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Phenological Complementarity Does not Enhance Ecosystem Production in Undisturbed Steppe Community
Author(s) -
Zhao Liang,
Yang GuiXia,
Liu ZhongLing,
Xin XiaoPing,
Luo YanJiang,
Wang Gang
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of integrative plant biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.734
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1744-7909
pISSN - 1672-9072
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7909.2007.00474.x
Subject(s) - ecosystem , phenology , species evenness , species richness , complementarity (molecular biology) , steppe , ecology , grassland ecosystem , grassland , biology , genetics
Communities with more species could have a greater variety of species’characteristics, leading to more effective use of limiting resources through niche partitioning (complementarity) and therefore greater production. The effect of phenological complementarity (PC) on ecosystem production has not been fully investigated. The seasonal responses of all vascular plant species were tracked to test the effect of phenological complementarity on ecosystem production within a natural stable steppe community. Although a significant phenological pattern was observed, PC had no significant correlation with community production. The value of PC varied with years, but was observed only in a relatively narrow range during the experimental period. Species diversity (richness and evenness) had no correlation with the ecosystem production. The results suggest that the effect of PC may be saturated and has no contribution to the improvement of ecosystem production in a stable natural grassland community with abundant species. (Handling editor: Ming Dong)