Integrative modelling reveals mechanisms linking productivity and plant species richness

James B. Grace; T. Michael Anderson; Eric W. Seabloom; Elizabeth T. Borer; Peter B. Adler; W Stanley Harpole; Yann Hautier; Helmut Hillebrand; Eric M. Lind; Meelis Partel; Jonathan D. Bakker; Yvonne M. Buckley; Michael J. Crawley; Ellen Ingman Damschen; Kendi F. Davies; Philip A. Fay; Jennifer Firn; Daniel S. Gruner; Andy Hector; Johannes M.H. Knops; Andrew S. MacDougall; Brett A. Melbourne; John W. Morgan; John L. Orrock; Suzanne M. Prober; Melinda D. Smith

doi:10.1038/nature16524

Integrative modelling reveals mechanisms linking productivity and plant species richness

Nature

By: James B. Grace, T. Michael Anderson, Eric W. Seabloom, Elizabeth T. Borer, Peter B. Adler, W Stanley Harpole, Yann Hautier, Helmut Hillebrand, Eric M. Lind, Meelis Partel, Jonathan D. Bakker, Yvonne M. Buckley, Michael J. Crawley, Ellen Ingman Damschen, Kendi F. Davies, Philip A. Fay, Jennifer Firn, Daniel S. Gruner, Andy Hector, Johannes M.H. Knops, Andrew S. MacDougall, Brett A. Melbourne, John W. Morgan, John L. Orrock, Suzanne M. Prober, and Melinda D. Smith

https://doi.org/10.1038/nature16524

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Abstract

How ecosystem productivity and species richness are interrelated is one of the most debated subjects in the history of ecology. Decades of intensive study have yet to discern the actual mechanisms behind observed global patterns. Here, by integrating the predictions from multiple theories into a single model and using data from 1,126 grassland plots spanning five continents, we detect the clear signals of numerous underlying mechanisms linking productivity and richness. We find that an integrative model has substantially higher explanatory power than traditional bivariate analyses. In addition, the specific results unveil several surprising findings that conflict with classical models. These include the isolation of a strong and consistent enhancement of productivity by richness, an effect in striking contrast with superficial data patterns. Also revealed is a consistent importance of competition across the full range of productivity values, in direct conflict with some (but not all) proposed models. The promotion of local richness by macroecological gradients in climatic favourability, generally seen as a competing hypothesis, is also found to be important in our analysis. The results demonstrate that an integrative modelling approach leads to a major advance in our ability to discern the underlying processes operating in ecological systems.

Additional publication details
Publication type	Article
Publication Subtype	Journal Article
Title	Integrative modelling reveals mechanisms linking productivity and plant species richness
Series title	Nature
DOI	10.1038/nature16524
Volume	529
Year Published	2016
Language	English
Publisher	Nature Publishing Group
Contributing office(s)	Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Description	4 p.
First page	390
Last page	393
Google Analytic Metrics	Metrics page