Aim: biodiversity is multidimensional, spanning within-species genetic variation and among-species taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity. However, the extent to which these biodiversity facets covary across regions and share common environmental and landscape drivers remains unclear. Location: semi-natural grasslands in five European countries across wide latitudinal and longitudinal gradients. Methods: we sampled 148 populations of the grassland herb Primula veris across paired connected and fragmented networks of grasslands (landscapes) in Belgium, Czechia, Germany, Estonia and Sweden representing a combined latitudinal and longitudinal gradient across the species distribution range. We quantified within-population genetic diversity and among-population genetic differentiation, and characterised local plant-community taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity and turnover. We tested 1) whether genetic diversity covaries with community diversity, 2) whether genetic differentiation mirrors community turnover, and 3) whether grassland size, landscape structure and local soil conditions show comparable associations with α- and β-components of these biodiversity facets and are consistent across Europe. Results: across countries, genetically more diverse P. veris populations occurred in plant communities with higher taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity. Genetic differentiation among populations covaried with community turnover across taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic dimensions. These relationships persisted after accounting for geographic distance between populations. Grassland size was the most consistent positive predictor of diversity across facets and countries. In contrast, associations with landscape structure and soil chemistry were more variable among facets and countries. Main conclusions: genetic and community-level facets of biodiversity are positively associated in European grasslands at both α- and β-scales, but the strength of these relationships and their environmental drivers varies among regions. Effective management should thus be tailored to the ecological context of each region rather than relying on a single, uniform approach. Maintaining larger grasslands appears to be a broadly applicable conservation measure but should complement rather than replace region-specific management.
https://nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/oik.12562
