Biodiversity Losses and Ecosystem Function in Freshwaters: Emerging Conclusions and Research Directions

Six conclusions have emerged from recent research that complicate the ability to predict how biodiversity losses may affect ecosystem function: (1) species traits determine ecosystem function, (2) species within functional groups are not always ecological equivalents, (3) biodiversity losses include...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Bioscience 2010-01, Vol.60 (1), p.25-35
Main Author: Vaughn, Caryn C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
21st Century Directions in Biology
Abundance
Animals
Aquatic ecosystems
benthic organisms
Biodiversity
Biodiversity loss
Biological diversity
Community structure
Creeks & streams
Dominance
Ecological function
ecosystem function
Ecosystems
Environmental aspects
Environmental conditions
Excretion
Experiments
Food webs
Fresh water
freshwater
Freshwater ecosystems
Freshwater environments
Freshwater fishes
Individualized Instruction
literature reviews
Mollusks
Mussels
Nutrient flow
Nutrients
OVERVIEW ARTICLES
Recycling
Secondary production
spatial variation
Species
species traits
Studies
Temperature effects
temporal variation
Waste management
Water pollution
Water shortages
Water temperature
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Summary:Six conclusions have emerged from recent research that complicate the ability to predict how biodiversity losses may affect ecosystem function: (1) species traits determine ecosystem function, (2) species within functional groups are not always ecological equivalents, (3) biodiversity losses include declines in the abundance of common species, (4) biodiversity losses affect wholefood webs, (5) the effects of biodiversity losses depend on abiotic and biotic context and spatial and temporal scales, and (6) successfully predicting linkages between biodiversity and ecosystem function requires using multiple empirical approaches across scales. Nutrient recycling by freshwater mussel communities illustrates these conclusions. Nutrient excretion rates depend on the expression of mussel species traits, which vary with flow, temperature, and community structure. Nutrient contributions from mussels depend on which mussel species are dominant, but common species of mussels are declining, leading to shifts in species dominance patterns and thus nutrient recycling. These changes are very likely affecting the rest of the benthic food web because mussel excretion stimulates primary, and subsequently secondary, production.
ISSN:0006-3568
1525-3244
DOI:10.1525/bio.2010.60.1.7