A bird’s-eye view of relationships between ecosystem functions, biodiversity, spatial heterogeneity, and disturbance in grasslands

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  • 草原における生態系機能、生物多様性、空間的異質性、撹乱の関係を俯瞰する
  • 宮地賞受賞者総説 草原における生態系機能、生物多様性、空間的異質性、撹乱の関係を俯瞰する
  • ミヤジショウ ジュショウシャ ソウセツ ソウゲン ニ オケル セイタイケイ キノウ 、 セイブツ タヨウセイ 、 クウカンテキ イシツセイ 、 カクラン ノ カンケイ オ フカンスル

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Grassland is essential not only for ecosystem functions but also for food production. This article examines relationships between ecosystem functions, biodiversity, spatial heterogeneity, and disturbance in grasslands in terms of the sustainable use of ecosystem services. Ecologists have demonstrated that biodiversity improves grassland ecosystem functions. Similarly, spatial heterogeneity has a positive association with biodiversity because environmental heterogeneity, such as plant composition, provides various habitats for animals and spatial heterogeneity in soil resources leads to the coexistence of multiple plant species through root competition. Disturbance is the main factor affecting spatial heterogeneity, although its effects depend on the disturbance regime. Therefore, disturbance can improve ecosystem functions by increasing spatial heterogeneity and biodiversity, while farmland management decreases spatial heterogeneity. We also need to understand that biodiversity does not always lead to stable ecosystem functions in a fluctuating environment.

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