Selection for niche differentiation in plant communities increases biodiversity effects

• Published in: Nature (London) Vol. 515; no. 7525; pp. 108 - 111
• Main Authors: Zuppinger-Dingley, Debra, Schmid, Bernhard, Petermann, Jana S., Yadav, Varuna, De Deyn, Gerlinde B., Flynn, Dan F. B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 06.11.2014; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/158/670; Adaptation, Biological; Asteraceae - physiology; Biodiversity; Biodiversity loss; Biological diversity; Biological Evolution; Biomass; diversity-productivity relationships; Ecological function; Epigenetics; evolution; Fabaceae - physiology; Flowers & plants; Genetic diversity; genotypes; Grasses; grassland experiment; Grasslands; Humanities and Social Sciences; Hypotheses; Legumes; letter; Monoculture; multidisciplinary; Niche (Ecology); Niches; Plant communities; Plant Physiological Phenomena; Plant species; Poaceae - physiology; richness; Science; Selection, Genetic; Species diversity; Time Factors

Here, new ecological communities are established using plants from mixed-species communities or monocultures; ecosystem functioning and morphological trait diversity are shown to be greater in plants from mixed-species communities, suggesting that biodiversity effects in natural communities strength...