RIG: Consequences of realistic biodiversity changes for ecosystem functioning in an endemic-rich serpentine grassland

关于生物多样性下降如何影响自然系统的完整性及其为社会提供服务的能力，已经出现了大量的研究。 然而，由于实验性的特点降低了现实性，因此这些研究中的大部分与实际生态系统及其保护的相关性有限。该项目将通过研究被认为是由城市车辆氮沉降在加州独特的蛇形草原驱动的现实植物物种损失的影响，从实验到应用的桥梁。该项目将研究物种损失如何影响该生态系统对外来物种入侵的抵抗力，其支持动物多样性的能力，以及土壤肥力和养分循环。该项目将是同类项目中第一个直接比较随机和现实生物多样性损失后果的项目。 通过这样做，它将帮助管理人员将数百项基于随机损失的现有研究的经验教训应用于经历非常非随机物种减少的真实的生态系统。 它还将直接支持加州许多蛇形草原保护区的管理，澄清车辆氮排放是否以及如何导致这一生态系统的衰退。 最后，它将支持至少四名有抱负的科学家的职业发展，从初级教授到有才华的年轻本科生，再到来自代表性不足背景的城市高中生。

A large body of research has emerged on how declining biodiversity affects the integrity of natural systems and their ability to provide for society. Much of this research has limited relevance to actual ecosystems and their conservation, however, because of experimental features that reduce realism. This project will bridge from experiment to application by examining the effects of realistic plant species losses thought to be driven by urban vehicular nitrogen deposition in California's unique serpentine grasslands. It will examine how species losses affect the resistance of this ecosystem to invasion by exotic species, its ability to support a diversity of animals, and its soil fertility and nutrient cycles.This project will be the first of its kind to directly compare the consequences of random and realistic biodiversity losses. In so doing, it will help managers apply lessons from hundreds of existing studies based on random losses to real ecosystems experiencing very non-random species declines. It will also directly support management of the many serpentine grassland reserves in California by clarifying whether and how vehicle nitrogen emissions are contributing to the decline of this ecosystem. Finally, it will support career development for at least four aspiring scientists, from a junior professor to a talented young undergraduate to urban high school students, from underrepresented backgrounds.