Biodiversity increases resistance of grasslands against plant invasions under multiple environmental changes

Cai Cheng, Zekang Liu, Wei Song, Xue Chen, Zhijie Zhang, Bo Li, Mark Kleunen and Jihua Wu ()
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Cai Cheng: Lanzhou University
Zekang Liu: Fudan University
Wei Song: Fudan University
Xue Chen: Fudan University
Zhijie Zhang: University of Konstanz
Bo Li: Yunnan University
Mark Kleunen: University of Konstanz
Jihua Wu: Lanzhou University

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Biodiversity often helps communities resist invasion. However, it is unclear whether this diversity–invasion relationship holds true under environmental changes. Here, we conduct a meta-analysis of 1010 observations from 25 grassland studies in which plant species richness is manipulated together with one or more environmental change factors to test invasibility (measured by biomass or cover of invaders). We find that biodiversity increases resistance to invaders across various environmental conditions. However, the positive biodiversity effect on invasion resistance is strengthened under experimental warming, whereas it is weakened under experimentally imposed drought. When multiple factors are imposed simultaneously, the positive biodiversity effect is strengthened. Overall, we show that biodiversity helps grassland communities resist plant invasions under multiple environmental changes. Therefore, investment in the protection and restoration of native biodiversity is not only important for prevention of invasions under current conditions but also under continued global environmental change.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48876-z

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