Soil biodiversity and soil community composition determine ecosystem multifunctionality
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Significance: Biological diversity is the foundation for the maintenance of ecosystems. Consequently it is thought that anthropogenic activities that reduce the diversity in ecosystems threaten ecosystem performance. A large proportion of the biodiversity within terrestrial ecosystems is hidden below ground in soils, and the impact of altering its diversity and composition on the performance of ecosystems is still poorly understood. Using a novel experimental system to alter levels of soil biodiversity and community composition, we found that reductions in the abundance and presence of soil organisms results in the decline of multiple ecosystem functions, including plant diversity and nutrient cycling and retention. This suggests that below-ground biodiversity is a key resource for maintaining the functioning of ecosystems.
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Enhancing the diversity of biological communities, both above and below ground, can increase resource use efficiency and the stability of ecosystem production over time.
“Enhancing the diversity of biological communities, both above and below ground, can increase resource use efficiency and the stability of ecosystem production over time (5–7).”
From Agricultural diversification promotes multiple ecosystem services without compromising yield (2020) · cites this paper as [6]
Soil bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi were enhanced by diversification.
“Soil bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, which are key contributors to soil functioning, were also enhanced (fig. S6 and table S2) (6).”
From Agricultural diversification promotes multiple ecosystem services without compromising yield (2020) · cites this paper as [6]
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- Authors
- Wagg, C., Bender, S. F., Widmer, F., & van der Heijden, M. G. A.
- Affiliations
- University of Zurich (CH)
- Agroscope (CH)
- Plant Soil Interactions and
- Venue
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- Publisher
- National Academy of Sciences
- Published
- 2014-03-17
- Volume
- 111
- Issue
- 14
- Pages
- 5266-5270
- ISSN
- 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
- 1091-6490
- PMC
- PMC3986181
- OpenAlex
- W2118554039
- Cited by
- 2,550
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 265 · 2025: 321 · 2024: 357 · 2023: 278 · 2022: 294 · 2021: 250 · 2020: 198 · 2019: 183 · 2018: 130 · 2017: 95 · 2016: 84 · 2015: 72 · 2014: 20
- FWCI
- 127.04
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (acceptedVersion)
- Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Keywords
- soil biodiversity, soil community composition, ecosystem multifunctionality, biodiversity loss, soil biodiversity loss, ecosystem functioning, plant diversity, decomposition, nutrient retention, nutrient cycling, grassland, land use intensification, ecosystem services
- MeSH terms
- Soil, Soil Microbiology, Ecosystem, Biodiversity
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