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

Abstract

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.