TY - CHAP

T1 - Transferring biodiversity-ecosystem function research to the management of ‘real-world’ ecosystems

AU - Manning, P.

AU - Loos, Jacqueline

AU - Barnes, Andrew D.

AU - Batáry, Péter

AU - Bianchi, Felix J.J.A.

AU - Buchmann, Nina

AU - De Deyn, Gerlinde B.

AU - Ebeling, Anne

AU - Eisenhauer, Nico

AU - Fischer, Markus

AU - Fründ, Jochen

AU - Grass, Ingo

AU - Isselstein, Johannes

AU - Jochum, M.

AU - Klein, Alexandra M.

AU - Klingenberg, Esther O.F.

AU - Landis, Douglas A.

AU - Lepš, Jan

AU - Lindborg, Regina

AU - Meyer, Sebastian T.

AU - Temperton, Vicky M.

AU - Westphal, Catrin

AU - Tscharntke, Teja

PY - 2019/1/1

Y1 - 2019/1/1

N2 - Biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) research grew rapidly following concerns that biodiversity loss would negatively affect ecosystem functions and the ecosystem services they underpin. However, despite evidence that biodiversity strongly affects ecosystem functioning, the influence of BEF research upon policy and the management of ‘real-world’ ecosystems, i.e., semi-natural habitats and agroecosystems, has been limited. Here, we address this issue by classifying BEF research into three clusters based on the degree of human control over species composition and the spatial scale, in terms of grain, of the study, and discussing how the research of each cluster is best suited to inform particular fields of ecosystem management. Research in the first cluster, small-grain highly controlled studies, is best able to provide general insights into mechanisms and to inform the management of species-poor and highly managed systems such as croplands, plantations, and the restoration of heavily degraded ecosystems. Research from the second cluster, small-grain observational studies, and species removal and addition studies, may allow for direct predictions of the impacts of species loss in specific semi-natural ecosystems. Research in the third cluster, large-grain uncontrolled studies, may best inform landscape-scale management and national-scale policy. We discuss barriers to transfer within each cluster and suggest how new research and knowledge exchange mechanisms may overcome these challenges. To meet the potential for BEF research to address global challenges, we recommend transdisciplinary research that goes beyond these current clusters and considers the social-ecological context of the ecosystems in which BEF knowledge is generated. This requires recognizing the social and economic value of biodiversity for ecosystem services at scales, and in units, that matter to land managers and policy makers.

AB - Biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) research grew rapidly following concerns that biodiversity loss would negatively affect ecosystem functions and the ecosystem services they underpin. However, despite evidence that biodiversity strongly affects ecosystem functioning, the influence of BEF research upon policy and the management of ‘real-world’ ecosystems, i.e., semi-natural habitats and agroecosystems, has been limited. Here, we address this issue by classifying BEF research into three clusters based on the degree of human control over species composition and the spatial scale, in terms of grain, of the study, and discussing how the research of each cluster is best suited to inform particular fields of ecosystem management. Research in the first cluster, small-grain highly controlled studies, is best able to provide general insights into mechanisms and to inform the management of species-poor and highly managed systems such as croplands, plantations, and the restoration of heavily degraded ecosystems. Research from the second cluster, small-grain observational studies, and species removal and addition studies, may allow for direct predictions of the impacts of species loss in specific semi-natural ecosystems. Research in the third cluster, large-grain uncontrolled studies, may best inform landscape-scale management and national-scale policy. We discuss barriers to transfer within each cluster and suggest how new research and knowledge exchange mechanisms may overcome these challenges. To meet the potential for BEF research to address global challenges, we recommend transdisciplinary research that goes beyond these current clusters and considers the social-ecological context of the ecosystems in which BEF knowledge is generated. This requires recognizing the social and economic value of biodiversity for ecosystem services at scales, and in units, that matter to land managers and policy makers.

KW - BEF research

KW - Biodiversity experiments

KW - Ecosystem management

KW - Ecosystem services

KW - Grasslands

KW - Knowledge transfer

KW - Ecosystems Research

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85069551283&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/a7eef9d3-a586-3ed4-afaf-b026ff2523e4/

U2 - 10.1016/bs.aecr.2019.06.009

DO - 10.1016/bs.aecr.2019.06.009

M3 - Chapter

AN - SCOPUS:85069551283

SN - 978-0-08-102912-1

T3 - Advances in Ecological Research

SP - 323

EP - 356

BT - Mechanisms underlying the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem function

A2 - Eisenhauer, Nico

A2 - Bohan, David A.

A2 - Dumbrell, Alex J.

PB - Academic Press Inc.

CY - London

ER -