Fig. 4
Effect of progressive animal exclusion on ecosystem functions and multifunctionality. a Soil net nitrogen (N) mineralisation, b soil respiration, c plant tissue nitrogen (N) content, d plant species richness, e root biomass, f microbial biomass carbon (MBC), g multifunctionality. Individual functions are standardised and were used to calculate ecosystem multifunctionality. Statistics refer to the results of linear mixed-effects models, with treatment (Treat) and vegetation type (Veg) as fixed factors and fence as a random factor. Mean values and standard errors of all individual functions across treatments can be found in Supplementary Table 2. n = 18. L/M/S/I = Large/medium/small mammals, and invertebrates have access, M/S/I = Medium/small mammals, and invertebrates have access, S/I = Small mammals and invertebrates have access, I = Invertebrates have access, None = No animals have access (see Fig. 1)
