Biodiversity influences plant productivity through niche–efficiency

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1409853112
• Publication Date: 2015-04-22T02:23:01Z
• Authors: Jingjing Liang; Mo Zhou; Patrick C. Tobin; A. David McGuire; Peter B. Reich
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; Conservation of Natural Resources; Climate Change; Plant Development; Forests; biological conservation; 01 natural sciences; 333; climatic changes; marginal productivity; Trees; biodiversity loss; Species Specificity; XXXXXX - Unknown; Biomass; Poverty; Plant Physiological Phenomena; 580; 2. Zero hunger; relative productivity; plant species diversity; Biodiversity; Models, Theoretical; Plants; 15. Life on land; 13. Climate action; biodiversity conservation; productivity impact index; ecosystems; Alaska

Significance International society has made a commitment to mainstreaming biodiversity conservation into broader socioeconomic development, but an incomplete theoretical basis translates lack of practical applications, especially regarding how individual plant productivity changes in response the overall species loss. In this study, we developed niche–efficiency theory address two mechanisms behind effects on productivity. Supported by empirical evidence at level, our facilitates adaptive management implementation, and straightforward mathematical formula integration biological campaign against pressing global issues. Based theory, relative impact index provide function-based tools for prioritizing efforts.