Above‐ and belowground biodiversity jointly drive ecosystem stability in natural alpine grasslands on the Tibetan Plateau

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Abstract

Abstract Aim Most existing studies that examined the biotic mechanisms of ecosystem stability have focused on aboveground biodiversity. Whether and how belowground biodiversity affects the stability of natural ecosystems is largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated the relationships between above‐ and belowground biodiversity and the temporal stability of grassland biomass production across a large gradient of soil and climatic conditions. Location Tibetan Plateau. Time period 2001–2016. Major taxa studied Alpine grass and soil bacteria, arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi and fauna. Methods We coupled a field biodiversity survey conducted in 54 alpine grassland ecosystems across the Tibetan Plateau with a satellite‐sensed proxy (enhanced vegetation index, EVI) of ecosystem productivity during 2001–2016. The temporal stability of primary productivity was calculated as the ratio of the mean annual peak EVI to the standard deviation of the annual peak EVI over this period. Plant diversity was determined using a classic vegetation survey approach, soil bacterial and AM fungal diversity were measured using a high‐throughput sequencing approach, and soil fauna was counted and identified at the order level after being extracted using a modified Berlese–Tullgren method. Results Our results demonstrated that both above‐ and belowground biodiversity were positively associated with ecosystem stability. Belowground biodiversity not only affected ecosystem stability directly, but also influenced it indirectly through plant diversity and soil fertility. Furthermore, soil pH, climate and its variability strongly influenced soil biodiversity, which in turn influenced ecosystem stability. Main conclusions Our study demonstrates the indispensable role of belowground biodiversity in regulating ecosystem stability, emphasizing the necessity of conserving this ‘hidden’ biodiversity in fragile alpine ecosystems facing ongoing environmental change.

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