TY - JOUR A1 - Heger, Tina A1 - Bernard-Verdier, Maud A1 - Gessler, Arthur A1 - Greenwood, Alex D. A1 - Grossart, Hans-Peter A1 - Hilker, Monika A1 - Keinath, Silvia A1 - Kowarik, Ingo A1 - Küffer, Christoph A1 - Marquard, Elisabeth A1 - Mueller, Johannes A1 - Niemeier, Stephanie A1 - Onandia, Gabriela A1 - Petermann, Jana S. A1 - Rillig, Matthias C. A1 - Rodel, Mark-Oliver A1 - Saul, Wolf-Christian A1 - Schittko, Conrad A1 - Tockner, Klement A1 - Joshi, Jasmin Radha A1 - Jeschke, Jonathan M. T1 - Towards an Integrative, Eco-Evolutionary Understanding of Ecological Novelty: Studying and Communicating Interlinked Effects of Global Change JF - Bioscience N2 - Global change has complex eco-evolutionary consequences for organisms and ecosystems, but related concepts (e.g., novel ecosystems) do not cover their full range. Here we propose an umbrella concept of "ecological novelty" comprising (1) a site-specific and (2) an organism-centered, eco-evolutionary perspective. Under this umbrella, complementary options for studying and communicating effects of global change on organisms, ecosystems, and landscapes can be included in a toolbox. This allows researchers to address ecological novelty from different perspectives, e.g., by defining it based on (a) categorical or continuous measures, (b) reference conditions related to sites or organisms, and (c) types of human activities. We suggest striving for a descriptive, non-normative usage of the term "ecological novelty" in science. Normative evaluations and decisions about conservation policies or management are important, but require additional societal processes and engagement with multiple stakeholders. KW - Anthropocene KW - eco-evolutionary experience KW - global change KW - novel ecosystems KW - shifting baselines Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biz095 SN - 0006-3568 SN - 1525-3244 VL - 69 IS - 11 SP - 888 EP - 899 PB - Oxford Univ. Press CY - Oxford ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schittko, Conrad A1 - Onandia, Gabriela A1 - Bernard-Verdier, Maud A1 - Heger, Tina A1 - Jeschke, Jonathan M. A1 - Kowarik, Ingo A1 - Maaß, Stefanie A1 - Joshi, Jasmin T1 - Biodiversity maintains soil multifunctionality and soil organic carbon in novel urban ecosystems JF - Journal of ecology N2 - Biodiversity in urban ecosystems has the potential to increase ecosystem functions and support a suite of services valued by society, including services provided by soils. Specifically, the sequestration of carbon in soils has often been advocated as a solution to mitigate the steady increase in CO2 concentration in the atmosphere as a key driver of climate change. However, urban ecosystems are also characterized by an often high level of ecological novelty due to profound human-mediated changes, such as the presence of high numbers of non-native species, impervious surfaces or other disturbances. Yet it is poorly understood whether and how biodiversity affects ecosystem functioning and services of urban soils under these novel conditions. In this study, we assessed the influence of above- and below-ground diversity, as well as urbanization and plant invasions, on multifunctionality and organic carbon stocks of soils in non-manipulated grasslands along an urbanization gradient in Berlin, Germany. We focused on plant diversity (measured as species richness and functional trait diversity) and, in addition, on soil organism diversity as a potential mediator for the relationship of plant species diversity and ecosystem functioning. Our results showed positive effects of plant diversity on soil multifunctionality and soil organic carbon stocks along the entire gradient. Structural equation models revealed that plant diversity enhanced soil multifunctionality and soil organic carbon by increasing the diversity of below-ground organisms. These positive effects of plant diversity on soil multifunctionality and soil fauna were not restricted to native plant species only, but were also exerted by non-native species, although to a lesser degree. Synthesis. We conclude that enhancing diversity in plants and soil fauna of urban grasslands can increase the multifunctionality of urban soils and also add to their often underestimated but very valuable role in mitigating effects of climate change. KW - Anthropocene KW - biological invasions KW - ecosystem function and services; KW - functional diversity KW - global change KW - non-native species KW - novel KW - ecosystems KW - urbanization Y1 - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.13852 SN - 0022-0477 SN - 1365-2745 VL - 110 IS - 4 SP - 916 EP - 934 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER -