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Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: “Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function under...
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Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: “Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function under Global Change”

A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 13107

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Shucun Sun

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Guest Editor
School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
Interests: biodiversity and ecosystem function; plant-animal relationships; global change biology
Prof. Dr. Panayiotis G. Dimitrakopoulos

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Guest Editor
Biodiversity Conservation Laboratory, Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, 81132 Mytilene, Greece
Interests: biodiversity and ecosystem processes; functional plant ecology; community ecology; biodiversity conservation; conservation policy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

Human activities have induced conspicuous global changes including, inter alia, climate change, land use change, nitrogen deposition, and biological invasions, which negatively impact biodiversity and ecosystem function in the Anthropocene. The decline in biodiversity and the deterioration of ecosystem functions and services may hamper the sustainable development of both the economy and society.

For decades, ecologists have investigated the effect of global changes on biodiversity and ecosystem functions in various ecosystems, from tundra to tropical forests. Global warming has been found to be responsible for the vegetation shift along altitudes and latitudes, phenological shift of plants and animals, and organism body size. Simulated warming experiments using open-top chambers and infrared heaters have been conducted to understand how global warming affects biodiversity and ecosystem functions, including primary productivity and nutrient cycling. Similarly, the effects of rainfall intensity and frequency have been experimentally studied in relation to biodiversity and ecosystem functions. Except for climate change, land use change, nitrogen deposition, and biological invasions are also extensively addressed to understand their effects on species diversity, plant biomass accumulation, soil carbon decomposition, nitrogen cycling and leaching, and microbial communities.

However, the biological and ecological mechanisms underlying how global changes impact biodiversity and ecosystem functions have not been fully understood. In particular, the question of how global changes influence species interactions (e.g., mutualism, parasitism, competition, facilitation, and trophic interactions) and microbial processes to indirectly affect species diversity and ecosystem properties deserves further research.

In this Special Issue on “Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function under Global Change”, we welcome all aspects (either theoretical or experimental studies from various ecosystems) of original research articles and reviews on this topic to highlight the biological and ecological mechanisms underlying how global changes impact biodiversity and ecosystem functions.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Shucun Sun
Prof. Dr. Panayiotis Dimitrakopoulos
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biology is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • climate change
  • global warming
  • precipitation
  • N deposition
  • biological invasion
  • species interaction
  • microbial process
  • ecosystem function
  • ecosystem service

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 8904 KiB  
Article
Habitat Loss in the IUCN Extent: Climate Change-Induced Threat on the Red Goral (Naemorhedus baileyi) in the Temperate Mountains of South Asia
by Imon Abedin, Tanoy Mukherjee, Joynal Abedin, Hyun-Woo Kim and Shantanu Kundu
Biology 2024, 13(9), 667; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13090667 - 27 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1350
Abstract
Climate change has severely impacted many species, causing rapid declines or extinctions within their essential ecological niches. This deterioration is expected to worsen, particularly in remote high-altitude regions like the Himalayas, which are home to diverse flora and fauna, including many mountainous ungulates. [...] Read more.
Climate change has severely impacted many species, causing rapid declines or extinctions within their essential ecological niches. This deterioration is expected to worsen, particularly in remote high-altitude regions like the Himalayas, which are home to diverse flora and fauna, including many mountainous ungulates. Unfortunately, many of these species lack adaptive strategies to cope with novel climatic conditions. The Red Goral (Naemorhedus baileyi) is a cliff-dwelling species classified as “Vulnerable” by the IUCN due to its small population and restricted range extent. This species has the most restricted range of all goral species, residing in the temperate mountains of northeastern India, northern Myanmar, and China. Given its restricted range and small population, this species is highly threatened by climate change and habitat disruptions, making habitat mapping and modeling crucial for effective conservation. This study employs an ensemble approach (BRT, GLM, MARS, and MaxEnt) in species distribution modeling to assess the distribution, habitat suitability, and connectivity of this species, addressing critical gaps in its understanding. The findings reveal deeply concerning trends, as the model identified only 21,363 km2 (13.01%) of the total IUCN extent as suitable habitat under current conditions. This limited extent is alarming, as it leaves the species with very little refuge to thrive. Furthermore, this situation is compounded by the fact that only around 22.29% of this identified suitable habitat falls within protected areas (PAs), further constraining the species’ ability to survive in a protected landscape. The future projections paint even degraded scenarios, with a predicted decline of over 34% and excessive fragmentation in suitable habitat extent. In addition, the present study identifies precipitation seasonality and elevation as the primary contributing predictors to the distribution of this species. Furthermore, the study identifies nine designated transboundary PAs within the IUCN extent of the Red Goral and the connectivity among them to highlight the crucial role in supporting the species’ survival over time. Moreover, the Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary (DWLS) and Hkakaborazi National Park are revealed as the PAs with the largest extent of suitable habitat in the present scenario. Furthermore, the highest mean connectivity was found between DWLS and Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary (0.0583), while the lowest connectivity was observed between Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary and Namdapha National Park (0.0172). The study also suggests strategic management planning that is a vital foundation for future research and conservation initiatives, aiming to ensure the long-term survival of the species in its natural habitat. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: “Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function under Global Change”)
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19 pages, 2110 KiB  
Article
Effect of Nitrogen Application Rate on the Relationships between Multidimensional Plant Diversity and Ecosystem Production in a Temperate Steppe
by Gossaye Hailu Debaba, Kunyu Li, Xiaowei Wang, Yanan Wang, Wenming Bai and Guoyong Li
Biology 2024, 13(8), 554; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13080554 - 23 Jul 2024
Viewed by 914
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) deposition, as one of the global change drivers, can alter terrestrial plant diversity and ecosystem function. However, the response of the plant diversity–ecosystem function relationship to N deposition remains unclear. On one hand, in the previous studies, taxonomic diversity (i.e., species [...] Read more.
Nitrogen (N) deposition, as one of the global change drivers, can alter terrestrial plant diversity and ecosystem function. However, the response of the plant diversity–ecosystem function relationship to N deposition remains unclear. On one hand, in the previous studies, taxonomic diversity (i.e., species richness, SR) was solely considered the common metric of plant diversity, compared to other diversity metrics such as phylogenetic and functional diversity. On the other hand, most previous studies simulating N deposition only included two levels of control versus N enrichment. How various N deposition rates affect multidimensional plant diversity–ecosystem function relationships is poorly understood. Here, a field manipulative experiment with a N addition gradient (0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64 g N m−2 yr−1) was carried out to examine the effects of N addition rates on the relationships between plant diversity metrics (taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional diversity) and ecosystem production in a temperate steppe. Production initially increased and reached the maximum value at the N addition rate of 47 g m−2 yr−1, then decreased along the N-addition gradient in the steppe. SR, functional diversity calculated using plant height (FDis-Height) and leaf chlorophyll content (FDis-Chlorophyll), and phylogenetic diversity (net relatedness index, NRI) were reduced, whereas community-weighted means of plant height (CWMHeight) and leaf chlorophyll content (CWMChlorophyll) were enhanced by N addition. N addition did not affect the relationships of SR, NRI, and FDis-Height with production but significantly affected the strength of the correlation between FDis-Chlorophyll, CWMHeight, and CWMChlorophyll with biomass production across the eight levels of N addition. The findings indicate the robust relationships of taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity and production and the varying correlations between functional diversity and production under increased N deposition in the temperate steppe, highlighting the importance of a trait-based approach in studying the plant diversity–ecosystem function under global change scenarios. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: “Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function under Global Change”)
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14 pages, 1498 KiB  
Article
Testing the Resilience, Physiological Plasticity and Mechanisms Underlying Upper Temperature Limits of Antarctic Marine Ectotherms
by Simon A. Morley, Amanda E. Bates, Melody S. Clark, Elaine Fitzcharles, Rebecca Smith, Rose E. Stainthorp and Lloyd S. Peck
Biology 2024, 13(4), 224; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13040224 - 29 Mar 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1597
Abstract
Antarctic marine ectotherms live in the constant cold and are characterised by limited resilience to elevated temperature. Here we tested three of the central paradigms underlying this resilience. Firstly, we assessed the ability of eight species, from seven classes representing a range of [...] Read more.
Antarctic marine ectotherms live in the constant cold and are characterised by limited resilience to elevated temperature. Here we tested three of the central paradigms underlying this resilience. Firstly, we assessed the ability of eight species, from seven classes representing a range of functional groups, to survive, for 100 to 303 days, at temperatures 0 to 4 °C above previously calculated long-term temperature limits. Survivors were then tested for acclimation responses to acute warming and acclimatisation, in the field, was tested in the seastar Odontaster validus collected in different years, seasons and locations within Antarctica. Finally, we tested the importance of oxygen limitation in controlling upper thermal limits. We found that four of 11 species studied were able to survive for more than 245 days (245–303 days) at higher than previously recorded temperatures, between 6 and 10 °C. Only survivors of the anemone Urticinopsis antarctica did not acclimate CTmax and there was no evidence of acclimatisation in O. validus. We found species-specific effects of mild hyperoxia (30% oxygen) on survival duration, which was extended (two species), not changed (four species) or reduced (one species), re-enforcing that oxygen limitation is not universal in dictating thermal survival thresholds. Thermal sensitivity is clearly the product of multiple ecological and physiological capacities, and this diversity of response needs further investigation and interpretation to improve our ability to predict future patterns of biodiversity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: “Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function under Global Change”)
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12 pages, 1190 KiB  
Article
The Influences of Rainfall Intensity and Timing on the Assemblage of Dung Beetles and the Rate of Dung Removal in an Alpine Meadow
by Wenxiao Sun, Wenting Tang, Yashi Wu, Shuaibing He and Xinwei Wu
Biology 2023, 12(12), 1496; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12121496 - 6 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1441
Abstract
Changes in precipitation patterns, including rainfall intensity and rainfall timing, have been extensively demonstrated to impact biological processes and associated ecosystem functions. However, less attention has been paid to the effects of rainfall intensity and rainfall timing on the assembly of detritivore communities [...] Read more.
Changes in precipitation patterns, including rainfall intensity and rainfall timing, have been extensively demonstrated to impact biological processes and associated ecosystem functions. However, less attention has been paid to the effects of rainfall intensity and rainfall timing on the assembly of detritivore communities and the decomposition rate of detritus such as animal dung. In a grazed alpine meadow on the eastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, we conducted a manipulative experiment involving two levels of rainfall intensity (heavy rainfall, 1000 mL/5 min; light rainfall, 100 mL/5 min) and five levels of rainfall timing (0, 2, 4, 24, and 48 h after yak dung deposition). The aim was to determine the effects of rainfall intensity, timing, and their interaction on the assemblage of dung beetles and dung removal rate during the early stage (i.e., 96 h after yak dung deposition) of dung decomposition. Light rainfall significantly increased species richness in the treatment of 48 h after dung pats were deposited. Heavy rainfall significantly decreased beetle abundance in both the 0 h and 48 h treatments while light rainfall had no effect on beetle abundance. Dung mass loss was significant lower in the 2 h treatment compared to other treatments regardless of rainfall intensity. The structural equation model further revealed that the species richness of dung beetles and dung mass loss were significantly affected by rainfall timing but not by rainfall intensity. However, no significant relationships were observed between any variables examined. These findings suggest that changes in precipitation patterns can influence both the structure of dung beetles and the rate of dung decomposition but may also decouple their relationship under a certain circumstance. Therefore, it is crucial to pay greater attention to fully understand local variability between the biological processes and ecosystem functions within a global climate change scenario. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: “Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function under Global Change”)
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16 pages, 2536 KiB  
Article
Nitrogen Addition Affects Interannual Variation in Seed Production in a Tibetan Perennial Herb
by Yuanxin Lou, Ruolan Wang, Peiyue Che, Chuan Zhao, Yali Chen, Yangheshan Yang and Junpeng Mu
Biology 2023, 12(8), 1132; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12081132 - 14 Aug 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1532
Abstract
The variability observed in the annual seed production of perennial plants can be seen as an indication of changes in the allocation of resources between growth and reproduction, which can be attributed to fluctuations in the environment. However, a significant knowledge gap exists [...] Read more.
The variability observed in the annual seed production of perennial plants can be seen as an indication of changes in the allocation of resources between growth and reproduction, which can be attributed to fluctuations in the environment. However, a significant knowledge gap exists concerning the impacts of nitrogen addition on the interannual seed production patterns of perennial plants. We hypothesized that the addition of nitrogen would impact the annual variations in the seed production of perennial plants, ultimately affecting their overall reproductive efficiency. A multiyear field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of varying nitrogen supply levels (e.g., 0, 4, and 8 kg N ha−1 yr−1 of N0, N4, and N8) on vegetative and floral traits, pollinator visitation rates, and seed traits over a period of four consecutive years. The results showed that the N0 treatment exhibited the highest levels of seed production and reproductive efficiency within the initial two years. In contrast, the N4 treatment displayed its highest level of performance in these metrics in the second and third years, whereas the N8 treatment showcased its most favorable outcomes in the third and fourth years. Similar patterns were found in the number of flowers per capitulum and the number of capitula per plant. There exists a positive correlation between aboveground biomass and several factors, including the number of flowers per capitulum, the number of capitula per plant, the volume of nectar per capitulum, and the seed production per plant. A positive correlation was found between pollinator visitation and the number of flowers per capitulum or the number of capitula per plant. This implies that the addition of N affected the maintenance of plant aboveground biomass, flower trait stability, pollinator visitation, and, subsequently, the frequency of seed production and reproductive efficiency. Our results suggest that augmenting the nitrogen content in the soil may have the capacity to modify the inherent variability in seed production that is observed across various years and enhance the effectiveness of reproductive processes. These findings have the potential to enhance our comprehension of the impact of nitrogen addition on the reproductive performance of perennial herbaceous plants and the underlying mechanisms of biodiversity in the context of global environmental changes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: “Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function under Global Change”)
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16 pages, 11010 KiB  
Article
The Mechanism by Which Umbrella-Shaped Ratchet Trichomes on the Elaeagnus angustifolia Leaf Surface Collect Water and Reflect Light
by Zhanlin Bei, Xin Zhang and Xingjun Tian
Biology 2023, 12(7), 1024; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12071024 - 20 Jul 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2107
Abstract
Leaves are essential for plants, enabling photosynthesis and transpiration. In arid regions, water availability limits plant growth. Some plants, like Elaeagnus angustifolia, a sandy sub-tree species widely distributed in arid and semi-arid regions, have unique leaf structures to reduce water loss and [...] Read more.
Leaves are essential for plants, enabling photosynthesis and transpiration. In arid regions, water availability limits plant growth. Some plants, like Elaeagnus angustifolia, a sandy sub-tree species widely distributed in arid and semi-arid regions, have unique leaf structures to reduce water loss and solar radiation. Here, we describe the leaves of Elaeagnus angustifolia L., with special functioning trichomes. Through leaf submicroscopic structure observation, in situ water collection experiments, photosynthesis measurements, and reflection spectrum analysis, we investigated E. angustifolia leaves, focusing on their functioning trichomes. These trichomes capture water vapor, reflect UV and NIR light, and possess a 3D interface structure composed of 1D and 2D structures. The 1D conical structure captures water droplets, which are then gathered by the radial conical structure and guided towards the stomata through wedge-shaped grooves on the 2D umbrella structure. The trichomes also reflect sunlight, with micropapillae reflecting UV light and the umbrella structure reflecting NIR light. These mechanisms reduce leaf temperature, respiration, and water transpiration, protecting against solar radiation damage. This study provides insights into water collection and light-reflection mechanisms, revealing adaptive strategies of plants with large leaves in arid regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: “Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function under Global Change”)
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12 pages, 1901 KiB  
Article
Long-Term Daytime Warming Rather Than Nighttime Warming Alters Soil Microbial Composition in a Semi-Arid Grassland
by Jiayin Feng, Jingyi Ru, Jian Song, Xueli Qiu and Shiqiang Wan
Biology 2023, 12(5), 699; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12050699 - 10 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1906
Abstract
Climate warming has profoundly influenced community structure and ecosystem functions in the terrestrial biosphere. However, how asymmetric rising temperatures between daytime and nighttime affect soil microbial communities that predominantly regulate soil carbon (C) release remains unclear. As part of a decade-long warming manipulation [...] Read more.
Climate warming has profoundly influenced community structure and ecosystem functions in the terrestrial biosphere. However, how asymmetric rising temperatures between daytime and nighttime affect soil microbial communities that predominantly regulate soil carbon (C) release remains unclear. As part of a decade-long warming manipulation experiment in a semi-arid grassland, we aimed to examine the effects of short- and long-term asymmetrically diurnal warming on soil microbial composition. Neither daytime nor nighttime warming affected soil microbial composition in the short term, whereas long-term daytime warming instead of nighttime warming decreased fungal abundance by 6.28% (p < 0.05) and the ratio of fungi to bacteria by 6.76% (p < 0.01), which could be caused by the elevated soil temperature, reduced soil moisture, and increased grass cover. In addition, soil respiration enhanced with the decreasing fungi-to-bacteria ratio, but was not correlated with microbial biomass C during the 10 years, indicating that microbial composition may be more important than biomass in modulating soil respiration. These observations highlight the crucial role of soil microbial composition in regulating grassland C release under long-term climate warming, which facilitates an accurate assessment of climate-C feedback in the terrestrial biosphere. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: “Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function under Global Change”)
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