Conclusions: Diversity and Ecosystem Function
Plant production may decline as regional and local diversity declines
Ecosystem resistance to environmental perturbations, such as drought, may be lessened as biodiversity is reduced
Ecosystem processes such as soil nitrogen levels, water use, plant productivity, and pest and disease cycles may become more variable as diversity declines.
From: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning: Maintaining Natural Life Support Processes. Naeem, S. et al. Issues in Ecology Report 4, Ecological Society of America
http://esa.sdsc.edu/issues.htm