Functional rarity and evenness are key facets of biodiversity to boost multifunctionality

Yoann Le Bagousse-Pinguet*, Nicolas Gross, Hugo Saiz, Fernando T. Maestre, Sonia Ruiz, Marina Dacal, Sergio Asensio, Victoria Ochoa, Beatriz Gozalo, Johannes H.C. Cornelissen, Lucas Deschamps, Carlos García, Vincent Maire, Rubén Milla, Norma Salinas, Juntao Wang, Brajesh K. Singh, Pablo García-Palacios*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

50 Scopus citations

Abstract

The functional traits of organisms within multispecies assemblages regulate biodiversity effects on ecosystem functioning. Yet how traits should assemble to boost multiple ecosystem functions simultaneously (multifunctionality) remains poorly explored. In a multibiome litter experiment covering most of the global variation in leaf trait spectra, we showed that three dimensions of functional diversity (dispersion, rarity, and evenness) explained up to 66% of variations in multifunctionality, although the dominant species and their traits remained an important predictor. While high dispersion impeded multifunctionality, increasing the evenness among functionally dissimilar species was a key dimension to promote higher multifunctionality and to reduce the abundance of plant pathogens. Because too-dissimilar species could have negative effects on ecosystems, our results highlight the need for not only diverse but also functionally even assemblages to promote multifunctionality. The effect of functionally rare species strongly shifted from positive to negative depending on their trait differences with the dominant species. Simultaneously managing the dispersion, evenness, and rarity in multispecies assemblages could be used to design assemblages aimed at maximizing multifunctionality independently of the biome, the identity of dominant species, or the range of trait values considered. Functional evenness and rarity offer promise to improve the management of terrestrial ecosystems and to limit plant disease risks.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere2019355118
JournalPROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Volume118
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 16 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Complex species assemblages | litter decomposition | nutrient cycling | plant pathogens | trait distributions

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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