Fig. 6: The ecosystem functions slow-fast axis is linked more strongly to the trait slow-fast axis than to land-use intensity.
From: A slow-fast trait continuum at the whole community level in relation to land-use intensification
a PCA of the 15 selected ecosystem functions. Functions within each bundle (carbon fluxes, nitrogen fluxes, biomass production and decomposition) are weighted inversely to the number of functions in the bundle. The first axis shows a slow-fast axis from slow decomposition, biomass production and low enzyme activities to faster nutrient cycling. Land-use intensity was projected onto the PCA, and is strongly associated with axis 1. b Direct and indirect links between land-use intensity, the entire community traits slow-fast axis (identified in Fig. 3a: PC1 of the PCA) and the ecosystem function slow-fast axis. DEA denitrification enzyme activity; urease, β glucosidase, N-Acetyl β glucosaminidase, xylosidase: activity of the respective enzyme; amoA_AOA: abundance of ammonia oxidation gene of archaea; amoA_AOB: abundance of ammonia oxidation gene of bacteria; nifH: abundance of nitrogen fixation gene in soil bacteria; nxrA NS: abundance of nitrite oxidation gene of Nitrobacter bacteria; 16S NB: abundance of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria; dung decomposition; plant aboveground biomass production; litter decomposition; root decomposition. Sample size: 150 sites (sample sizes for each individual guild are shown in Fig. 4, missing values were imputed to run the PCA, see Methods section).
