Extinction and Ecosystem Function in the Marine Benthos
University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science · University of California, Santa Barbara · +4 more institutions
Abstract
Rapid changes in biodiversity are occurring globally, yet the ecological impacts of diversity loss are poorly understood. Here we use data from marine invertebrate communities to parameterize models that predict how extinctions will affect sediment bioturbation, a process vital to the persistence of aquatic communities. We show that species extinction is generally expected to reduce bioturbation, but the magnitude of reduction depends on how the functional traits of individual species covary with their risk of extinction. As a result, the particular cause of extinction and the order in which species are lost ultimately govern the ecosystem-level consequences of biodiversity loss.
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 27.07
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 29
Authors
6- MSMartin SolanCorresponding
University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, University of Washington, Aberdeenshire Council, Ohio Wesleyan University
- BJBradley J. Cardinale
University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, University of Washington, Aberdeenshire Council, Ohio Wesleyan University
- ALAmy L. Downing
University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, University of Washington, Aberdeenshire Council, Ohio Wesleyan University
- KAKatharina A. M. Engelhardt
University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, University of Washington, Aberdeenshire Council, Ohio Wesleyan University
- JLJennifer L. Ruesink
University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, University of Washington, Aberdeenshire Council, Ohio Wesleyan University
Topics & keywords
- Bioturbation
- Extinction (optical mineralogy)
- Biodiversity
- Ecosystem
- Ecology
- Benthos
- Marine ecosystem
- Invertebrate
- Life below water