Terrestrial ecosystem responses to species gains and losses

TY - JOUR

T1 - Terrestrial ecosystem responses to species gains and losses

AU - Wardle, D.A.

AU - Bardgett, R.D.

AU - Callaway, R.M.

AU - Van der Putten, W.H.

N1 - Reporting year: 2011 Metis note: 5009; WAG; TE

PY - 2011

Y1 - 2011

N2 - Ecosystems worldwide are losing some species and gaining others, resulting in an interchange of species that is having profound impacts on how these ecosystems function. However, research on the effects of species gains and losses has developed largely independently of one another. Recent conceptual advances regarding effects of species gain have arisen from studies that have unraveled the mechanistic basis of how invading species with novel traits alter biotic interactions and ecosystem processes. In contrast, studies on traits associated with species loss are fewer, and much remains unknown about how traits that predispose species to extinction affect ecological processes. Species gains and losses are both consequences and drivers of global change; thus, explicit integration of research on how both processes simultaneously affect ecosystem functioning is key to determining the response of the Earth system to current and future human activities.

AB - Ecosystems worldwide are losing some species and gaining others, resulting in an interchange of species that is having profound impacts on how these ecosystems function. However, research on the effects of species gains and losses has developed largely independently of one another. Recent conceptual advances regarding effects of species gain have arisen from studies that have unraveled the mechanistic basis of how invading species with novel traits alter biotic interactions and ecosystem processes. In contrast, studies on traits associated with species loss are fewer, and much remains unknown about how traits that predispose species to extinction affect ecological processes. Species gains and losses are both consequences and drivers of global change; thus, explicit integration of research on how both processes simultaneously affect ecosystem functioning is key to determining the response of the Earth system to current and future human activities.

U2 - 10.1126/science.1197479

DO - 10.1126/science.1197479

M3 - Article

SN - 0036-8075

VL - 332

SP - 1273

EP - 1277

JO - Science Magazine

JF - Science Magazine

IS - 6035

ER -