Diversity-dependent temporal divergence of ecosystem functioning in experimental ecosystems.
Guerrero-Ramírez NR., Craven D., Reich PB., Ewel JJ., Isbell F., Koricheva J., Parrotta JA., Auge H., Erickson HE., Forrester DI., Hector A., Joshi J., Montagnini F., Palmborg C., Piotto D., Potvin C., Roscher C., van Ruijven J., Tilman D., Wilsey B., Eisenhauer N.
The effects of biodiversity on ecosystem functioning generally increase over time, but the underlying processes remain unclear. Using 26 long-term grassland and forest experimental ecosystems, we demonstrate that biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships strengthen mainly by greater increases in functioning in high-diversity communities in grasslands and forests. In grasslands, biodiversity effects also strengthen due to decreases in functioning in low-diversity communities. Contrasting trends across grasslands are associated with differences in soil characteristics.