Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://dspace.utpl.edu.ec/handle/123456789/19271
Title: Plant species richness and ecosystem multifunctionality in global drylands
Authors: Huber, E.
Romao, R.
Maestre, F.
Miriti, M.
Huang, X.
Zaady, E.
Gatica, M.
Wang, D.
Hernandez, R.
Bran, D.
Boeken, B.
Gutierrez, J.
Eldridge, D.
Gaitan, J.
Torres, C.
Monerris, J.
Derak, M.
Gozalo, B.
Tighe, M.
Gotelli, N.
Polo, V.
Gallardo, A.
Conceicao, A.
Cabrera Cisneros, H.
Ramirez, D.
Chaieb, M.
Delgado, M.
Quero, J.
Escudero, A.
Ospina, A.
Soliveres, S.
Bowker, M.
Pucheta, E.
Garcia-Palacios, P.
Veiga, J.
Mau, R.
Florentino, A.
Garcia-Gomez, M.
Naseri, K.
Ghiloufi, W.
Espinosa íñiguez, C.
Berdugo, M.
Morici, E.
Val, J.
Aguilera, L.
Ochoa, V.
Jankju, M.
Escolar, C.
Valencia, E.
Blones, J.
Gomez, S.
Arredondo, T.
Keywords: biodiversity
drylands
global change
Issue Date: 13-Jan-2012
Publisher: Science
Abstract: Experiments suggest that biodiversity enhances the ability of ecosystems to maintain multiple functions, such as carbon storage, productivity, and the buildup of nutrient pools (multifunctionality). However, the relationship between biodiversity and multifunctionality has never been assessed globally in natural ecosystems. We report here on a global empirical study relating plant species richness and abiotic factors to multifunctionality in drylands, which collectively cover 41% of Earth s land surface and support over 38% of the human population. Multifunctionality was positively and significantly related to species richness. The best-fitting models accounted for over 55% of the variation in multifunctionality and always included species richness as a predictor variable. Our results suggest that the preservation of plant biodiversity is crucial to buffer negative effects of climate change and desertification in drylands.
URI: http://dspace.utpl.edu.ec/handle/123456789/19271
ISBN: 368075
Other Identifiers: 10.1126/science.1215442
Appears in Collections:Artículos de revistas Científicas

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