Achieving the main aim of BioFUNC has required to develop novel methodological advances in coexistence theory that have been integrated with mathematical models of annual organisms describing species population dynamics. Then, BioFUNC has applied these novel toolboxes to detailed observational and experimental studies simulating different climate change regimes. Specifically, one experiment working with 10 plant species has served to prove experimentally for the first time the complex relationship between the complementarity and selection effect determining the functioning of ecological communities and the stabilizing niche and fitness differences determining the maintenance of species diversity. BioFUNC has shown that more stable communities (i.e. communities in which the amount of niche differences overcome greater fitness differences) are able to provide more functioning in terms of biomass production, and this relationship is stronger under drier conditions. Yet, these specific linkages are loss when there are considered other functions that involves the action of other trophic levels such as the case of liter decomposition or nutrient cycling. The same experiment has also served to understand how the network of competitive interaction that plant species establish when competing together determine the amount of biodiversity within ecological communities. Specifically, combining data obtained directly from the experiments with tools from network theory served to show that the amount of intransitive competition (e.g. rock-scissors-paper dynamics) is not related with the amount of biodiversity maintained, even more, drier conditions results of higher prevalence of intransitive competition within networks but reduced the overall biodiversity maintained. The other main experiment conducted within BioFUNC framework has served to understand under natural conditions the role of below ground interactions and above ground interactions due to floral visitors on the degree of coexistence of plant communities. This project has shown that both types of interactions maintain species diversity in heterogeneous landscapes, floral visitors do so by increase the likelihood of coexistence at local scale and soil conditions (soil salinity) promote diversity by changing the identity of the superior competitor across locations. BioFUNC has also made significant progress in the theoretical side of species coexistence proposing a detailed methodology to study complex systems in which different type of species interactions are considered such as competition, facilitation, parasitism, predation and mutualism. Overall, this experimental and theoretical work has allowed to increase the scientific impact of BioFUNC by presented main results to some of the most relevant international meetings in ecology (Ecological Society of America, British Ecological Society, MEDECOS), and by publishing them in leading journal of multidisciplinary and ecology sciences such as Trends in Ecology and Evolution, Ecology Letters, and Journal of Ecology. Particular attention has been also given to outreaching activities. BioFUNC has presented main results during the last three years at the European Researchers’ Night, has visited several high-schools and performed a video for divulgation purposes both in English and Spanish languages (
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf7hBC5ChUKEGeJiKKfR1wQ).