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Background: Structures and functions of ecosystems and, subsequently, their services for human societies may be influenced by climate change and atmospheric deposition. Jenssen et al. (UBA Texte 87/2013: 1–381, 2013) developed a spatially explicit evaluation system enabling the evaluation of ecosystems' integrity. This methodology is based on a spatially explicit ecosystem classification of forests. Based on the six ecological functions, the methodology enables to compare the ecosystem type-specific integrity at different levels of ecological hierarchy for a reference state (1961–1990) with the further development of the forest ecosystem types as measured for the years 1991–2010 and as modelled for the period 2011–2070. The present study aimed at deepening the methodology and developing it into a practical system for assessing and mapping forest ecosystem integrity and services. The objectives of this advanced investigation were: (1) to quantify the reference conditions for a total of 61 forest ecosystem types; (2) to test the possibility of supplementing the quantification of ecosystem integrity by information on soil biocenoses as yielded by soil monitoring; (3) to model chemical soil indicators and to compare the respective results with those derived by Ellenberg's indicator values for nutrient state; and (4) to verify the indicator modelling. Results: Reference states related to the time prior to 1991 have been quantified for a total of 61 forest ecosystem types covering 85% (81,577 km2) of the mapped forest area of Germany. The reference states comprise statistical indicators for the plant-species diversity (habitat function), for nutrient and water balances and further ecological information as net-primary production and carbon storage. The assignment of lumbricide communities as soil biocenosis indicators was attempted but not succeeded because of insufficient data availability. The nutrient cycle types of the elaborated reference states were characterized by humus form, C/N ratio in topsoil and N indicator values according to Ellenberg et al. (Scr Geobot 18:1–262, 2001). Applying the developed methodology, for 83 out of 105 study plots the reference states prior to 1991 could be determined. Conclusions: For complementing forest ecosystem reference states by soil biocenosis indicators it is necessary to further evaluate the primary literature looking for missing observation data. The W.I.E. indicator value applied in this paper to determine topsoil C/N ratios in forests is well suited for area-covering mapping of both near-natural forest–soil states and deposition-induced disharmonic state changes, in which C/N value and base saturation are no longer correlated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The currently dominant types of land management are threatening the multifunctionality of ecosystems, which is vital for human well-being. Here, we present a novel ecological-economic assessment of how multifunctionality of agroecosystems in Central Germany depends on land-use type and climate. Our analysis includes 14 ecosystem variables in a large-scale field experiment with five different land-use types under two different climate scenarios (ambient and future climate). We consider ecological multifunctionality measures using averaging approaches with different weights, reflecting preferences of four relevant stakeholders based on adapted survey data. Additionally, we propose an economic multifunctionality measure based on the aggregate economic value of ecosystem services. Results show that intensive management and future climate decrease ecological multifunctionality for most scenarios in both grassland and cropland. Only under a weighting based on farmers' preferences, intensively-managed grassland shows higher multifunctionality than sustainably-managed grassland. The economic multifunctionality measure is about ~1.7 to 1.9 times higher for sustainable, compared to intensive, management for both grassland and cropland. Soil biodiversity correlates positively with ecological multifunctionality and is expected to be one of its drivers. As the currently prevailing land management provides high multifunctionality for farmers, but not for society at large, we suggest to promote and economically incentivise sustainable land management that enhances both ecological and economic multifunctionality, also under future climatic conditions. Land management impacts ecosystem functions. Here, the authors conduct field experiments in Germany assessing ecosystem variables in cropland and grasslands showing that sustainable agricultural practices enhance ecological and economic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the multi-scale and multi-factor driving mechanisms of ecosystem services (ES) change is crucial for combating the severe degradation of the ecosystem. We reviewed 408 publications on ecosystem structure, biodiversity, and plant functional traits related to ES in forest ecosystems. Strategies were proposed and key scientific issues were pointed out to improve the forest ecosystem in the karst desertification area. The results showed that the total number of publications has increased rapidly since 2014, of which biodiversity studies contributed the majority. China, the USA, and Germany were the top three countries, accounting for 41%, 9%, and 6% of the research, respectively. Further review found that structure, species diversity, and functional traits have an apparent effect on ES at different (macro, meso, and micro) scales. The optimization of tree structure contributes to the improvement in ES provision and the regulation capacity. Species diversity plays an important role in provision services, while functional diversity is equally important in regulation services. Plant root functional traits can not only help regulation services but also determine the species and structure of rhizosphere microbial communities. The response of ES to a certain factor has been extensively reviewed, but the interaction of multiple driving factors needs to be further studied, especially in how to drive the supply capacity of ES in multi-factor and multi-scale ways. Clarifying the driving mechanism of ES at different scales will help to improve the supply capacity of the ecosystem and achieve the goal of sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetated strips are in the focus of many stakeholders of agroecosystems and are part of several agri‐environmental schemes in Germany. Stakeholders have different expectations and demands on the functionality and services of vegetated strips. In our review, we focused on biodiversity and the ecosystem services pollination, conservation biocontrol, landscape aesthetics, buffer function, and biomass production and their associated functions. We assessed factors that are crucial to support service provision and reviewed trade‐offs between the ecosystem (dis)services. We identified five characteristics that are important for the provision of the assessed ecosystem services: age of vegetated strips, flower cover, size or width of the strip, management, and type of adjacent habitat. We conclude that adjusting the target of subsidies with respect to the analyzed factors for biodiversity can help to promote the multifunctionality of vegetated strips in arable farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]