Nitrogen availability and plant functional composition modify biodiversity-multifunctionality relationships

Abstract

Biodiversity typically increases multiple ecosystem functions simultaneously (multifunctionality) but variation in the strength and direction of biodiversity effects between studies suggests context dependency. To determine how different factors modulate the diversity effect on multifunctionality, we established a large grassland experiment manipulating plant species richness, resource addition, functional composition (exploitative vs. conservative species), functional diversity and enemy abundance. We measured ten above- and belowground functions and calculated ecosystem multifunctionality. Species richness and functional diversity both increased multifunctionality, but their effects were context dependent. Richness increased multifunctionality when communities were assembled with fast-growing species. This was because slow species were more redundant in their functional effects, whereas different fast species promoted different functions. Functional diversity also increased multifunctionality but this effect was dampened by nitrogen enrichment and enemy presence. Our study suggests that a shift towards fast-growing communities will not only alter ecosystem functioning but also the strength of biodiversity-functioning relationships.