Biodiversity, species coexistence and ecosystem functiioning

生物多样性、物种共存和生态系统功能

基本信息

批准号：
311788-2010
负责人：
Lundholm, Jeremy
金额：
$ 2.48万
依托单位：
Saint Mary's University
依托单位国家：
加拿大
项目类别：
Discovery Grants Program - Individual
财政年份：
2015
资助国家：
加拿大
起止时间：
2015-01-01 至 2016-12-31
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=571621
关键词：
Biodiversity species coexistence ecosystem functiioning

项目摘要

Ecosystem functions are essential for life on earth, and there has been a major research effort in past decades to determine the relationships between species diversity and ecosystem functioning. People construct ecosystems such as sewage treatment wetlands and green roofs to provide specific ecosystem services, but the relationships between the number of species in the ecosystem and performance of desired services has been little investigated. The proposed research will evaluate the role of increasing the number of plant species and different plant life-forms (grasses, succulents, shrubs etc.) in improving green roof performance. The ability for green roofs to provide services such as summer temperature reductions, winter temperature increases, carbon capture, stormwater retention and resistance to invasion by undesirable plants will be evaluated in replicated green roof microcosms. The traits of plant species and life-forms that optimally perform these different services will be assessed to determine the relationships between general plant traits and ecosystem functions. This will allow for selection of plants in many different regions to optimize green roof functioning. The benefits of increased plant biodiversity on roofs will only be sustained in the long-term if multiple species or life-forms can coexist without being outcompeted. We will determine whether the species that perform optimally on green roofs can coexist stably, and determine the mechanisms that allow such coexistence. While species differences are essential for biodiversity to enhance ecosystem functioning, recent "neutral models" suggest that such differences are not required for long-term coexistence of species. We will investigate whether the degree to which species coexistence is governed by mechanisms that rely on species differences. This research will result in tangible improvement to green roof performance that will in turn lead to energy and economic savings.

生态系统功能对于地球上的生命至关重要，过去几十年来，人们进行了大量研究工作来确定物种多样性与生态系统功能之间的关系。人们建造污水处理湿地和绿色屋顶等生态系统来提供特定的生态系统服务，但生态系统中物种数量与所需服务绩效之间的关系却很少被研究。拟议的研究将评估增加植物物种和不同植物生命形式（草、肉质植物、灌木等）数量在改善绿色屋顶性能方面的作用。绿色屋顶提供夏季降温、冬季升温、碳捕获、雨水滞留和抵抗不良植物入侵等服务的能力将在复制的绿色屋顶微观世界中进行评估。将评估最佳地执行这些不同服务的植物物种和生命形式的特征，以确定一般植物特征和生态系统功能之间的关系。这将允许在许多不同地区选择植物以优化绿色屋顶功能。只有当多个物种或生命形式能够共存而不被竞争时，屋顶植物多样性增加的好处才能长期持续。我们将确定在绿色屋顶上表现最佳的物种是否可以稳定共存，并确定允许这种共存的机制。虽然物种差异对于生物多样性增强生态系统功能至关重要，但最近的“中性模型”表明，物种的长期共存并不需要这种差异。我们将研究物种共存的程度是否受到依赖物种差异的机制的控制。这项研究将切实改善绿色屋顶的性能，从而节省能源和经济。