A rich body of knowledge links biodiversity to ecosystem functioning (BEF), but it is primarily
focused on small scales. We review the current theory and identify six expectations for scale …

While the positive relationship between plant biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (BEF)
is well established, the extent to which this is mediated via belowground microbial …

Evidence is increasing for positive effects of α-diversity on ecosystem functioning. We
highlight here the crucial role of β-diversity–a hitherto underexplored facet of biodiversity–for …

Biological insurance theory predicts that, in a variable environment, aggregate ecosystem
properties will vary less in more diverse communities because declines in the performance …

Global warming and the loss of biodiversity through human activities (eg, land-use change,
pollution, invasive species) are two of the most profound threats to the functional integrity of …

Numerous studies have demonstrated that biodiversity drives ecosystem functioning, yet
how biodiversity loss alters ecosystems functioning and stability in the long-term lacks …

1. Insects have emerged as causes célèbres for widespread concern about human effects
on global biodiversity. Here, we consider how insects provide opportunities both to …

The stability of ecological communities is critical for the stable provisioning of ecosystem
services, such as food and forage production, carbon sequestration, and soil fertility. Greater …

Plants and vegetation play a critical—but largely unpredictable—role in global
environmental changes due to the multitude of contributing processes at widely different …

Concern about the functional consequences of unprecedented loss in biodiversity has
prompted biodiversity–ecosystem functioning (BEF) research to become one of the most …