Differentiation in the driving mechanisms of ecosystem multifunctionality across vegetation types on the Mongolian Plateau: a shift from abiotic-dominated to biotic-mediated regulation

Abstract

Biodiversity-ecosystem function research has increasingly recognized the importance of belowground communities, yet how multidimensional traits of soil nematodes shape ecosystem functions across environmental contexts remains poorly understood. Using data from two large-scale transects on the Mongolian Plateau, we develop an integrative framework to assess how taxonomic diversity, ecological indices, and metabolic traits of nematode community drive ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) across grassland types spanning a resource gradient. We found that nematode α- and γ-diversity, ecological indices, and metabolic traits increased from desert to meadow steppe, while β-diversity declined. Overall, aboveground, and belowground EMF responded similarly, all peaking in meadow steppe. Aboveground EMF was governed primarily by precipitation, whereas belowground and overall EMF integrated both abiotic drivers and direct positive effects of nematode ecological indices and metabolic traits. Critically, regulatory mechanisms shifted along the gradient: abiotic factors dominated in resource-poor systems (desert, desert steppe), while plant diversity and nematode traits became significant direct drivers and direct abiotic effects weakened in resource-rich systems (typical steppe, meadow steppe). Aboveground EMF remained consistently climate-dominated. Our findings reveal fundamental context dependence in biodiversity–ecosystem functioning relationships, with important implications for predicting grassland responses to global change and informing grassland management.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

soil nematodes / ecosystem multifunctionality / vegetation types / multidimensional nematode traits

Highlight

	● Nematode α- and γ-diversity, ecological indices, and metabolic traits increase from desert to meadow steppe, while β-diversity declines.
	● Belowground EMF is driven directly by functional indices and metabolic traits, not taxonomic diversity.
	● Aboveground EMF remains persistently dominated by precipitation, decoupled from biotic regulation.
	● Regulatory mechanisms shift from abiotic to biotic control along the desert-to-meadow steppe gradient.

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