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

Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

Authors

  • P. Manning
  • Andrew D. Barnes
  • Péter Batáry
  • Felix J.J.A. Bianchi
  • Nina Buchmann
  • Gerlinde B. De Deyn
  • Anne Ebeling
  • Nico Eisenhauer
  • Markus Fischer
  • Jochen Fründ
  • Ingo Grass
  • Johannes Isselstein
  • M. Jochum
  • Alexandra M. Klein
  • Esther O.F. Klingenberg
  • Douglas A. Landis
  • Jan Lepš
  • Regina Lindborg
  • Sebastian T. Meyer
  • Catrin Westphal
  • Teja Tscharntke

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.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationMechanisms underlying the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem function
EditorsNico Eisenhauer, David A. Bohan, Alex J. Dumbrell
Number of pages34
Place of PublicationLondon
PublisherAcademic Press Inc.
Publication date01.01.2019
Pages323-356
ISBN (print)978-0-08-102912-1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01.01.2019

    Research areas

  • BEF research, Biodiversity experiments, Ecosystem management, Ecosystem services, Grasslands, Knowledge transfer
  • Ecosystems Research

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