Summary
This controlled microcosm study demonstrates that soil biodiversity loss disproportionately suppresses legume persistence and recovery in grassland plant communities exposed to multiple global change stressors (drought, warming, nitrogen deposition). Whilst grass and herb biomass showed disturbance-independent recovery regardless of soil biodiversity status, legumes exhibited heightened sensitivity to environmental disturbances when soil biodiversity was reduced, an effect partly explained by loss of mycorrhizal mutualists. The findings suggest soil biodiversity functions as a buffering mechanism for maintaining plant diversity and community composition stability in response to environmental change.
UK applicability
The findings are relevant to UK grassland management and restoration, particularly for maintaining legume-rich pastures and semi-natural grasslands under projected climate variability. However, field validation under UK soil and climatic conditions would strengthen applicability to regional farming and conservation practice.
Key measures
Legume biomass, herb biomass, grass biomass, plant diversity, plant community recovery following disturbance, soil biodiversity gradient (dilution-to-extinction approach), mycorrhizal abundance
Outcomes reported
The study measured plant biomass (grass, herbs, and legumes), plant diversity, and recovery rates of plant communities following simulated global change disturbances (drought, warming, nitrogen deposition) under varying levels of soil biodiversity. Changes in legume persistence and plant diversity were attributed to shifts in mycorrhizal soil mutualist communities.
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