Upscaling biodiversity - ecosystem functioning research using intertidal forests as a model system (BEF-SCALE)
Lead Research Organisation:
Swansea University
Department Name: College of Science
Abstract
Human activities have already raised global species extinction rates a thousand-fold and have pushed an additional million species towards extinction. Biodiversity is also rapidly changing on more local scales as climate change drives the redistribution of species, and pressures such as overharvesting and habitat fragmentation intensify in many areas. Understanding how biodiversity influences ecosystem functions, such as carbon capture and fisheries productivity, is a crucial challenge directly relevant to meeting the UN sustainable development goals, and UK policy imperatives of harnessing biodiversity to achieve sustainable economic growth and using nature-based solutions to help meet 'net-zero' emissions by 2050.
Since the mid- 1990s, several hundred experiments have tested how changes in biodiversity influence ecosystem functions and services, with many studies indicating that biodiversity loss does not reduce functioning as long as the single best-performing species is retained. However, these studies have focused on local-scale interactions between species in small habitat units such as grassland plots, field enclosures, or aquarium tanks; we therefore lack studies that consider BEF relationships on the larger landscape-, regional- or even national- scales most relevant to the public, ecosystem managers, and policy makers. Ecological theory suggests that biodiversity is more important for ecosystem services as scale increases due to greater environmental variation, but it cannot currently be evaluated in real ecosystems because we lack BEF studies across scales and environmental gradients.
In this project we aim to bridge the gap between experiments and relevant larger scales by using Great Britain's intertidal forests as a model system. These highly productive and valuable ecosystems occur extensively around the GB's varied and complex coastlines and are formed by a manageable suite of seaweed species which can be easily manipulated across multiple distinct environmental gradients.
To meet our overall aim, we will incorporate multiple environmental factors into experiments, observations and models delivered across three inter-linked work packages which together provide a generalised approach and scaling relationships for BEF.
Our first work package uses a 100km stretch of the south Wales coastline - which incorporates gradients in wave exposure and turbidity - as an accessible template to experimentally test the causal effect of intertidal forest biodiversity on ecosystem functioning from small patches to the whole coastline. Our second package combines a network of standardised observations in intertidal forests around GB, with satellite remote sensing and statistical modelling, to test how BEF relationships scale-up -- from 1 m to 1000km scales -- in naturally assembled communities. The third and final work package uses the new experimental and observational data to inform dynamic models, allowing us to test how species traits such as dispersal and environmental tolerances interacts with environmental variability to determine BEF relationships across scales. A key innovation here is the explicit - and empirically informed - integration of spatial environmental variability in multiple environmental factors. These will be generalised to represent how the environment varies in a range of different ecosystems from forests, to agricultural landscapes, and to coral reefs.
The advancement of our project aim will deliver a revised appreciation of the role of diversity in ecosystems and demonstrate a generalizable approach for upscaling biodiversity - ecosystem functioning relationships. We anticipate that this will feed into predictions for how biodiversity changes will influence ecosystem functioning and services on large, relevant- scales, in intertidal forests and beyond, with a range of applications from natural capital models, to the design of large-scale ecosystem restoration projects.
Since the mid- 1990s, several hundred experiments have tested how changes in biodiversity influence ecosystem functions and services, with many studies indicating that biodiversity loss does not reduce functioning as long as the single best-performing species is retained. However, these studies have focused on local-scale interactions between species in small habitat units such as grassland plots, field enclosures, or aquarium tanks; we therefore lack studies that consider BEF relationships on the larger landscape-, regional- or even national- scales most relevant to the public, ecosystem managers, and policy makers. Ecological theory suggests that biodiversity is more important for ecosystem services as scale increases due to greater environmental variation, but it cannot currently be evaluated in real ecosystems because we lack BEF studies across scales and environmental gradients.
In this project we aim to bridge the gap between experiments and relevant larger scales by using Great Britain's intertidal forests as a model system. These highly productive and valuable ecosystems occur extensively around the GB's varied and complex coastlines and are formed by a manageable suite of seaweed species which can be easily manipulated across multiple distinct environmental gradients.
To meet our overall aim, we will incorporate multiple environmental factors into experiments, observations and models delivered across three inter-linked work packages which together provide a generalised approach and scaling relationships for BEF.
Our first work package uses a 100km stretch of the south Wales coastline - which incorporates gradients in wave exposure and turbidity - as an accessible template to experimentally test the causal effect of intertidal forest biodiversity on ecosystem functioning from small patches to the whole coastline. Our second package combines a network of standardised observations in intertidal forests around GB, with satellite remote sensing and statistical modelling, to test how BEF relationships scale-up -- from 1 m to 1000km scales -- in naturally assembled communities. The third and final work package uses the new experimental and observational data to inform dynamic models, allowing us to test how species traits such as dispersal and environmental tolerances interacts with environmental variability to determine BEF relationships across scales. A key innovation here is the explicit - and empirically informed - integration of spatial environmental variability in multiple environmental factors. These will be generalised to represent how the environment varies in a range of different ecosystems from forests, to agricultural landscapes, and to coral reefs.
The advancement of our project aim will deliver a revised appreciation of the role of diversity in ecosystems and demonstrate a generalizable approach for upscaling biodiversity - ecosystem functioning relationships. We anticipate that this will feed into predictions for how biodiversity changes will influence ecosystem functioning and services on large, relevant- scales, in intertidal forests and beyond, with a range of applications from natural capital models, to the design of large-scale ecosystem restoration projects.
Publications


Fairchild TP
(2024)
Topographic heterogeneity triggers complementary cascades that enhance ecosystem multifunctionality.
in Ecology
Description | Although still in progress, research supported by this award has already led to the key finding that heterogenous or variable environments can have important consequences for ecosystems. Using the rocky shore as a focal system, we deployed experimental substrates with varied levels of heterogeneity. After the ecological communities had developed over three years, we found that heterogeneous substrates had substantially higher levels of biodiversity and - importantly - many different ecosystem functions such as production of oxygen and filtration of particles. Further investigation revealed that these ecological outcomes were driven by a complex cascade of interactions in which a large habitat-forming seaweed played a key role. Thus, this work reveals the strong influence of habitat heterogeneity, in interaction with habitat-forming species, in driving the diversity and functioning - the 'heath' - of ecosystems. |
Exploitation Route | The first key finding listed above has important implications for the field of eco-engineering which aims to create anthropogenic structures to e.g., support renewable energy devices, or protect coastlines, while also minimising impacts on biodiversity. The results specifically suggest that integrating heterogeneity and encouraging the recruitment of habitat-forming species can lead to favourable outcomes for biodiversity and ecosystem services. |
Sectors | Construction Energy Environment Leisure Activities including Sports Recreation and Tourism |
Description | NSFGEO-NERC: Linking species traits to marine ecosystem functioning |
Amount | £243,908 (GBP) |
Funding ID | NE/X016641/1 |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2023 |
End | 03/2026 |
Title | Topographic heterogeneity triggers complementary cascades that enhance ecosystem multifunctionality |
Description | Dataset on intertidal community composition and cascading facilitation effects on multiple ecosystem functions. Data associated with Fairchild et al., Topographic heterogeneity triggers multiple complementary cascades to exert cornerstone effects on ecosystem multifunctionality. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2024 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/_b_Topographic_heterogeneity_triggers_complementary_cascades_t... |
Title | Topographic heterogeneity triggers complementary cascades that enhance ecosystem multifunctionality |
Description | Dataset on intertidal community composition and cascading facilitation effects on multiple ecosystem functions. Data associated with Fairchild et al., Topographic heterogeneity triggers multiple complementary cascades to exert cornerstone effects on ecosystem multifunctionality. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2024 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/_b_Topographic_heterogeneity_triggers_complementary_cascades_t... |
Description | Public exhibit (Oriel Science, Swansea) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Our team created and installed an ongoing installation as part of the 'Imaging Science' exhibition in Swansea University's public outreach space 'Oriel Science', a prominent site located in a busy part of Swansea city centre. The exhibit is themed around the 'forms and functions' of seaweed, and uses a variety of pressed specimens and images of scanned seaweeds to display their hugely diverse forms. Accessible text describes the various special and varied features of seaweeds that allow them to survive in various environments. Attention is drawn to the threats facing seaweeds in the UK and globally from climate change and ocean acidification. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
URL | https://www.orielscience.co.uk/ |