Leaf bacterial diversity mediates plant diversity and ecosystem function relationships

• Published in: Nature (London) Vol. 546; no. 7656; pp. 145 - 147
• Main Authors: Laforest-Lapointe, Isabelle, Paquette, Alain, Messier, Christian, Kembel, Steven W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.06.2017; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 45; 45/23; 631/158/670; 631/158/853; 631/158/855; Bacteria; Biodiversity; Canada; Communities; Community structure; Correlation analysis; Determinants; Distribution; Ecological function; Ecosystems; Environment models; Environmental aspects; Fitness; Functional anatomy; Host plants; Humanities and Social Sciences; Leaves; letter; Links; Mathematical models; Microbiota - physiology; Microorganisms; multidisciplinary; Plant diversity; Plant ecology; Plant Leaves - classification; Plant Leaves - microbiology; Plant Leaves - physiology; Plants (Organisms); Productivity; Science; Terrestrial ecosystems; Trees; Trees - classification; Trees - microbiology; Trees - physiology; Trophic levels

A tree biodiversity and ecosystem function experiment shows that leaf bacterial diversity is positively related to plant community productivity, and explains a portion of the variation in productivity that would otherwise be attributed to plant diversity and functional traits. Leaf bacteria promote...