Global evidence of positive biodiversity effects on spatial ecosystem stability in natural grasslands

Yongfan Wang (), Marc W. Cadotte, Yuxin Chen, Lauchlan H. Fraser, Yuhua Zhang, Fengmin Huang, Shan Luo, Nayun Shi and Michel Loreau ()
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Yongfan Wang: Sun Yat-sen University
Marc W. Cadotte: University of Toronto-Scarborough
Yuxin Chen: Sun Yat-sen University
Lauchlan H. Fraser: Thompson Rivers University
Yuhua Zhang: Sun Yat-sen University
Fengmin Huang: Sun Yat-sen University
Shan Luo: Sun Yat-sen University
Nayun Shi: Sun Yat-sen University
Michel Loreau: Theoretical and Experimental Ecology Station, CNRS

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract The effect of biodiversity on primary productivity has been a hot topic in ecology for over 20 years. Biodiversity–productivity relationships in natural ecosystems are highly variable, although positive relationships are most common. Understanding the conditions under which different relationships emerge is still a major challenge. Here, by analyzing HerbDivNet data, a global survey of natural grasslands, we show that biodiversity stabilizes rather than increases plant productivity in natural grasslands at the global scale. Our results suggest that the effect of species richness on productivity shifts from strongly positive in low-productivity communities to strongly negative in high-productivity communities. Thus, plant richness maintains community productivity at intermediate levels. As a result, it stabilizes plant productivity against environmental heterogeneity across space. Unifying biodiversity–productivity and biodiversity–spatial stability relationships at the global scale provides a new perspective on the functioning of natural ecosystems.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11191-z

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