Insights on global rangeland ecosystem services shaped by grazing and fertilization (2007-2021)

The Nutrient Network (NutNet) is a globally coordinated research initiative aimed at investigating the impacts of human-induced changes in nutrient availability and consumer presence on grassland ecosystems. In this study, we used data from 79 grassland sites participating in NutNet, which includes a factorial experiment involving herbivory exclusion and/or nutrient addition. Standardized methodologies were applied across all sites to facilitate direct comparisons of response variables. We used ecosystem variables to quantify three provisioning ecosystem services (forage quantity, forage chemical quality, and forage physical quality), three supporting services (forage stability, soil fertility, and soil stability), and eight regulating services (erosion control, control of soil acidification, regulation of water quantity and quality, carbon storage, resistance to plant invasion, pest control, and pollination). Additionally, we identified three plant biodiversity variables that are closely related to the provisioning of ecosystem services (alpha richness, beta diversity, and native diversity). Using this data, we quantified key ecosystem services provided by rangelands, assessed both short- and long-term impacts of grazing exclusion and fertilization on these services, and identified synergies and trade-offs between them.