Data from: Biodiversity as a multidimensional construct: a review, framework and case study of herbivory's impact on plant biodiversity

Biodiversity is inherently multidimensional, encompassing taxonomic, functional, phylogenetic, genetic, landscape and many other elements of variability of life on the Earth. However, this fundamental principle of multidimensionality is rarely applied in research aimed at understanding biodiversity's value to ecosystem functions and the services they provide. This oversight means that our current understanding of the ecological and environmental consequences of biodiversity loss is limited primarily to what unidimensional studies have revealed. To address this issue, we review the literature, develop a conceptual framework for multidimensional biodiversity research based on this review and provide a case study to explore the framework. Our case study specifically examines how herbivory by whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus) alters the multidimensional influence of biodiversity on understory plant cover at Black Rock Forest, New York. Using three biodiversity dimensions (taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity) to explore our framework, we found that herbivory alters biodiversity's multidimensional influence on plant cover; an effect not observable through a unidimensional approach. Although our review, framework and case study illustrate the advantages of multidimensional over unidimensional approaches, they also illustrate the statistical and empirical challenges such work entails. Meeting these challenges, however, where data and resources permit, will be important if we are to better understand and manage the consequences we face as biodiversity continues to decline in the foreseeable future.生物多样性本质上是多维度的，涵盖地球生命在分类学（taxonomic）、功能（functional）、系统发育（phylogenetic）、遗传（genetic）、景观（landscape）等诸多方面的变异特征。然而，这一多维度性的核心原则，在旨在阐明生物多样性对生态系统功能及其所提供服务之价值的研究中却鲜有应用。这种研究疏漏使得当前我们对生物多样性丧失所引发的生态与环境后果的认知，主要局限于单维度研究所得出的结论。 为解决这一问题，我们对相关文献进行了系统综述，基于此构建了多维度生物多样性研究的概念框架，并通过案例研究对该框架进行探索。本案例研究具体考察了白尾鹿（Odocoileus virginianus）的食草作用，如何改变纽约黑石森林中生物多样性对林下植物盖度的多维度影响。我们采用分类学、功能与系统发育多样性三个生物多样性维度对该框架进行探究，结果发现食草作用会改变生物多样性对植物盖度的多维度影响——这一效应无法通过单维度研究方法观测得到。 尽管我们的文献综述、概念框架与案例研究均彰显了多维度研究相较于单维度研究的优势，但也同时揭示了此类研究所面临的统计学与实证层面的诸多挑战。不过，若数据与资源条件允许，攻克这些挑战至关重要：唯有如此，我们才能在生物多样性于可预见的未来持续衰退的背景下，更好地理解并应对其所带来的各类后果。