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Understanding the biodiversity–ecosystem multifunctionality relationship is critical for predicting the consequences of species loss on the sustainable provision of ecosystem services. Both theoretical and empirical studies generally demonstrate a positive biodiversity–ecosystem multifunctionality relationship. However, the underlying mechanisms linking soil multifunctionality (SMF) to plant diversity remain unclear, particularly in dynamic riparian habitats. In this study, we investigated the plant community, 10 soil functions, and their drivers within the riparian zone regulated by the Three Gorges Dam in China. Our results showed that taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional diversity affect SMF at alpha and beta scales in both positive and negative ways. Notably, most diversity metrics are negatively correlated with SMF, especially at lower elevations and in areas near the dam. Alpha and beta diversity contribute equally to SMF, whereas functional diversity explains SMF better than taxonomic or phylogenetic diversity. Furthermore, abiotic variables explain 24% of the variance in SMF, significantly exceeding the 3% explained by biotic variables. Dam inundation has both direct effects on SMF and indirect effects mediated by soil pH, bulk density, and functional dispersion, all of which are critical variables in elucidating SMF changes. Our findings indicate that dam inundation modulates the effect of plant diversity on SMF and underscore the roles of biotic factors and functional diversity in mediating this effect. This study challenges the prevalent notion that biodiversity universally positively affects ecosystem multifunctionality and broadens our understanding of the linkages between plant diversity and SMF, as well as its drivers under dam‐induced hydrological changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental illiteracy threatens ecosystem functions globally, however, many continue to deny its existence. Knowledge deficit theory suggests that suspicions will decrease once officials and the public are presented with new facts. Despite extensive worldwide initiatives to improve riparian buffer zones, there is minimal evidence about the impact of environmental literacy metrics (ELMs) on riparian zone components (RZCs) across different land‐use types (i.e., rural, rural–urban transitional, and urban regions) within the riparian zones of dams and reservoirs. In this study, multiple statistical techniques were used to explore the extent of impacts on a 58,000 km2 area within China's Three Gorges Dam Reservoir (TGDR) area/region in 2019. Network visualization investigated RZC themes, such as plant cover, regeneration, exotics, erosion, habitat, and stresses, based on 5326 articles published over the past 121 years. Our analysis revealed the greatest lack of information regarding ELM (e.g., knowledge, attitude, and behaviour) among the general public, which, in turn, had the greatest impact on the components of plant cover in transitional regions and the least impact on regeneration in rural areas. Furthermore, the ELMs of local people had the most significant effect on RZCs, with Pearson correlation values ranging from −0.79 < r < 0.98 throughout the TGDR. In contrast, the ELM of government employees correlated more strongly with RZCs (−0.70 < r < 0.92) in transitional and rural areas. Comparatively, exposed soil, understory cover, and environmentally unfriendly activities, including pollution, were the most significant RZCs within the TGDR. Based on hierarchical methods, RZCs and ELMs differed significantly between land‐use categories. RZCs near dams and reservoirs exhibit many differences; thus, land‐use initiatives are required to raise awareness of their global impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]