An ecosystem-wise perspective of land-use change impacts on above and belowground tropical biodiversity

Land-use changes, including expansion and intensification, are among the main drivers of biodiversity change in terrestrial ecosystems. However, an ecosystem perspective, particularly in tropical ecosystems, is limited because we still lack knowledge of the consequences of above- and belowground diversity and their interactions. This gap is the result of most studies focusing mainly on aboveground diversity or examining effects on these compartments separately.

To reach an ecosystem-wide perspective on the effects of land use on tropical biodiversity, we suggest a framework that first accounts for the historical perspective on human-environmental relationships, from deep time to recent land-use history. Second, our framework suggests integrating the biogeographic context in which land-use changes occur, as it defines the biotic and abiotic arena in which the species interact and potentially shape their responses to anthropogenic pressures. Third, as biodiversity goes beyond the number of species and affects multiple biological and spatial scales, we explore other facets of biodiversity that can be affected, with a special focus on biotic interactions. We also integrated cross-biological-organization impacts, from individuals to metacommunities, into our framework, offering a basis for assessing the patterns and rates of biodiversity changes and underlying mechanisms across spatial scales. Across our framework, we consider potential mismatches across taxonomic groups. These mismatches are hypothesized as growing evidence suggests non-coordinated responses between the above and belowground compartments. We use examples from our own collaborative research, including biodiversity hotspots such as Indonesia and Madagascar, and complement them with a selection of studies from the literature. This selection was primarily based on their inclusion of multiple taxonomic groups covering the above- and below-ground compartments in the tropics.  

Our framework aims to highlight the relevance of considering both above- and below-ground biodiversity to meet international biodiversity targets. This is pivotal for conservation and ecosystem restoration targets in an era of rapid anthropogenic change. We also expect this framework to contribute to the development of a roadmap for a more inclusive, ecosystem-wide perspective on land-use impacts on tropical biodiversity.