Output from the model selection procedure applied to species richness-ecosystem process relationships.

Values are of Akikes' Information Criterion (AIC) where smaller values indicate a more parsimonious fit of the model to the data.. Models which were significantly different from a null (intercept only) model are denoted by stars (*** = p<0.001, ** = p<0.01, * = p<0.05). Where no model was found to be significantly different from the null, it was concluded that species loss had no impact on that ecosystem process (NO3− flux only). Of the models which were significantly different from the null, that with the lowest AIC value was selected as the model which best described the relationship between species richness and an ecosystem process (underlined). GCP = Gross Community Productivity, CCR = Community Clearance Rate. NO FIT = The model insufficiently described the pattern of the data for it to be fitted statistically.