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Mechanisms of positive biodiversity–production relationships: insights provided by δ 13 C analysis in experimental Mediterranean grassland plots
Author(s) -
Caldeira Maria C.,
Ryel Ronald J.,
Lawton John H.,
Pereira João S.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
ecology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.852
H-Index - 265
eISSN - 1461-0248
pISSN - 1461-023X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1461-0248.2001.00238.x
Subject(s) - species richness , biodiversity , grassland , mediterranean climate , ecology , monoculture , ecosystem , productivity , complementarity (molecular biology) , biology , environmental science , genetics , economics , macroeconomics
We investigated the role of water use in a Mediterranean grassland, in which diversity was experimentally manipulated, and a positive relationship was observed between plant species richness and productivity. Soil moisture patterns and stable carbon isotope ratios (δ 13 C) in leaves indicated greater water use by plants growing in species‐rich mixtures compared to monocultures. These results suggest that complementarity or facilitation may be the mechanism responsible for the positive relationship between plant diversity and ecosystem processes.