Physical stress and diversity-productivity relationships: the role of positive interactions. Journal Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • If environmental stress provides conditions under which positive relationships between plant species richness and productivity become apparent, then species that seem functionally redundant under constant conditions may add to community functioning under variable conditions. Using naturally co-occurring mosses and liverworts, we constructed bryophyte communities to test relationships between species diversity (1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24, or 32 species) and productivity under constant conditions and when exposed to experimental drought. We found no relationship between species richness and biomass under constant conditions. However, when communities were exposed to experimental drought, biomass increased with species richness. Responses of individual species demonstrated that facilitative interactions rather than sampling effects or niche complementarity best explained results-survivorship increased for almost all species, and those species least resistant to drought in monoculture had the greatest increase in biomass. Positive interactions may be an important but previously underemphasized mechanism linking high diversity to high productivity under stressful environmental conditions.

publication date

  • June 5, 2001

has restriction

  • green

Date in CU Experts

  • October 2, 2013 10:04 AM

Full Author List

  • Mulder CP; Uliassi DD; Doak DF

author count

  • 3

Other Profiles

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0027-8424

Additional Document Info

start page

  • 6704

end page

  • 6708

volume

  • 98

issue

  • 12