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Multitrophic diversity of the biotic community drives ecosystem multifunctionality in alpine grasslands
  • +13
  • ye su,
  • Zhen Wang,
  • Li Ma,
  • min qin,
  • tao chang,
  • Zhonghua Zhang,
  • junfei yao,
  • xudong li,
  • shan li,
  • xue hu,
  • jingjing wei,
  • fang yuan,
  • haze adi,
  • zhengchen shi,
  • honglin li,
  • H Zhou
ye su
Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Zhen Wang
Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Li Ma
Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences
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min qin
Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences
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tao chang
China Agricultural University College of Grassland Science and Technology
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Zhonghua Zhang
Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences
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junfei yao
Qinghai University
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xudong li
Qinghai University
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shan li
Qinghai Normal University
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xue hu
Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences
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jingjing wei
Qinghai Normal University
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fang yuan
Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences
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haze adi
Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences
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zhengchen shi
Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences
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honglin li
Qinghai University
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H Zhou
Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Abstract

1. Biodiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality are currently hot topics in ecological research. However, little is known about the role of multitrophic diversity in regulating various ecosystem functions, which limits our ability to predict the impact of biodiversity loss on human well–being and ecosystem multifunctionality. 2. In this study, multitrophic diversity was divided into three categories: plant, animal, and microbial communities (i.e., plant diversity, rodent diversity, bacterial and fungal diversity). Also, 15 ecosystem functions were divided into four categories–water conservation, soil fertility, nutrient cycling and transformation, and community production–to evaluate the significance of biotic and abiotic variables in maintaining ecosystem multifunctionality. 3. Results indicated that species diversity at multiple trophic levels had a greater positive impact on ecosystem multifunctionality than species diversity at a single trophic level. Notably, the specific nature of this relationship depended on the niche breadths of plants, indicating that plants were key indicators linking above and below ground trophic levels. Abiotic factors such as altitude and pH directly acted on ecosystem multifunctionality and could explain changes in ecosystem functions. 4. Overall, our study offers valuable insights into the critical role of multitrophic species diversity in preserving ecosystem multifunctionality within alpine grassland communities, as well as strong support for the importance of biodiversity protection.
22 Jul 2024Submitted to Ecology and Evolution
05 Aug 2024Submission Checks Completed
05 Aug 2024Assigned to Editor
16 Aug 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
04 Sep 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
10 Sep 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
23 Sep 20241st Revision Received
05 Oct 2024Submission Checks Completed
05 Oct 2024Assigned to Editor
05 Oct 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
14 Oct 2024Editorial Decision: Accept