Size-dependent loss of aboveground animals differentially affects grassland ecosystem coupling and functions

A. C. Risch; R. Ochoa-Hueso; W. H. van der Putten; J. K. Bump; M. D. Busse; B. Frey; D. J. Gwiazdowicz; D. S. Page-Dumroese; M. L. Vandegehuchte; S. Zimmermann; M. Schütz

doi:10.1038/s41467-018-06105-4

Nature Communications (Sep 2018)

Size-dependent loss of aboveground animals differentially affects grassland ecosystem coupling and functions

A. C. Risch,
R. Ochoa-Hueso,
W. H. van der Putten,
J. K. Bump,
M. D. Busse,
B. Frey,
D. J. Gwiazdowicz,
D. S. Page-Dumroese,
M. L. Vandegehuchte,
S. Zimmermann,
M. Schütz

Affiliations

A. C. Risch: Community Ecology, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL
R. Ochoa-Hueso: Department of Ecology, Autonomous University of Madrid
W. H. van der Putten: Netherlands Institute of Ecology
J. K. Bump: School of Forest Resources and Environmental Sciences, Michigan Technological University
M. D. Busse: Pacific Southwest Research Station, USDA Forest Service
B. Frey: Forest Soils and Biogeochemistry, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL
D. J. Gwiazdowicz: Faculty of Forestry, Poznan University of Life Sciences
D. S. Page-Dumroese: Rocky Mountain Research Station, USDA Forest Service
M. L. Vandegehuchte: Community Ecology, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL
S. Zimmermann: Forest Soils and Biogeochemistry, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL
M. Schütz: Community Ecology, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-06105-4
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 9, no. 1
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

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Defaunation can have impacts on ecosystem functioning that are currently little understood. Using an exclusion experiment, Risch et al. show the impacts of vertebrate and invertebrate losses on ecosystem coupling, particularly emphasising the role of invertebrates in ecosystem functioning.

Published in Nature Communications

ISSN: 2041-1723 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

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