Plant trait variation drives plant function, community composition and ecosystem processes.
However, our current understanding of trait variation disproportionately relies on …

Evidence suggests that biodiversity supports ecosystem functioning. Yet, the mechanisms
driving this relationship remain unclear. Complementarity is one common explanation for …

In the context of a recent massive increase in research on plant root functions and their impact
on the environment, root ecologists currently face many important challenges to keep on …

Biodiversity is rapidly declining worldwide 1 , and there is consensus that this can decrease
ecosystem functioning and services 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 . It remains unclear, though, whether …

It remains unclear whether biodiversity buffers ecosystems against climate extremes, which
are becoming increasingly frequent worldwide 1 . Early results suggested that the ecosystem …

The effects of plants on the biosphere, atmosphere and geosphere are key determinants of
terrestrial ecosystem functioning. However, despite substantial progress made regarding …

The global decline in biodiversity has generated concern over the consequences for ecosystem
functioning and services. Although ecosystem functions driven by soil microorganisms …

1 Mathematical indices, formed by combining several primary measures, can help researchers
summarize, interpret and display results from plant competition experiments. This essay …

Nature conservation literature and policy instruments mainly focus on the impacts of human
development and the benefits of nature conservation for oceans and aboveground terrestrial …

A substantial body of evidence has demonstrated that biodiversity stabilizes ecosystem
functioning over time in grassland ecosystems. However, the relative importance of different …