In a groundbreaking study that advances our understanding of ecosystem dynamics, researchers have revealed how moderate degradation of grasslands can paradoxically reshape the complex interdependencies between biodiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality. This investigation, conducted across the vast expanse of Tibetan alpine grasslands, utilized an extensive dataset comprising 792 sampling quadrats from 44 distinct sites along a formidable 2,600-kilometer transect. Such an expansive approach provides a large-scale perspective seldom achieved in ecological studies, making the findings particularly seminal for environmental management and conservation biology in high-altitude ecosystems.
Previous research has consistently demonstrated that biodiversity generally promotes ecosystem multifunctionality—the simultaneous maintenance of multiple ecosystem services such as nutrient cycling, carbon storage, and productivity. However, how degradation, a burgeoning threat to global grasslands, alters these biodiversity-function relationships remained poorly understood. The current study addresses this knowledge gap by focusing specifically on moderate degradation levels, an often-overlooked stage that precedes more severe degradation but is critical for early intervention and restoration efforts.
The authors assessed twenty different proxies for ecosystem functions to gauge the comprehensive impact of degradation on ecosystem processes. These proxies encompassed a range of biological, chemical, and physical functions that collectively inform the multifunctionality metric. Notably, the data revealed a consistent decline in individual ecosystem functions and overall multifunctionality as grassland degradation progressed, underscoring the vulnerability of ecosystem services in these fragile alpine regions.
Surprisingly, despite the diminution of ecosystem functioning, plant richness did not follow the anticipated downward trajectory often associated with degradation. Instead, an increase in plant species richness emerged, challenging traditional assumptions about biodiversity loss in degraded habitats. This unexpected pattern suggests that moderate degradation may create niche opportunities for certain species, fostering a more heterogeneous plant community composition.
The soil microbial community—constituted by bacteria, fungi, and protists—exhibited a similar trend of increased biodiversity under degradation pressure. This phenomenon indicates a possible enrichment or reorganization of microbial assemblages linked to the altered soil environment. Importantly, such changes in below-ground biodiversity may not merely be incidental but could play a pivotal role in influencing ecosystem processes, especially when above-ground plant contributions diminish.
To unravel the intricate pathways through which biodiversity influences multifunctionality under degradation, the researchers employed structural equation modeling (SEM). This advanced analytical technique allowed them to quantify the relative contributions and interactive effects of plant and soil biodiversity. The SEM results revealed a shifting paradigm: the influence of soil biodiversity on ecosystem multifunctionality intensified with degradation, whereas the previously dominant effect of plant richness weakened.
This shift in biodiversity-function relationships highlights the increasing functional importance of the soil microbial community in sustaining ecosystem processes as degradation advances. Soil microbes contribute to vital services such as nutrient mineralization, organic matter decomposition, and pathogen suppression, which become even more crucial when plant-mediated functions falter. Therefore, the microbial community’s response to degradation might represent a buffering mechanism that partially offsets losses in multifunctionality.
Additionally, the study underscores that moderate grassland degradation, while detrimental to ecosystem services, can simultaneously act as a catalyst for changes in community composition. This dual effect complicates management strategies because it suggests that not all biodiversity changes are negative in the short term. However, whether these early-stage increases in biodiversity contribute to ecosystem resilience or represent transient disturbances remains a critical question for future research.
These findings have broader implications for understanding and managing alpine grasslands under the pressures of climate change and anthropogenic activities. Tibetan alpine grasslands serve as a vital carbon sink and a biodiversity hotspot whose ecological stability underpins regional livelihoods and global environmental health. Hence, insights into how degradation modifies fundamental biodiversity-ecosystem function linkages are essential for developing sustainable conservation policies.
Moreover, the study propels the concept that below-ground biodiversity, particularly soil microbial diversity, should receive greater attention in ecosystem assessments and restoration projects. Traditionally, conservation efforts have prioritized above-ground vegetation, but this research advocates for a more integrative approach that includes soil biota as central players in ecosystem sustainability.
The methodological rigor, including extensive spatial sampling and the use of integrated biodiversity indices, strengthens the credibility of the conclusions. By combining diverse biodiversity metrics and multifunctionality surrogates, the investigation provides a holistic view of ecosystem responses to disturbance that transcends simplistic single-function or single-species analyses.
In this context, the Tibetan plateau’s vast and varied alpine grasslands serve as an ideal natural laboratory for exploring the effects of varying degradation levels. The gradient approach allowed the team to capture complex ecological patterns that might be obscured in more homogenous or restricted study settings.
Given the urgent need to curb grassland degradation worldwide, these results furnish vital empirical evidence that can inform adaptive management. Interventions aimed at preserving or restoring soil biodiversity could enhance ecosystem resilience and stall multifunctionality losses before degradation becomes irreversible.
The study’s revelations also open intriguing avenues for biotechnological and ecological innovations. For instance, harnessing specific microbial communities that flourish under degradation could restore damaged ecosystems or improve soil health, thus facilitating sustainable agricultural practices in fragile landscapes.
From a theoretical perspective, this work enriches the ecological paradigm by illustrating that biodiversity-function relationships are not static but can dynamically shift under disturbance regimes. Recognizing this plasticity is crucial for refining ecological models and predictions in a rapidly changing world.
In conclusion, the pioneering research conducted on Tibetan alpine grasslands highlights the nuanced and often counterintuitive effects of moderate degradation on biodiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality. The increased prominence of soil microbial diversity in maintaining ecosystem services under degradation challenges conventional conservation priorities and suggests that below-ground biota are key allies in sustaining ecological integrity amid environmental stress. These insights equip ecologists, land managers, and policymakers with critical knowledge to better safeguard the future of alpine grasslands and their invaluable ecosystem functions.
Subject of Research:
The influence of moderate grassland degradation on the relationships between biodiversity (plant and soil microbial communities) and ecosystem multifunctionality in Tibetan alpine grasslands.
Article Title:
Grassland degradation alters plant and soil biodiversity–multifunctionality relationships
Article References:
Gao, X., Zhang, D., Peng, Y. et al. Grassland degradation alters plant and soil biodiversity–multifunctionality relationships. Nat. Plants (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-025-02147-x
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