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

已经出现了大量关于生物多样性下降如何影响自然系统的完整性及其供养社会的能力的研究。然而，这项研究的大部分与实际生态系统及其保护的相关性有限，因为实验特征降低了现实主义。该项目将通过研究加州独特的蛇形草原上城市车辆氮沉积导致的现实植物物种损失的影响，从实验过渡到应用。它将研究物种损失如何影响这个生态系统对外来物种入侵的抵抗力，它支持动物多样性的能力，以及它的土壤肥力和养分循环。这个项目将是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，它将帮助管理者将基于随机损失的数百项现有研究的经验应用于经历非常非随机物种减少的真实生态系统。它还将通过澄清车辆氮排放是否以及如何导致这一生态系统的衰退，直接支持加州许多蛇形草原保护区的管理。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的背景的城市高中生。

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.