Modelling techniques for biodiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality - theoretical development and application.

This thesis extends current methods for analysing the biodiversity and ecosystem function relationship, focusing on complexities arising from examining species rich ecosystems and examining multiple ecosystem functions. I developed a parsimonious model for assessing diversity effects on ecosystem function in species rich ecosystems, by including random effects in current univariate analysis methods. Using multivariate techniques, I created a method for analysing multiple ecosystem functions simultaneously. The work presented in this thesis allows for a greater ability to model and understand the biodiversity and ecosystem function relationship.