Hill–Chao numbers allow decomposing gamma multifunctionality into alpha and beta components

Biodiversity–ecosystem functioning (BEF) research has provided strong evidence and mechanistic underpinnings to support positive effects of biodiversity on ecosystem functioning, from single to multiple functions. This research has provided knowledge gained mainly at the local alpha scale (i.e. within ecosystems), but the increasing homogenization of landscapes in the Anthropocene has raised the potential that declining biodiversity at the beta (across ecosystems) and gamma scales is likely to also impact ecosystem functioning. Drawing on biodiversity theory, we propose a new statistical framework based on Hill–Chao numbers. The framework allows decomposition of multifunctionality at gamma scales into alpha and beta components, a critical but hitherto missing tool in BEF research; it also allows weighting of individual ecosystem functions. Through the proposed decomposition, new BEF results for beta and gamma scales are discovered. Our novel approach is applicable across ecosystems and connects local- and landscape-scale BEF assessments from experiments to natural settings.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Chao, Anne, Chiu, Chun Huo, Hu, Kai Hsiang, van der Plas, Fons, Cadotte, Marc W., Mitesser, Oliver, Thorn, Simon, Mori, Akira S., Scherer-Lorenzen, Michael, Eisenhauer, Nico, Bässler, Claus, Delory, Benjamin M., Feldhaar, Heike, Fichtner, Andreas, Hothorn, Torsten, Peters, Marcell K., Pierick, Kerstin, von Oheimb, Goddert, Müller, Jörg
Format:	Article/Letter to editor biblioteca
Language:	English
Subjects:	BETA-FOR project, Hill numbers, alpha multifunctionality, beta multifunctionality, diversity decomposition, ecosystem functions, gamma multifunctionality, species diversity,
Online Access:	https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/hillchao-numbers-allow-decomposing-gamma-multifunctionality-into-
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