Linking biodiversity and biotic interactions to ecosystem functioning

Abstract

Biodiversity is an essential component for ecosystem functioning and stability, with numerous biotic interactions and complementarity playing important roles. The complexity of these relationships can be seen in both above- and belowground ecosystems and understanding these intricate relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (BEF) is critical to ecological research, especially in the context of rapidly changing global environments. This review synthesizes contemporary research and fundamental insights into BEF linkages, with a particular emphasis on the function of plant-microbial biotic interactions in shaping aboveground biodiversity and their cascading effects on ecosystem processes. One of the most significant developments is the discovery that microbial communities responsible for a variety of soil functions are inextricably linked to plant communities and ecosystem processes. However, BEF studies rarely explore the relationships between above- and belowground biodiversity components, as well as how global change affects them. In light of this, we propose emerging paths for future study, emphasizing the necessity of global-scale networks and collaborative efforts to address difficult ecological challenges. Addressing these crucial knowledge gaps might help to improve our understanding of the interplay between biodiversity, biotic interactions and ecosystem functions, thereby improving primary productivity as well as ecosystem resilience and sustainability in the face of projected global change.