Mechanisms responsible for the positive diversity-productivity relationship in Minnesota grasslands

Janneke Hille Ris Lambers, W. Stanley Harpole, David Tilman, Johannes Knops, Peter B. Reich

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

175 Scopus citations

Abstract

Species' extinctions have spurred debate on whether interactions among few or among many species cause a positive diversity-productivity relationship in experimentally assembled grasslands. We addressed this question by quantifying the productivity of 14 species across an experimental diversity gradient in Minnesota. We found that interspecific interactions leading to coexistence and competitive displacement both determine which species overyield; i.e. are more productive at high diversity. Overyielding species were either superior N competitors (C4 grasses) or N fixers (legumes). Surprisingly, these species were not most productive in monoculture, thus, the 'selection' of productive species in diverse plots did not cause the positive diversity-productivity relationship. Both positive (with legumes) and negative interspecific interactions (with C4 grasses) determined whether individual species overyielded. Foliar pathogens did not cause overyielding, although other natural enemies may be responsible. Overyielding species are not displacing underyielding species over time, implying that other diversity-promoting interactions also operate in this experiment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)661-668
Number of pages8
JournalEcology letters
Volume7
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2004

Keywords

  • Competition
  • Diversity
  • Facilitation
  • Frequency-dependent disease
  • Niches
  • Selection effects

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