman TahmasebiMohsen Faal FaizabadiMarzban FaramarziAtaollah EbrahimiElsevierarticleBiodiversityβ diversityProductivity gradientRangeland managementNiche complementaritySelection effectsEcologyQH540-549.5ENEcological Indicators, Vol 122, Iss , Pp 107212- (2021)
institution DOAJ
collection DOAJ
language EN
topic Biodiversity
β diversity
Productivity gradient
Rangeland management
Niche complementarity
Selection effects
Ecology
QH540-549.5
spellingShingle Biodiversity
β diversity
Productivity gradient
Rangeland management
Niche complementarity
Selection effects
Ecology
QH540-549.5
Reza Omidipour
Pejman Tahmasebi
Mohsen Faal Faizabadi
Marzban Faramarzi
Ataollah Ebrahimi
Does β diversity predict ecosystem productivity better than species diversity?
description There is consensus that greater biodiversity is essential to maintain the ecosystem function and stability. Variation in spatial plant community heterogeneity (β diversity) affects productivity and ecosystems function; however, relatively few studies have addressed how β diversity and its components (i.e. species turnover and nestedness) may relate to ecosystems function. In this study, we assessed plant community diversity (richness and evenness) and spatial heterogeneity along a productivity gradient in different bioclimatic regions including desert-steppe, steppe, semi-steppe and Mediterranean rangelands in south west of Iran, and tested (1): how and to what extent the different components of plant diversity affect aboveground biomass (AGB; as ecosystem productivity) and (2): the mechanisms underlying the relationship between β diversity and ecosystem productivity; i.e. niche complementary and selection effects. Sampling was executed in each bioclimatic region by choosing eight sites and estimating AGB of plant species in 2 × 2 m plots nested within 3 macro plots of 30 × 30 m.The results showed that AGB was significantly predicted by species richness; positively in desert-steppe, steppe and semi-steppe rangelands and negatively in Mediterranean rangeland. Furthermore, AGB was negatively predicted by evenness in desert-steppe and semi-steppe rangelands. There were significantly negative relationships between β diversity and AGB in desert-steppe, steppe and semi-steppe rangelands, while, the significantly positive relationship was found for Mediterranean rangeland. The AGB was significantly and positively related to the turnover and nestedness components of β diversity in Mediterranean rangeland. However, a negative relationship was found with turnover in desert-steppe and semi-steppe rangelands.Our results indicate that niche complementarity may play a critical role in providing and provision ecosystems productivity in steppe and Mediterranean rangelands, while, both selection effects and niche complementarity hypotheses could be verified in low-productive regions (desert-steppe and semi-steppe rangelands). Comparing the strength of species diversity with β diversity in predicting ecosystems productivity across different bioclimatic regions, our results revealed that β diversity predict ecosystems productivity more effectively and provide support for biodiversity-ecosystems function theories.
format article
author Reza Omidipour
Pejman Tahmasebi
Mohsen Faal Faizabadi
Marzban Faramarzi
Ataollah Ebrahimi
author_facet Reza Omidipour
Pejman Tahmasebi
Mohsen Faal Faizabadi
Marzban Faramarzi
Ataollah Ebrahimi
author_sort Reza Omidipour
title Does β diversity predict ecosystem productivity better than species diversity?
title_short Does β diversity predict ecosystem productivity better than species diversity?
title_full Does β diversity predict ecosystem productivity better than species diversity?
title_fullStr Does β diversity predict ecosystem productivity better than species diversity?
title_full_unstemmed Does β diversity predict ecosystem productivity better than species diversity?
title_sort does β diversity predict ecosystem productivity better than species diversity?
publisher Elsevier
publishDate 2021
url https://doaj.org/article/430f6cc893c04ac6bb49a1ac7318814e
work_keys_str_mv AT rezaomidipour doesbdiversitypredictecosystemproductivitybetterthanspeciesdiversity
AT pejmantahmasebi doesbdiversitypredictecosystemproductivitybetterthanspeciesdiversity
AT mohsenfaalfaizabadi doesbdiversitypredictecosystemproductivitybetterthanspeciesdiversity
AT marzbanfaramarzi doesbdiversitypredictecosystemproductivitybetterthanspeciesdiversity
AT ataollahebrahimi doesbdiversitypredictecosystemproductivitybetterthanspeciesdiversity
_version_ 1718405837492322304