Cross-boundary connections of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in boreal ecosystems

Relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (BEF) are typically investigated separately in different ecosystem types, often neglecting connections across ecosystem boundaries. Here, we examined the cross-boundary relationships between terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity and terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem function (here productivity in terms of biomass). We collected a dataset from 100 Finnish boreal lakes for phytoplankton and zooplankton, and for trees and understory plants in the surrounding forest ecosystems. We explored the connections among climatic, catchment, and local environmental factors, and terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity and productivity using structural equation modeling (SEM). The results indicated cross-boundary connections between the two realms. Terrestrial biodiversity was associated with terrestrial productivity and connected to lake water chemistry directly and indirectly through terrestrial productivity. Water chemistry in turn was linked ..., , , # Data from: Cross-boundary connections of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in boreal ecosystems [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.h44j0zpw4](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.h44j0zpw4) ## Description of the data and file structure Data from: Cross-boundary connections of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in boreal ecosystems ### Files and variables The dataset consists of the following five files: TER_AQU_data1.xlsx (Data 1) TER_AQU_data2.xlsx (Data 2) TER_AQU_data3.xlsx (Data 3) TER_AQU_data4.xlsx (Data 4) TER_AQU_data5.xlsx (Data 5) **Description:** Data are compiled in 5 Excel files: **1) Data 1 metadata** | Column | Entry | Unit | Explanation | | :----- | :----------- | :------ | :----------------------------------------------------------- | | A | lakeID | | ID for each lake | | B | latitude | ° | Latitude ...,