A role for the sampling effect in invaded ecosystems
Species loss and invasion of exotic species are two components of global biodiversity change that are expected to influence ecosystem functioning. Yet how they interact in natural settings remains unclear. Experiments have revealed two major mechanisms for the observed increase in primary productivi...
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2017
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| Acceso en línea: | https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_00301299_v126_n9_p1229_Flombaum http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_00301299_v126_n9_p1229_Flombaum |
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paper:paper_00301299_v126_n9_p1229_Flombaum2025-07-30T17:37:19Z A role for the sampling effect in invaded ecosystems Flombaum, Pedro biodiversity biological invasion biomass community dynamics complementarity ecosystem function evergreen tree invasive species montane forest primary production sampling species richness subtropical region succession Argentina Asia Ligustrum lucidum Species loss and invasion of exotic species are two components of global biodiversity change that are expected to influence ecosystem functioning. Yet how they interact in natural settings remains unclear. Experiments have revealed two major mechanisms for the observed increase in primary productivity with plant species richness. Plant productivity may rise with species richness due to the increased amount of resources used by more diverse communities (niche complementarity) or through the increased probability of including a highly productive, dominant species in the community (sampling effect). Current evidence suggests that niche complementarity is the most relevant mechanism, whereas the sampling effect would only play a minor and transient role in natural systems. In turn, exotic species can invade by using untapped resources or because they possess a fitness advantage over resident species allowing them to dominate the community. We argue that the sampling effect can be a significant biodiversity mechanism in ecosystems invaded by dominant exotic species, and that the effect can be persistent even after decades of succession. We illustrate this idea by analyzing tree species richness–productivity relationships in a subtropical montane forest (NW Argentina) heavily invaded by Ligustrum lucidum, an evergreen tree from Asia. We found that the forest biomass increased along a natural gradient of tree species richness whether invaded by L. lucidum or not. Consistent with the sampling effect, L. lucidum invasion tripled total tree biomass irrespective of species richness, and monocultures of L. lucidum were more productive than any of the most species-rich, uninvaded communities. Hence, the sampling effect may not be restricted to randomly assembled, synthetic communities. We emphasize that studying invaded ecosystems may provide novel insights on the mechanisms underlying the effect of biodiversity on ecosystem function. © 2017 The Authors Fil:Flombaum, P. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. 2017 https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_00301299_v126_n9_p1229_Flombaum http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_00301299_v126_n9_p1229_Flombaum |
| institution |
Universidad de Buenos Aires |
| institution_str |
I-28 |
| repository_str |
R-134 |
| collection |
Biblioteca Digital - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA) |
| topic |
biodiversity biological invasion biomass community dynamics complementarity ecosystem function evergreen tree invasive species montane forest primary production sampling species richness subtropical region succession Argentina Asia Ligustrum lucidum |
| spellingShingle |
biodiversity biological invasion biomass community dynamics complementarity ecosystem function evergreen tree invasive species montane forest primary production sampling species richness subtropical region succession Argentina Asia Ligustrum lucidum Flombaum, Pedro A role for the sampling effect in invaded ecosystems |
| topic_facet |
biodiversity biological invasion biomass community dynamics complementarity ecosystem function evergreen tree invasive species montane forest primary production sampling species richness subtropical region succession Argentina Asia Ligustrum lucidum |
| description |
Species loss and invasion of exotic species are two components of global biodiversity change that are expected to influence ecosystem functioning. Yet how they interact in natural settings remains unclear. Experiments have revealed two major mechanisms for the observed increase in primary productivity with plant species richness. Plant productivity may rise with species richness due to the increased amount of resources used by more diverse communities (niche complementarity) or through the increased probability of including a highly productive, dominant species in the community (sampling effect). Current evidence suggests that niche complementarity is the most relevant mechanism, whereas the sampling effect would only play a minor and transient role in natural systems. In turn, exotic species can invade by using untapped resources or because they possess a fitness advantage over resident species allowing them to dominate the community. We argue that the sampling effect can be a significant biodiversity mechanism in ecosystems invaded by dominant exotic species, and that the effect can be persistent even after decades of succession. We illustrate this idea by analyzing tree species richness–productivity relationships in a subtropical montane forest (NW Argentina) heavily invaded by Ligustrum lucidum, an evergreen tree from Asia. We found that the forest biomass increased along a natural gradient of tree species richness whether invaded by L. lucidum or not. Consistent with the sampling effect, L. lucidum invasion tripled total tree biomass irrespective of species richness, and monocultures of L. lucidum were more productive than any of the most species-rich, uninvaded communities. Hence, the sampling effect may not be restricted to randomly assembled, synthetic communities. We emphasize that studying invaded ecosystems may provide novel insights on the mechanisms underlying the effect of biodiversity on ecosystem function. © 2017 The Authors |
| author |
Flombaum, Pedro |
| author_facet |
Flombaum, Pedro |
| author_sort |
Flombaum, Pedro |
| title |
A role for the sampling effect in invaded ecosystems |
| title_short |
A role for the sampling effect in invaded ecosystems |
| title_full |
A role for the sampling effect in invaded ecosystems |
| title_fullStr |
A role for the sampling effect in invaded ecosystems |
| title_full_unstemmed |
A role for the sampling effect in invaded ecosystems |
| title_sort |
role for the sampling effect in invaded ecosystems |
| publishDate |
2017 |
| url |
https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_00301299_v126_n9_p1229_Flombaum http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_00301299_v126_n9_p1229_Flombaum |
| work_keys_str_mv |
AT flombaumpedro aroleforthesamplingeffectininvadedecosystems AT flombaumpedro roleforthesamplingeffectininvadedecosystems |
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1840326657207959552 |