Effects of climate variability and soil environment on plant diversity
drive ecosystem stability in intact natural forests
Abstract
A substantial body of evidence sustains that biodiversity enhances
ecological stability in changing environments, but the underlying
mechanisms in intact natural forest ecosystems remain unresolved. Using
data from seven permanent plots, we test the influence and driving
factors of plant diversity on stability and variability of diameter at
breast height (DBH). We show that species richness under different soils
and climate variability indirectly increases stability by species
asynchrony rather than a direct influence. Beta diversity (plant species
composition dissimilarities over time) has a strong positive effect on
stability and soils indirectly increase stability by beta diversity.
Soils and climate variability cause a larger effect on variation in
standard deviation of DBH by species richness, beta diversity and
species asynchrony relative to mean DBH. The study provides a new
insight into how plant species diversity affects the process of
ecosystem stability under various soil conditions and climatic
variability.