A graphical causal model for resolving species identity effects and biodiversity-ecosystem function correlations: Reply.

Schoolmaster et al. (2020; SZC) proposed a general and actionable framework for the trait-based management of ecosystem function in natural systems. We first developed a standard causal model (SZC Fig. 2a) based on Biodiversity-Ecosystem Function (BEF) literature, which hypothesized that biodiversity (hereafter species richness) causes trait diversity and, hence, ecosystem function.