The functional role of producer diversity in ecosystems
Open accessAbstract
Over the past several decades, a rapidly expanding field of research known as biodiversity and ecosystem functioning has begun to quantify how the world's biological diversity can, as an independent variable, control ecological processes that are both essential for, and fundamental to, the functioning of ecosystems. Research in this area has often been justified on grounds that (1) loss of biological diversity ranks among the most pronounced changes to the global environment and that (2) reductions in diversity, and corresponding changes in species composition, could alter important services that ecosystems provide to humanity (e.g., food production, pest/disease control, water purification). Here we review over two decades of experiments that have examined how species richness of primary producers influences the suite of ecological processes that are controlled by plants and algae in terrestrial, marine, and freshwater ecosystems. Using formal meta‐analyses, we assess the balance of evidence for eight fundamental questions and corresponding hypotheses about the functional role of producer diversity in ecosystems. These include questions about how primary producer diversity influences the efficiency of resource use and biomass production in ecosystems, how primary producer diversity influences the transfer and recycling of biomass to other trophic groups in a food web, and the number of species and spatial /temporal scales at which diversity effects are most apparent. After summarizing the balance of evidence and stating our own confidence in the conclusions, we outline several new questions that must now be addressed if this field is going to evolve into a predictive science that can help conserve and manage ecological processes in ecosystems.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
On average across many ecosystems, species identity and diversity each contributes roughly 50% to the net biodiversity effect.
“each contributes roughly 50% to the net biodiversity effect 12”
From Biodiversity loss and its impact on humanity (2012) · cites this paper as [12]
In the discussion of mechanisms, the paper finds that species-selection and complementarity effects make comparable average contributions to producer biomass in terrestrial ecosystems. It does not establish a roughly 50/50 split across ecosystems: in aquatic ecosystems, selection effects make no consistent contribution. The cited passages have no page numbers in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe impact of biodiversity on any single ecosystem process is non-linear and saturating, such that change accelerates as biodiversity loss increases.
“The impact of biodiversity on any single ecosystem process is non -linear and saturating, such that change accelerates as biodiversity loss increases”
From Biodiversity loss and its impact on humanity (2012) · cites this paper as [12]
Question 6 reports that diversity–function relationships are generally positive and saturating, and that losses of more species can lead to accelerating change in a measured process. It does not establish this pattern for *any* single ecosystem process; its conclusion is qualified as general and based on the processes studied in biodiversity experiments. The supplied copy gives a section label but no page number. (LLM, conf=0.83)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredBiodiversity loss reduces the efficiency by which ecological communities capture biologically essential resources, produce biomass, decompose and recycle biologically essential nutrients.
“There is now unequivocal evidence that biodiversity loss reduces the efficiency by which ecological communities capture biologically essential resources, produce biomass, decompose and recycle biologically essential nutrients”
From Biodiversity loss and its impact on humanity (2012) · cites this paper as [12]
The paper’s Q1 summary reports strong evidence that loss of producer species reduces biomass and resource assimilation. Its Q3 summary associates producer diversity with faster litter decomposition, but rates that evidence as limited and inconsistent across systems. The claim’s ‘unequivocal’ wording extends these findings to biodiversity generally and to nutrient recycling, which the cited passages discuss as a possible fate of decomposed litter rather than establish as a measured outcome. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredBoth the identity and the diversity of organisms jointly control the functioning of ecosystems.
“both the identity and the diversity of organisms jointly control the functioning of ecosystems”
From Biodiversity loss and its impact on humanity (2012) · cites this paper as [12]
There are exceptions to the general rule that biodiversity loss reduces ecosystem functioning for some ecosystems and processes.
“There are exceptions to this statement for some ecosystems and processes 12,32,36”
From Biodiversity loss and its impact on humanity (2012) · cites this paper as [12]
Initial losses of biodiversity in diverse ecosystems have relatively small impacts on ecosystem functions, but increasing losses lead to accelerating rates of change.
“initial losses of biodiversity in diverse ecosystems have relatively small impacts on ecosystem functions, but increasing losses lead to accelerating rates of change 12,25,31”
From Biodiversity loss and its impact on humanity (2012) · cites this paper as [12]
Biodiversity effects on ecosystem functioning are remarkably consistent across different groups of organisms, among trophic levels, and across the various ecosystems that have been studied.
“Biodiversity effects appear remarkably consistent across different groups of organisms, among trophic levels, and across the various ecosystems that have been studied 12,24,25,31”
From Biodiversity loss and its impact on humanity (2012) · cites this paper as [12]
Limited data support the notion that diversity effects grow stronger at larger spatial scales and with greater resource heterogeneity.
“Limited data also support the notion that diversity effects grow stronger at larger spatial scales 12,60,61 and with greater resource heterogeneity 62 -64”
From Biodiversity loss and its impact on humanity (2012) · cites this paper as [12]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredLoss of one or a few top predator species can reduce plant biomass by at least as much as does the transformation of a diverse plant assemblage into a species monoculture.
“Loss of one or a few top predator species can reduce plant biomass by at least as much 52 as does the transformation of a diverse plant assemblage into a species monoculture 12”
From Biodiversity loss and its impact on humanity (2012) · cites this paper as [12]
Genetic or species diversity of algae enhances removal of nutrient pollutants from freshwater.
“There are examples where genetic or species diversity of algae enhances removal of nutrient pollutants from freshwater 12”
From Biodiversity loss and its impact on humanity (2012) · cites this paper as [12]
Substantial experimental evidence shows that species diversity of plants and algae increases uptake of nutrient pollutants from soil and water.
“BEF and BES researchers have amassed substantial experimental evidence showing that species diversity of plants and algae increase uptake of nutrient pollutants from soil and water 12,24,25,33,63 .”
From Biodiversity loss and its impact on humanity (2012) · cites this paper as [12]
Statistical models quantify the functional form of the effects of biodiversity on nutrient uptake.
“We have statistical models that quantify the functional form of these effects 12,31”
From Biodiversity loss and its impact on humanity (2012) · cites this paper as [12]
The shape of the Biodiversity-Ecosystem Functioning (BEF) relationship is summarized based on several hundred experiments.
“This conceptual diagram summarizes what we know about the shape of the Biodiversity -Ecosystem Functioning (BEF) relationship based on summaries of several hundred experiments 12,24 -35 .”
From Biodiversity loss and its impact on humanity (2012) · cites this paper as [12]
The negligible effects of biomass of single tree species on the relationship between tree species richness and ecosystem services suggest complementarity among tree species.
“The negligible effects of the biomass of single tree species on the relationship between tree species richness and ecosystem services in our study suggest complementarity among tree species, for example, resource partitioning, often referred to as ‘complementarity effects' (or effects of species richness per se) in experimental studies5.”
From Higher levels of multiple ecosystem services are found in forests with more tree species (2013) · cites this paper as [5]
Human-driven biodiversity loss could substantially reduce ecosystem services because species loss often alters material and energy pools and fluxes.
“Biodiversity loss driven by humans1–3 could substantially diminish the benefits that people derive from nature (ecosystem services)4–6 because the loss of species often alters the pools and fluxes of materials and energy in nature (ecosystem functioning)7–9”
From Linking the influence and dependence of people on biodiversity across scales (2017) · cites this paper as [8]
At smaller spatial and shorter temporal scales, species losses often reduce ecosystem functioning, lowering resource capture and biomass production.
“On the smaller spatial and shorter temporal scales over which species interact with one another, species losses often decrease ecosystem functioning (Fig. 1b), resulting in a reduction in the efficiency with which ecological communities capture biologically essential resources such as soil nutrients and produce biomass8,9.”
From Linking the influence and dependence of people on biodiversity across scales (2017) · cites this paper as [8]
Species differences in resource use or enemy resistance can reduce competition and increase productivity in diverse communities.
“species can differ in the ways in which they exploit resources or resist natural enemies, thereby reducing competition and enhancing productivity in diverse communities8,26,27.”
From Linking the influence and dependence of people on biodiversity across scales (2017) · cites this paper as [8]
The increase in ecosystem functioning per added species becomes smaller as species richness increases.
“This is because the increase in ecosystem functioning per added species becomes smaller as species richness increases8,9,21 (Fig. 2a).”
From Linking the influence and dependence of people on biodiversity across scales (2017) · cites this paper as [8]
Spatial insurance effects can enhance biodiversity effects at larger spatial scales in heterogeneous landscapes, and temporal insurance effects can enhance biodiversity effects over longer temporal scales in fluctuating environments.
“Therefore, just as spatial insurance effects54 can enhance biodiversity effects at larger spatial scales in heterogeneous landscapes19,58,59, temporal insurance effects32 can enhance biodiversity effects over longer temporal scales in fluctuating environments8,31,58 (Fig. 3).”
From Linking the influence and dependence of people on biodiversity across scales (2017) · cites this paper as [8]
Under specific environmental conditions, a well-selected single-species planting can match a species mixture for one function.
“Although a carefully chosen monoculture may perform as well as a mixture of species for a single function under a particular set of environmental conditions8, many species contribute to many ecosystem functions under a wider range of conditions58,81,92,93.”
From Linking the influence and dependence of people on biodiversity across scales (2017) · cites this paper as [8]
General principles of the effects of biodiversity on litter decomposition have proved elusive: both pioneering work and recent syntheses have highlighted contrasting effects of litter species richness on decomposition.
“General principles of the effects of biodiversity on litter decomposition have proved elusive: both pioneering work 14 and recent syntheses have highlighted contrasting effects of litter species richness on decomposition 4-6,15,16 .”
From Consequences of biodiversity loss for litter decomposition across biomes (2014) · cites this paper as [6]
Despite comprehensive syntheses of studies on how biodiversity affects litter decomposition, key questions remain, including when, where and how biodiversity has a role and whether general patterns and mechanisms occur across ecosystems and different functional types of organism.
“Yet despite comprehensive syntheses of studies on how biodiversity affects litter decomposition 4-6,10 , key questions remain,includingwhen, where and how biodiversity has a role and whether general patterns and mechanisms occur across ecosystems and different functional types of organism 4,9-12 .”
From Consequences of biodiversity loss for litter decomposition across biomes (2014) · cites this paper as [6]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
A safe operating space for humanity
Rockström, J., Steffen, W., Noone, K., Persson, Å., Chapin, F. S., Lambin, E. F., Lenton, T. M., Scheffer, M., Folke, C., Schellnhuber, H. J., et al. (2009) · Nature · doi:10.1038/461472a · Cited by 13,333 · see citing works
Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Synthesis
Assessment, M. E. (2005) · Island Press · doi:10.5281/zenodo.18167309 · Cited by 10,665 · see citing works
Human domination of Earth’s ecosystems
Vitousek, P. M., Mooney, H. A., Lubchenco, J., & Melillo, J. M. (1997) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.277.5325.494 · Cited by 9,086 · see citing works
EFFECTS OF BIODIVERSITY ON ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONING: A CONSENSUS OF CURRENT KNOWLEDGE
Hooper, D. U., Chapin, F. S., Ewel, J. J., Hector, A., Inchausti, P., Lavorel, S., Lawton, J. H., Lodge, D. M., Loreau, M., Naeem, S., et al. (2005) · Ecological Monographs · doi:10.1890/04-0922 · Cited by 8,046 · see citing works
Self-citationMechanisms of Maintenance of Species Diversity
Chesson, P. (2000) · Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics · doi:10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.31.1.343 · Cited by 6,645 · see citing works
The meta-analysis of response ratios in experimental ecology
Hedges, L. V., Gurevitch, J., & Curtis, P. S. (1999) · Ecology · doi:10.1890/0012-9658(1999)080[1150:tmaorr]2.0.co;2 · Cited by 4,704 · see citing works
Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning: Current knowledge and future challenges
Loreau, M., Naeem, S., Inchausti, P., Bengtsson, J., Grime, J. P., Hector, A., Hooper, D. U., Huston, M. A., Raffaelli, D., Schmid, B., et al. (2001) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1064088 · Cited by 4,649 · see citing works
Self-citationImpacts of Biodiversity Loss on Ocean Ecosystem Services
Worm, B., Barbier, E. B., Beaumont, N., Duffy, J. E., Folke, C., Halpern, B. S., Jackson, J. B. C., Lotze, H. K., Micheli, F., Palumbi, S. R., et al. (2006) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1132294 · Cited by 4,544 · see citing works
Ecological Stoichiometry: The Biology of Elements from Molecules to the Biosphere
Sterner, R. W., & Elser, J. J. (2002) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 4,476 · see citing works
Organisms as Ecosystem Engineers
Jones, C. G., Lawton, J. H., & Shachak, M. (1994) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-4612-4018-1_14 · Cited by 4,294 · see citing works
Hutchinson, E. G. (1957) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 3,850 · see citing works
Partitioning selection and complementarity in biodiversity experiments
Loreau, M., & Hector, A. (2001) · Nature · doi:10.1038/35083573 · Cited by 3,528 · see citing works
Productivity and sustainability influenced by biodiversity in grassland ecosystems.
Tilman, D., Wedin, D., & Knops, J. (1996) · Nature · doi:10.1038/379718a0 · Cited by 2,803 · see citing works
Quantifying the evidence for biodiversity effects on ecosystem functioning and services
Balvanera, P., Pfisterer, A. B., Buchmann, N., He, J., Nakashizuka, T., Raffaelli, D., & Schmid, B. (2006) · Ecology Letters · doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2006.00963.x · Cited by 2,650 · see citing works
Self-citationDiversity and Productivity in a Long-Term Grassland Experiment
Tilman, D., Reich, P. B., Knops, J., Wedin, D., Mielke, T., & Lehman, C. (2001) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1060391 · Cited by 2,373 · see citing works
Polis, G. A., Anderson, W. B., & Holt, R. D. (1997) · Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics · doi:10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.28.1.289 · Cited by 2,364 · see citing works
Biodiversity and stability in grasslands
Tilman, D. G., & Downing, J. (1994) · Nature · doi:10.1038/367363a0 · Cited by 2,298 · see citing works
THE ECOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF CHANGES IN BIODIVERSITY: A SEARCH FOR GENERAL PRINCIPLES 101
Tilman, D. G. (1999) · Ecology · doi:10.1890/0012-9658(1999)080[1455:tecoci]2.0.co;2 · Cited by 2,156 · see citing works
Plant diversity and productivity experiments in european grasslands
Hector, A., Schmid, B., Beierkuhnlein, C., Caldeira, M. C., Diemer, M., Dimitrakopoulos, P. G., Finn, J. A., Freitas, H., Giller, P. S., Good, J., et al. (1999) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.286.5442.1123 · Cited by 2,125 · see citing works
Chase, J. M., & Leibold, M. A. (2003) · University of Chicago Press eBooks · doi:10.7208/chicago/9780226101811.001.0001 · Cited by 1,902 · see citing works
Effects of biodiversity on the functioning of trophic groups and ecosystems
Cardinale, B. J., Srivastava, D. S., Emmett Duffy, J., Wright, J. P., Downing, A. L., Sankaran, M., & Jouseau, C. (2006) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature05202 · Cited by 1,871 · see citing works
Self-citationEcological consequences of genetic diversity
Hughes, A. R., Inouye, B. D., Johnson, M. T. J., Underwood, N., & Vellend, M. (2008) · Ecology Letters · doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2008.01179.x · Cited by 1,834 · see citing works
Declining biodiversity can alter the performance of ecosystems
Naeem, S., Thompson, L. J., Lawler, S. P., Lawton, J. H., & Woodfin, R. M. (1994) · Nature · doi:10.1038/368734a0 · Cited by 1,786 · see citing works
The Niche-Relationships of the California Thrasher
Grinnell, J. (1917) · The Auk · doi:10.2307/4072271 · Cited by 1,759 · see citing works
Hidden treatments in ecological experiments: re-evaluating the ecosystem function of biodiversity
Huston, M. A. (1997) · Oecologia · doi:10.1007/s004420050180 · Cited by 1,755 · see citing works
Vandermeer, J. H. (1989) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511623523 · Cited by 1,703 · see citing works
Biodiversity and Litter Decomposition in Terrestrial Ecosystems
Hättenschwiler, S., Tiunov, A. V., & Scheu, S. (2005) · Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics · doi:10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.36.112904.151932 · Cited by 1,674 · see citing works
Population diversity and the portfolio effect in an exploited species
Schindler, D. E., Hilborn, R., Chasco, B., Boatright, C. P., Quinn, T. P., Rogers, L. A., & Webster, M. S. (2010) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature09060 · Cited by 1,605 · see citing works
Cardinale, B. J., Wright, J. P., Cadotte, M. W., Carroll, I. T., Hector, A., Srivastava, D. S., Loreau, M., & Weis, J. J. (2007) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.0709069104 · Cited by 1,537 · see citing works
Self-citationBiodiversity and Stability in Grasslands
Tilman, D. G., & Downing, J. (1996) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-4612-4018-1_1 · Cited by 1,495 · see citing works
Plant diversity and ecosystem productivity: Theoretical considerations
Tilman, D. G., Lehman, C. L., & Thomson, K. T. (1997) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.94.5.1857 · Cited by 1,466 · see citing works
Vegetational Diversity And Arthropod Population Response
Andow, D. A. (1991) · Annual Review of Entomology · doi:10.1146/annurev.en.36.010191.003021 · Cited by 1,429 · see citing works
Biodiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality
Hector, A., & Bagchi, R. (2007) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature05947 · Cited by 1,412 · see citing works
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function
Schulze, E., & Mooney, H. A. (1993) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-642-58001-7 · Cited by 1,339 · see citing works
Ecological Niches: Linking Classical and Contemporary Approaches
Chase, J. M., & Leibold, M. A. (2003) · Cited by 1,321 · see citing works
THE UPLIFT OF SOIL NUTRIENTS BY PLANTS: BIOGEOCHEMICAL CONSEQUENCES ACROSS SCALES
Jobbagy, E. G., & Jackson, R. B. (2004) · Ecology · doi:10.1890/03-0245 · Cited by 1,140 · see citing works
Extinction: The Causes and Consequences of the Disappearance of Species
Ehrlich, P. R., & Ehrlich, A. H. (1981) · DigitalGeorgetown (Georgetown University Library) · Cited by 1,125 · see citing works
The functional role of biodiversity in ecosystems: incorporating trophic complexity
Duffy, J. E., Cardinale, B. J., France, K. E., McIntyre, P. B., Thébault, E., & Loreau, M. (2007) · Ecology Letters · doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2007.01037.x · Cited by 1,065 · see citing works
Self-citationDecomposition dynamics in mixed‐species leaf litter
Gartner, T. B., & Cardon, Z. G. (2004) · Oikos · doi:10.1111/j.0030-1299.2004.12738.x · Cited by 1,049 · see citing works
Biodiversity as spatial insurance in heterogeneous landscapes
Loreau, M., Mouquet, N., & Gonzalez, A. (2003) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.2235465100 · Cited by 1,010 · see citing works
Self-citationA Treatise on Limnology. Vol. II. Introduction to Lake Biology and the Limnoplankton
Hindle, E., & Hutchinson, G. E. (1967) · Geographical Journal · doi:10.2307/1794542 · Cited by 985 · see citing works
Species Redundancy and Ecosystem Reliability
Naeem, S. (1998) · Conservation Biology · doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.1998.96379.x · Cited by 984 · see citing works
The importance of niches for the maintenance of species diversity
Levine, J. M., & Lambers, J. H. R. (2009) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature08251 · Cited by 886 · see citing works
Linking biodiversity to ecosystem function: implications for conservation ecology
Schwartz, M. W., Brigham, C. A., Hoeksema, J. D., Lyons, K. G., Mills, M. H., & van Mantgem, P. J. (2000) · Oecologia · doi:10.1007/s004420050035 · Cited by 718 · see citing works
Biodiversity-ecosystem function research: Is it relevant to conservation?
Srivastava, D. S., & Vellend, M. (2005) · Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics · doi:10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.36.102003.152636 · Cited by 712 · see citing works
Biodiversity and ecosystem function: the consumer connection
Duffy, J. E. (2002) · Oikos · doi:10.1034/j.1600-0706.2002.990201.x · Cited by 653 · cited 1× · see citing works
“This limitation has been discussed at length by authors who have outlined the potential biases and incorrect conclusions that could result from using such simpli-fi ed, model systems ( Duffy, 2002 ; Duffy et al., 2007 ; Cardinale et al., 2009b ).”
BackgroundEvolutionary history and the effect of biodiversity on plant productivity
Cadotte, M. W., Cardinale, B. J., & Oakley, T. H. (2008) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.0805962105 · Cited by 653 · see citing works
Self-citationThe dynamics of spatially coupled food webs.
McCann, K. S., Rasmussen, J. B., & Umbanhowar, J. (2005) · Ecology Letters · doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2005.00742.x · Cited by 648 · see citing works
Multiple functions increase the importance of biodiversity for overall ecosystem functioning
Gamfeldt, L., Hillebrand, H., & Jonsson, P. R. (2008) · Ecology · doi:10.1890/06-2091.1 · Cited by 635 · see citing works
Self-citationPlant diversity enhances ecosystem responses to elevated CO2 and nitrogen deposition
Reich, P. B., Knops, J., Tilman, D., Craine, J., Ellsworth, D., Tjoelker, M., Lee, T., Wedin, D., Naeem, S., Bahauddin, D., et al. (2001) · Nature · doi:10.1038/35071062 · Cited by 609 · see citing works
Biomass Productivity of Mixtures
Trenbath, B. R. (1974) · Advances in agronomy · doi:10.1016/s0065-2113(08)60871-8 · Cited by 608 · see citing works
Causes, consequences and ethics of biodiversity
Tilman, D. G. (2000) · Nature · doi:10.1038/35012217 · Cited by 607 · see citing works
The Concept of Organisms as Ecosystem Engineers Ten Years On: Progress, Limitations, and Challenges
Wright, J. P., & Jones, C. G. (2006) · BioScience · doi:10.1641/0006-3568(2006)056[0203:tcooae]2.0.co;2 · Cited by 601 · see citing works
Biodiversity in a complex world: consolidation and progress in functional biodiversity research
Hillebrand, H., & Matthiessen, B. (2009) · Ecology Letters · doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2009.01388.x · Cited by 591 · see citing works
Why biodiversity is important to the functioning of real‐world ecosystems
Duffy, J. E. (2008) · Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment · doi:10.1890/070195 · Cited by 565 · see citing works
Sustaining multiple ecosystem functions in grassland communities requires higher biodiversity
Zavaleta, E. S., Pasari, J. R., Hulvey, K. B., & Tilman, G. D. (2010) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.0906829107 · Cited by 538 · cited 1× · see citing works
“This has led some to suggest that BEF experiments have under-estimated the diversity required to maximize the suite of processes that are required to sustain higher life within ecosystems ( Hector and Bagchi, 2007 ; Gamfeldt et al., 2008 ; Zavaleta et al., 2010 ).”
BackgroundHOW DO DIFFERENT MEASURES OF FUNCTIONAL DIVERSITY PERFORM?
Petchey, O. L., Hector, A., & Gaston, K. J. (2004) · Ecology · doi:10.1890/03-0226 · Cited by 481 · see citing works
Understanding the Effects of Marine Biodiversity on Communities and Ecosystems
Stachowicz, J. J., Bruno, J. F., & Duffy, J. E. (2007) · Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics · doi:10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.38.091206.095659 · Cited by 479 · see citing works
High Productivity in Grassland Ecosystems: Effected by Species Diversity or Productive Species?
Aarssen, L. W. (1997) · Oikos · doi:10.2307/3546531 · Cited by 477 · see citing works
Separating Sampling and Other Effects in Biodiversity Experiments
Loreau, M. (1998) · Oikos · doi:10.2307/3546381 · Cited by 470 · see citing works
ECOSYSTEM CONSEQUENCES OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS: THE EVOLUTION OF A PARADIGM
Naeem, S. (2002) · Ecology · doi:10.1890/0012-9658(2002)083[1537:ecoblt]2.0.co;2 · Cited by 463 · see citing works
Does species diversity limit productivity in natural grassland communities?
Grace, J. B., Michael Anderson, T., Smith, M. D., Seabloom, E., Andelman, S. J., Meche, G., Weiher, E., Allain, L. K., Jutila, H., Sankaran, M., et al. (2007) · Ecology Letters · doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2007.01058.x · Cited by 455 · see citing works
Does functional redundancy exist?
Loreau, M. (2004) · Oikos · doi:10.1111/j.0030-1299.2004.12685.x · Cited by 454 · see citing works
The Role of Biodiversity in the Functioning of Freshwater and Marine Benthic Ecosystems
Covich, A. P., Austen, M. C., Bärlocher, F., Chauvet, É., Cardinale, B. J., Biles, C. L., Inchausti, P., Dangles, O. J., Solan, M., Gessner, M. O., et al. (2004) · BioScience · doi:10.1641/0006-3568(2004)054[0767:trobit]2.0.co;2 · Cited by 371 · see citing works
Self-citationOveryielding among plant functional groups in a long‐term experiment
Hooper, D. U., & Dukes, J. S. (2003) · Ecology Letters · doi:10.1046/j.1461-0248.2003.00555.x · Cited by 366 · see citing works
Self-citationA meta-analysis comparing tree growth in monocultures and mixed plantations
Piotto, D. (2008) · Forest Ecology and Management · doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2007.09.065 · Cited by 326 · see citing works
Interpreting the ‘selection effect’ of biodiversity on ecosystem function
Fox, J. W. (2005) · Ecology Letters · doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2005.00795.x · Cited by 291 · see citing works
The Effect of Diversity on Productivity: Detecting the Role of Species Complementarity
Hector, A. (1998) · Oikos · doi:10.2307/3546380 · Cited by 276 · see citing works
Niche and fitness differences relate the maintenance of diversity to ecosystem function
Carroll, I. T., Cardinale, B. J., & Nisbet, R. M. (2010) · Ecology · doi:10.1890/10-0302.1 · Cited by 262 · see citing works
Self-citationBiodiversity effects increase linearly with biotope space
Dimitrakopoulos, P. G., & Schmid, B. (2004) · Ecology Letters · doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2004.00607.x · Cited by 259 · see citing works
Cardinale, B. J., Ives, A. R., & Inchausti, P. (2004) · Oikos · doi:10.1111/j.0030-1299.2004.13254.x · Cited by 237 · see citing works
Self-citationDiversity has stronger top‐down than bottom‐up effects on decomposition
Srivastava, D. S., Cardinale, B. J., Downing, A. L., Duffy, J. E., Jouseau, C., Sankaran, M., & Wright, J. P. (2009) · Ecology · doi:10.1890/08-0439.1 · Cited by 235 · see citing works
Self-citationIntegrating methods that investigate how complementarity influences ecosystem functioning
Petchey, O. L. (2003) · Oikos · doi:10.1034/j.1600-0706.2003.11828.x · Cited by 231 · see citing works
Consumer effects decline with prey diversity
Hillebrand, H., & Cardinale, B. J. (2004) · Ecology Letters · doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2004.00570.x · Cited by 214 · see citing works
Self-citationCascading effects of predator richness
Bruno, J. F., & Cardinale, B. J. (2008) · Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment · doi:10.1890/070136 · Cited by 210 · see citing works
Self-citationReinhardt, L., Jerolmack, D. J., Cardinale, B. J., Vanacker, V., & Wright, J. P. (2010) · Earth Surface Processes and Landforms · doi:10.1002/esp.1912 · Cited by 209 · see citing works
Self-citationBiodiversity effects and transgressive overyielding
Schmid, B., Hector, A., Saha, P., & Loreau, M. (2008) · Journal of Plant Ecology · doi:10.1093/jpe/rtn011 · Cited by 200 · see citing works
Connectivity, non‐random extinction and ecosystem function in experimental metacommunities
Staddon, P., Lindo, Z., Crittenden, P. D., Gilbert, F., & Gonzalez, A. (2010) · Ecology Letters · doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2010.01450.x · Cited by 190 · see citing works
Self-citationCardinale, B. J., Bennett, D. M., Nelson, C. E., & Gross, K. (2009) · Ecology · doi:10.1890/08-1038.1 · Cited by 158 · see citing works
Fridley, J. D. (2003) · Journal of Ecology · doi:10.1046/j.1365-2745.2003.00775.x · Cited by 146 · see citing works
Expert Estimates about Effects of Biodiversity on Ecosystem Processes and Services
Schläpfer, F. (1999) · Oikos · doi:10.2307/3546733 · Cited by 142 · see citing works
A LONG-TERM FIELD STUDY ON BIODIVERSITY × ELEVATED CO2INTERACTIONS IN GRASSLAND
Niklaus, P. A., Leadley, P., Schmid, B., & Körner, C. (2001) · Ecological Monographs · doi:10.1890/0012-9615(2001)071[0341:altfso]2.0.co;2 · Cited by 141 · see citing works
DIVERSITY ENHANCES COVER AND STABILITY OF SEAWEED ASSEMBLAGES: THE ROLE OF HETEROGENEITY AND TIME
Stachowicz, J. J., Graham, M., Bracken, M. E. S., & Szoboszlai, A. I. (2008) · Ecology · doi:10.1890/07-1873.1 · Cited by 141 · see citing works
Jiang, L., Pu, Z., & Nemergut, D. R. (2008) · Oikos · doi:10.1111/j.0030-1299.2008.16401.x · Cited by 133 · see citing works
EFFECTS OF SPECIES DIVERSITY ON COMMUNITY BIOMASS PRODUCTION CHANGE OVER THE COURSE OF SUCCESSION
Weis, J. J., Cardinale, B. J., Forshay, K. J., & Ives, A. R. (2007) · Ecology · doi:10.1890/06-0943 · Cited by 122 · see citing works
Self-citationSpatial heterogeneity increases the importance of species richness for an ecosystem process
Griffin, J. N., Jenkins, S. R., Gamfeldt, L., Jones, D. A., Hawkins, S. J., & Thompson, R. C. (2009) · Oikos · doi:10.1111/j.1600-0706.2009.17572.x · Cited by 120 · see citing works
Self-citationNiche saturation reveals resource partitioning among consumers
Northfield, T. D., Snyder, G. B., Ives, A. R., & Snyder, W. E. (2010) · Ecology Letters · doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2009.01428.x · Cited by 114 · see citing works
Boyer, K. E., Kertesz, J. S., & Bruno, J. F. (2009) · Oikos · doi:10.1111/j.1600-0706.2009.17252.x · Cited by 85 · see citing works
Weis, J. J., Madrigal, D. S., & Cardinale, B. J. (2008) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0002825 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
Self-citationStocker, R., Körner, C., Schmid, B., Niklaus, P. A., & Leadley, P. (1999) · Global Change Biology · doi:10.1046/j.1365-2486.1998.00198.x · Cited by 65 · see citing works
Edwards, K. F., Aquilino, K. M., Best, R. J., Sellheim, K. L., & Stachowicz, J. J. (2009) · Ecology Letters · doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2009.01417.x · Cited by 64 · see citing works
Cardinale, B. J., Srivastava, D. S., Duffy, J. E., Wright, J. P., Downing, A. L., Sankaran, M., Jouseau, C. F., Cadotte, M. W., Carroll, I. T., Weis, J. J., et al. (2009) · Ecology · doi:10.1890/08-1584.1 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
Self-citation6. Empirical Evidence for Biodiversity–Ecosystem Functioning Relationships
Schmid, B., Joshi, J., & Schläpfer, F. (2013) · Princeton University Press eBooks · doi:10.1515/9781400847303.120 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
Towards a food web perspective on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning
Cardinale, B. J., Duffy, E., Srivastava, D. S., Loreau, M., Thomas, M., & Emmerson, M. (2009) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199547951.003.0008 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Self-citationEffects of biodiversity on ecosystem, community, and population variables reported 1974–2004
Schmid, B., Pfisterer, A. B., & Balvanera, P. (2009) · Ecology · doi:10.1890/08-1465.1 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Self-citation
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 4
- [12]12. Cardinale , B. J. , J. P. Wright , M. W. Cadotte , I. T. Carroll , A. Hector , D. S. Srivastava , M. Loreau , and J. J. Weis . 2007 . Impacts of plant diversity on biomass production increase through time due to complementary resource use: A meta-analysis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 104 : 18123 -18128 .
- [30]30. Naeem , S. 2001 . Experimental validity and ecological scale as tools for eval- uating research programs. In R. H. Gardner, W. M. Kemp, V. S. Kennedy, and J. E. Petersen [eds.], Scaling relationships in experimental ecology, 223 -250. Columbia University Press, New York New York, USA.
- [48]48. Field , C. B. 1995 . Productive capacity and biomass accumulation. In U. N. E. Programme [ed.], Global biodiversity assessment, 402 -406. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
- [68]68. Schmid , B. , P. Balvanera , B. J. Cardinale , J. Godbold , A. B. Pfisterer , D. Raffaelli , M. Solan , and D. S. Srivastava . 2009a . Consequences of species loss for ecosystem functioning: A meta- analysis of data from biodiversity experiments In S. Naeem, D. Bunker, M. Loreau, A. Hector, and C. Perring [eds.], Biodiversity and human impacts, 14 -29. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Biodiversity loss and its impact on humanity
Cardinale, B. J., Duffy, J. E., Gonzalez, A., Hooper, D. U., Perrings, C., Venail, P., Narwani, A., Mace, G. M., Tilman, D., Wardle, D. A., et al. (2012) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature11148 · Cited by 7,457 · see citing works
Self-citationMicrobial diversity drives multifunctionality in terrestrial ecosystems
Delgado-Baquerizo, M., Maestre, F. T., Reich, P. B., Jeffries, T. C., Gaitan, J. J., Encinar, D., Berdugo, M., Campbell, C. D., & Singh, B. K. (2016) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/ncomms10541 · Cited by 2,624 · see citing works
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning
Tilman, D., Isbell, F., & Cowles, J. M. (2014) · Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics · doi:10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-120213-091917 · Cited by 2,467 · see citing works
A global synthesis reveals biodiversity loss as a major driver of ecosystem change
Hooper, D. U., Adair, E. C., Cardinale, B. J., Byrnes, J. E. K., Hungate, B. A., Matulich, K. L., Gonzalez, A., Duffy, J. E., Gamfeldt, L., & O’Connor, M. I. (2012) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature11118 · Cited by 2,406 · see citing works
Self-citationBiodiversity increases the resistance of ecosystem productivity to climate extremes
Isbell, F., Craven, D., Connolly, J., Loreau, M., Schmid, B., Beierkuhnlein, C., Bezemer, T. M., Bonin, C., Bruelheide, H., de Luca, E., et al. (2015) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature15374 · Cited by 1,869 · see citing works
Plant Species Richness and Ecosystem Multifunctionality in Global Drylands
Maestre, F. T., Quero, J. L., Gotelli, N. J., Escudero, A., Ochoa, V., Delgado-Baquerizo, M., García-Gómez, M., Bowker, M. A., Soliveres, S., Escolar, C., et al. (2012) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1215442 · Cited by 1,730 · see citing works
High plant diversity is needed to maintain ecosystem services
Isbell, F., Calcagno, V., Hector, A., Connolly, J., Harpole, W. S., Reich, P. B., Scherer-Lorenzen, M., Schmid, B., Tilman, D., van Ruijven, J., et al. (2011) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature10282 · Cited by 1,664 · see citing works
Positive biodiversity-productivity relationship predominant in global forests
Liang, J., Crowther, T. W., Picard, N., Wiser, S., Zhou, M., Alberti, G., Schulze, E.-D., McGuire, A. D., Bozzato, F., Pretzsch, H., et al. (2016) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.aaf8957 · Cited by 1,490 · see citing works
Higher levels of multiple ecosystem services are found in forests with more tree species
Gamfeldt, L., Snäll, T., Bagchi, R., Jonsson, M., Gustafsson, L., Kjellander, P., Ruiz-Jaen, M. C., Fröberg, M., Stendahl, J., Philipson, C. D., et al. (2013) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/ncomms2328 · Cited by 1,477 · see citing works
Self-citationByrnes, J. E. K., Gamfeldt, L., Isbell, F., Lefcheck, J. S., Griffin, J. N., Hector, A., Cardinale, B. J., Hooper, D. U., Dee, L. E., & Emmett Duffy, J. (2014) · Methods in Ecology and Evolution · doi:10.1111/2041-210x.12143 · Cited by 942 · see citing works
Self-citationThe Functions of Biological Diversity in an Age of Extinction
Naeem, S., Duffy, J. E., & Zavaleta, E. (2012) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1215855 · Cited by 914 · see citing works
Impacts of Biodiversity Loss Escalate Through Time as Redundancy Fades
Reich, P. B., Tilman, D., Isbell, F., Mueller, K., Hobbie, S. E., Flynn, D. F. B., & Eisenhauer, N. (2012) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1217909 · Cited by 897 · see citing works
Biodiversity enhances ecosystem multifunctionality across trophic levels and habitats
Lefcheck, J. S., Byrnes, J. E. K., Isbell, F., Gamfeldt, L., Griffin, J. N., Eisenhauer, N., Hensel, M. J. S., Hector, A., Cardinale, B. J., & Duffy, J. E. (2015) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/ncomms7936 · Cited by 840 · see citing works
Self-citationConsequences of biodiversity loss for litter decomposition across biomes
Handa, I. T., Aerts, R., Berendse, F., Berg, M. P., Bruder, A., Butenschoen, O., Chauvet, E., Gessner, M. O., Jabiol, J., Makkonen, M., et al. (2014) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature13247 · Cited by 828 · see citing works
Biodiversity improves water quality through niche partitioning
Cardinale, B. J. (2011) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature09904 · Cited by 764 · see citing works
Self-citationLinking the influence and dependence of people on biodiversity across scales
Isbell, F., Gonzalez, A., Loreau, M., Cowles, J., Díaz, S., Hector, A., Mace, G. M., Wardle, D. A., O'Connor, M. I., Duffy, J. E., et al. (2017) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature22899 · Cited by 745 · see citing works
Self-citationBiodiversity impacts ecosystem productivity as much as resources, disturbance, or herbivory
Tilman, D., Reich, P. B., & Isbell, F. (2012) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.1208240109 · Cited by 566 · see citing works
Uses and misuses of meta‐analysis in plant ecology
Koricheva, J., & Gurevitch, J. (2014) · Journal of Ecology · doi:10.1111/1365-2745.12224 · Cited by 460 · see citing works
Gross, K., Cardinale, B. J., Fox, J. W., Gonzalez, A., Loreau, M., Wayne Polley, H., Reich, P. B., & van Ruijven, J. (2014) · The American Naturalist · doi:10.1086/673915 · Cited by 460 · see citing works
Self-citationLinking Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services: Current Uncertainties and the Necessary Next Steps
Balvanera, P., Siddique, I., Dee, L., Paquette, A., Isbell, F., Gonzalez, A., Byrnes, J., O’Connor, M. I., Hungate, B. A., & Griffin, J. N. (2014) · BioScience · doi:10.1093/biosci/bit003 · Cited by 387 · see citing works
Self-citationSpecies turnover promotes the importance of bee diversity for crop pollination at regional scales
Winfree, R., Reilly, J. R., Bartomeus, I., Cariveau, D. P., Williams, N. M., & Gibbs, J. (2018) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.aao2117 · Cited by 324 · see citing works
Marine biodiversity and ecosystem functioning: what's known and what's next?
Gamfeldt, L., Lefcheck, J. S., Byrnes, J. E. K., Cardinale, B. J., Duffy, J. E., & Griffin, J. N. (2015) · Oikos · doi:10.1111/oik.01549 · Cited by 297 · see citing works
Self-citationPlant diversity effects on grassland productivity are robust to both nutrient enrichment and drought
Craven, D., Isbell, F., Manning, P., Connolly, J., Bruelheide, H., Ebeling, A., Roscher, C., van Ruijven, J., Weigelt, A., Wilsey, B., et al. (2016) · Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rstb.2015.0277 · Cited by 266 · see citing works
Effects of predator richness on prey suppression: a meta‐analysis
Griffin, J. N., Byrnes, J. E. K., & Cardinale, B. J. (2013) · Ecology · doi:10.1890/13-0179.1 · Cited by 195 · see citing works
Self-citationThe biodiversity‐dependent ecosystem service debt
Isbell, F., Tilman, D., Polasky, S., & Loreau, M. (2015) · Ecology Letters · doi:10.1111/ele.12393 · Cited by 195 · see citing works
A general biodiversity–function relationship is mediated by trophic level
O'Connor, M. I., Gonzalez, A., Byrnes, J. E. K., Cardinale, B. J., Duffy, J. E., Gamfeldt, L., Griffin, J. N., Hooper, D., Hungate, B. A., Paquette, A., et al. (2017) · Oikos · doi:10.1111/oik.03652 · Cited by 173 · see citing works
Self-citationUnderstanding the value of plant diversity for ecosystem functioning through niche theory
Turnbull, L. A., Isbell, F., Purves, D. W., Loreau, M., & Hector, A. (2016) · Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rspb.2016.0536 · Cited by 149 · see citing works
Do diverse cover crop mixtures perform better than monocultures? A systematic review
Florence, A. M., & McGuire, A. M. (2020) · Agronomy Journal · doi:10.1002/agj2.20340 · Cited by 122 · see citing works
Applying Ecological Principles of Crop Cultivation in Large-Scale Algal Biomass Production
Smith, V. H., & Crews, T. (2014) · Algal Research · doi:10.1016/j.algal.2013.11.005 · Cited by 115 · see citing works
Cowles, J. M., Wragg, P. D., Wright, A. J., Powers, J. S., & Tilman, D. (2016) · Global Change Biology · doi:10.1111/gcb.13111 · Cited by 103 · see citing works
Cover crop mixture diversity, biomass productivity, weed suppression, and stability
Florence, A. M., Higley, L. G., Drijber, R. A., Francis, C. A., & Lindquist, J. L. (2019) · PLOS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0206195 · Cited by 99 · see citing works
Gamfeldt, L., & Hillebrand, H. (2011) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0021972 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Self-citationDeveloper Role Evolution in Open Source Software Ecosystem: An Explanatory Study on GNOME
Cheng, C., Li, B., Li, Z.-Y., Zhao, Y.-Q., & Liao, F.-L. (2017) · Journal of Computer Science and Technology · doi:10.1007/s11390-017-1728-9 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Transgressive overyielding of soil microbial biomass in a grassland plant diversity gradient
Guenay, Y., Ebeling, A., Steinauer, K., Weisser, W. W., & Eisenhauer, N. (2013) · Soil Biology and Biochemistry · doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2013.01.015 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
- Authors
- Cardinale, B. J., Matulich, K. L., Hooper, D. U., Byrnes, J. E., Duffy, E., Gamfeldt, L., Balvanera, P., O'Connor, M. I., & Gonzalez, A.
- Affiliations
- University of Michigan (US)
- University of California, Irvine (US)
- Western Washington University (US)
- National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (US)
- William & Mary (US)
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SE)
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (MX)
- McGill University (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Cardinale, Bradley J.
- ORCID
- Venue
- American Journal of Botany
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2011-03
- Volume
- 98
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 572-592
- ISSN
- 0002-9122 (ISSN-L)
- 1537-2197
- OpenAlex
- W2113079967
- Semantic Scholar
- 9ec8aa4ef5259f5185b9498cbc2da938c66ab78c
- Cited by
- 1,336
- References
- 95
- Citations by year
- 2026: 38 · 2025: 65 · 2024: 77 · 2023: 97 · 2022: 83 · 2021: 97 · 2020: 98 · 2019: 136 · 2018: 90 · 2017: 94 · 2016: 114 · 2015: 81 · 2014: 90 · 2013: 89 · 2012: 65
- FWCI
- 4.94
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- American Journal of Botany (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- W&M Publish (College of William & Mary) (submittedVersion)
- Deep Blue (University of Michigan) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Science Foundation (#EF‐0553768, DEB‐0842009)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Land Use and Ecosystem Services
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Keywords
- biodiversity-ecosystem functioning, species richness, resource efficiency, biomass production, nutrient cycling, food web transfer, trophic interactions, ecosystem services
- MeSH terms
- Species Specificity, Databases as Topic, Food Chain, Biodiversity
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review