Forest Ecosystems: A Functional
and Biodiversity Perspective
Andreas Fichtner and Werner Härdtle
Abstract This chapter provides an introduction to the biodiversity of forest ecosystems and highlights the currently acting drivers of forest biodiversity loss. Recent
findings on relationships between biodiversity patterns and ecosystem functions are
summarized, including the functional consequences of biodiversity loss for the
stable provision of forest ecosystem services. Finally, implications for the protection
and management of forest ecosystems as important means for biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation are addressed.
Forest ecosystems host a huge proportion of the Earth’s terrestrial biodiversity
and play a crucial role in global biogeochemical cycles. However, dramatic losses of
forest area currently constitute an important driver of global biodiversity loss, with
unprecedented consequences for the functioning of forest ecosystems and the services they provide. This applies to tropical rain forests in particular, which are
estimated to support about two-thirds of the global biodiversity, despite covering
less than 15% of the world’s land surface. For the years 1990–2005, the net loss of
natural tropical forest area was estimated to 135 million hectares. As a consequence
of losses of forest area, more than 5000 tree species from 180 countries are currently
threatened with extinction. Declining forest area and associated biodiversity loss in
turn will feedback on important functions of forest ecosystems. Declining forest area
(in the decade 2003–2012) generated a mean biophysical warming on land
corresponding to about 18% of the global biogeochemical signal due to CO 2
emission from land-use change. Primary producer diversity, for example of tree
species, enhances forest productivity due to resource partitioning, facilitation, natural enemy partitioning or selection effects. As a consequence, maintaining tree
diversity is an important prerequisite for both the long-term preservation of ecosystem functioning and the provision of ecosystem services such as timber production
or climate change mitigation. It is assumed that a 10% decline of tree species
richness will result in a 2–3% reduction of forest productivity at the global scale.
The monetary value of tree species richness in maintaining commercial forest
A. Fichtner (*) · W. Härdtle
Institute of Ecology, Leuphana University, Lüneburg, Germany
e-mail: andreas.fichtner@leuphana.de
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
C. Hobohm (ed.), Perspectives for Biodiversity and Ecosystems, Environmental
Challenges and Solutions, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57710-0_16
383
and Biodiversity Perspective
Andreas Fichtner and Werner Härdtle
Abstract This chapter provides an introduction to the biodiversity of forest ecosystems and highlights the currently acting drivers of forest biodiversity loss. Recent
findings on relationships between biodiversity patterns and ecosystem functions are
summarized, including the functional consequences of biodiversity loss for the
stable provision of forest ecosystem services. Finally, implications for the protection
and management of forest ecosystems as important means for biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation are addressed.
Forest ecosystems host a huge proportion of the Earth’s terrestrial biodiversity
and play a crucial role in global biogeochemical cycles. However, dramatic losses of
forest area currently constitute an important driver of global biodiversity loss, with
unprecedented consequences for the functioning of forest ecosystems and the services they provide. This applies to tropical rain forests in particular, which are
estimated to support about two-thirds of the global biodiversity, despite covering
less than 15% of the world’s land surface. For the years 1990–2005, the net loss of
natural tropical forest area was estimated to 135 million hectares. As a consequence
of losses of forest area, more than 5000 tree species from 180 countries are currently
threatened with extinction. Declining forest area and associated biodiversity loss in
turn will feedback on important functions of forest ecosystems. Declining forest area
(in the decade 2003–2012) generated a mean biophysical warming on land
corresponding to about 18% of the global biogeochemical signal due to CO 2
emission from land-use change. Primary producer diversity, for example of tree
species, enhances forest productivity due to resource partitioning, facilitation, natural enemy partitioning or selection effects. As a consequence, maintaining tree
diversity is an important prerequisite for both the long-term preservation of ecosystem functioning and the provision of ecosystem services such as timber production
or climate change mitigation. It is assumed that a 10% decline of tree species
richness will result in a 2–3% reduction of forest productivity at the global scale.
The monetary value of tree species richness in maintaining commercial forest
A. Fichtner (*) · W. Härdtle
Institute of Ecology, Leuphana University, Lüneburg, Germany
e-mail: andreas.fichtner@leuphana.de
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
C. Hobohm (ed.), Perspectives for Biodiversity and Ecosystems, Environmental
Challenges and Solutions, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57710-0_16
383