In a recent paper, Schoolmaster, Zirbel, and Cronin (2020) (SZC) claim “Formal causal analysis show[s] that biodiversity–ecosystem function (BEF) correlations are non‐causal associations.” If this conclusion is accepted as true, it suggests a reconsideration of much of our current understanding of how biodiversity relates to the functioning of ecosystems. On the surface, it is easy to spot clear signs of something problematic with SZC’s presentation. They claim, for example, that (a) species richness is incapable of having a causal effect on ecosystem functioning on theoretical grounds and (b) that trait diversity cannot be causally influenced by species diversity. These remarkable claims are counter to existing thought and evidence. We point to logical errors that lead them to a misapply causal analysis and produce erroneous conclusions.

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解决物种同一性效应和生物多样性-生态系统功能相关性的图形因果模型：评论

在最近的一篇论文中，Schoolmaster、Zirbel 和 Cronin (2020) (SZC) 声称“正式的因果分析表明，生物多样性-生态系统功能 (BEF) 的相关性是非因果关联的。” 如果这个结论被接受为真实，那么它表明我们需要重新考虑我们目前对生物多样性如何与生态系统功能相关的大部分理解。从表面上看，很容易发现 SZC 的演示存在问题的明显迹象。例如，他们声称（a）物种丰富度在理论上无法对生态系统功能产生因果影响，以及（b）性状多样性不会受到物种多样性的因果影响。这些非凡的主张与现有的思想和证据背道而驰。我们指出导致他们误用因果分析并得出错误结论的逻辑错误。