title: Global biodiversity, stoichiometry and ecosystem function responses to human-induced C-N-P imbalances.
abstract: Global change analyses usually consider biodiversity as a global asset that needs to be preserved. Biodiversity is frequently analysed mainly as a response variable affected by diverse environmental drivers. However, recent studies highlight that gradients of biodiversity are associated with gradual changes in the distribution of key dominant functional groups characterized by distinctive traits and stoichiometry, which in turn often define the rates of ecosystem processes and nutrient cycling. Moreover, pervasive links have been reported between biodiversity, food web structure, ecosystem function and species stoichiometry. Here we review current global stoichiometric gradients and how future distributional shifts in key functional groups may in turn influence basic ecosystem functions (production, nutrient cycling, decomposition) and therefore could exert a feedback effect on stoichiometric gradients. The C-N-P stoichiometry of most primary producers (phytoplankton, algae, plants) has been linked to functional trait continua (i.e. to major axes of phenotypic variation observed in inter-specific analyses of multiple traits). In contrast, the C-N-P stoichiometry of higher-level consumers remains less precisely quantified in many taxonomic groups. We show that significant links are observed between trait continua across trophic levels. In spite of recent advances, the future reciprocal feedbacks between key functional groups, biodiversity and ecosystem functions remain largely uncertain. The reported evidence, however, highlights the key role of stoichiometric traits and suggests the need of a progressive shift towards an ecosystemic and stoichiometric perspective in global biodiversity analyses.
authors.affiliation: Community and Conservation Ecology Group, Centre for Life Sciences, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.; CSIC, Global Ecology Unit, Cerdanyola del Valles, Barcelona, Catalonia 08193, Spain; Department of Ecology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia 08028, Spain.. Electronic address: jofrecarnicer@yahoo.es.
authors.forename: Jofre
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carnicer
authors.affiliation: CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Catalonia 08193, Spain.; CSIC, Global Ecology Unit, Cerdanyola del Valles, Barcelona, Catalonia 08193, Spain.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sardans
authors.affiliation: CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Catalonia 08193, Spain.; CSIC, Global Ecology Unit, Cerdanyola del Valles, Barcelona, Catalonia 08193, Spain; Museu de Ciències Naturals de Granollers, Granollers, Catalonia 08402, Spain.
authors.forename: Constantí
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stefanescu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia 08028, Spain.
authors.forename: Andreu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ubach
authors.affiliation: CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Catalonia 08193, Spain.; CSIC, Global Ecology Unit, Cerdanyola del Valles, Barcelona, Catalonia 08193, Spain.
authors.forename: Mireia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bartrons
authors.affiliation: CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Catalonia 08193, Spain.; CSIC, Global Ecology Unit, Cerdanyola del Valles, Barcelona, Catalonia 08193, Spain.
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Asensio
authors.affiliation: CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Catalonia 08193, Spain.; CSIC, Global Ecology Unit, Cerdanyola del Valles, Barcelona, Catalonia 08193, Spain.
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peñuelas
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D018533:Biomass; D057486:Carbon Cycle; D017753:Ecosystem; D020387:Food Chain; D058458:Nitrogen Cycle; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000378:metabolism*; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena
chemical_list: D010758:Phosphorus
keywords: Biodiversity; Ecosystem function; Species richness; Stoichiometry