Community Ecology
Volume/Issue:
Volume 8: Issue 1
Diversity-productivity relations at a northern prairie site: An investigation using spectral data
Authors:
A. Davidson

Search for other papers by A. Davidson in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
F. Csillag University of Toronto Department of Geography 100 St. George Street Toronto ON Canada M5S 3G3

Search for other papers by F. Csillag in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
, and
J. Wilmshurst Parks Canada Agency Western Service Centre Winnipeg Manitoba Canada

Search for other papers by J. Wilmshurst in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
Pages:
87–102
Online Publication Date:
22 Jun 2007
Publication Date:
01 Jun 2007
Article Category:
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1556/comec.8.2007.1.11
Keywords:
Diversity; Functional group; Grasslands; Productivity; Radiometry; Richness
Restricted access

The impact of decreasing plant diversity on terrestrial ecosystem productivity remains controversial. Recent studies generally suggest that diverse plant communities are more productive than depauperate versions. However, there is less agreement as to whether this is caused by the number of species present, the identities of the species present, the number of functional groups that these species make up, or by which functional groups are represented. This study evaluates whether relationships between plant diversity and productivity in northern mixed grass prairie are dependent on (a) the diversity measure used (species richness vs. functional richness), (b) the productivity measure utilized, or (c) the scale of observation. We collected plant diversity and productivity information over circular plots of 0.5 m diameter during the summer of 1998, then used a spatially nested sampling design to scale each property and their relationships to 2.5 m, 10 m and 50 m sampling resolutions. Observed diversity-productivity relationships were dependent on all of the above factors. Richness-productivity relationships were found to be mostly asymptotic at all observational scales. The presence of particular species, and functional groups, alone or in combination all had significant effects on productivity at the plot (0.5m) level, but not at coarser resolutions. These results were consistent with those of other studies, and suggest that the higher productivities of diverse grassland plots in our grassland site might result from the effects of diversity and the presence of productive species. The lack of species effects at coarser resolutions suggest other mechanisms are responsible for such relationships at these scales.

  • Aarssen, L.W. 2001. On correlations and causations between productivity and species richness: predictions from habitat attributes. Basic and Applied Ecology 2: 105–114.

    Aarssen L.W. , 'On correlations and causations between productivity and species richness: predictions from habitat attributes ' (2001 ) 2 Basic and Applied Ecology : 105 -114 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Bourlière, F. and Hadley, M. 1970. The ecology of tropical savannas. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 1: 125–152.

    Hadley M. , 'The ecology of tropical savannas ' (1970 ) 1 Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics : 125 -152 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Bulla, L. 1996. Relationships between biotic diversity and primary productivity in savanna grasslands . In: O.T. Solbrig, E. Medina and J.F. Silva (eds.), Biodiversity and Savanna Ecosystem Processes . Springer, New York, NY, USA, pp. 97–117.

    Bulla L. , '', in Biodiversity and Savanna Ecosystem Processes , (1996 ) -.

  • Csillag, F., Kertész, M., Davidson, A. and Mitchell, S. 2001. On the measurement of diversity-productivity relationships in a northern mixed grass prairie (Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan, Canada). Community Ecology 2: 145–159.

    Mitchell S. , 'On the measurement of diversity-productivity relationships in a northern mixed grass prairie (Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan, Canada) ' (2001 ) 2 Community Ecology : 145 -159 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Davidson, A. 2002. Integrating field sampling and remotely sensed data for monitoring the function and composition of northern Mixed Grass prairie. PhD thesis, University of Toronto, National Library of Canada, Ottawa, Canada, 225 pp.

    Davidson A. , '', in Integrating field sampling and remotely sensed data for monitoring the function and composition of northern Mixed Grass prairie , (2002 ) -.

  • Davidson, A. and Csillag, F. 2001. The influence of vegetation index and spatial resolution on a two-date remote sensing derived relation to C4 species coverage. Remote Sensing of Environment 75: 138–151.

    Csillag F. , 'The influence of vegetation index and spatial resolution on a two-date remote sensing derived relation to C4 species coverage ' (2001 ) 75 Remote Sensing of Environment : 138 -151 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Foster, B.L. and Dickson, T.L. 2004. Grassland diversity and productivity: the interplay of resource availability and propagule pools. Ecology 85: 1541–1547.

    Dickson T.L. , 'Grassland diversity and productivity: the interplay of resource availability and propagule pools ' (2004 ) 85 Ecology : 1541 -1547 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Fridley, J.D. 2002. Resource availability dominates and alters the relationship between species diversity and ecosystem productivity in experimental plant communities. Oecologia 132: 271–277.

    Fridley J.D. , 'Resource availability dominates and alters the relationship between species diversity and ecosystem productivity in experimental plant communities ' (2002 ) 132 Oecologia : 271 -277 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Goodin, D.G., Gao J., and Henebry, G.M. 2004. The effect of solar zenith angle and sensor view angle on observed patterns of spatial structure in tallgrass prairie. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing 42: 154–165.

    Henebry G.M. , 'The effect of solar zenith angle and sensor view angle on observed patterns of spatial structure in tallgrass prairie ' (2004 ) 42 IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing : 154 -165 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Gough, L., Osenberg, C., Gross, K. and S., C. 2000. Fertilization effects on species diversity and primary productivity in herbaceous plant communities. Oikos 89: 428–439.

    Gross C. , 'Fertilization effects on species diversity and primary productivity in herbaceous plant communities ' (2000 ) 89 Oikos : 428 -439 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Gross, K.L., Willig, M.R., Gough, L., Inouye, R. and Cox, S.B. 2000. Patterns of species density and productivity at different spatial scales in herbaceous plant communities. Oikos 89: 417–427.

    Cox S.B. , 'Patterns of species density and productivity at different spatial scales in herbaceous plant communities ' (2000 ) 89 Oikos : 417 -427 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Guo, Q., Shaffer, T. and Buhl, T. 2006. Community maturity, species saturation and the variant diversity-productivity relationships in grasslands. Ecology Letters 9: 1284–1292.

    Buhl T. , 'Community maturity, species saturation and the variant diversity-productivity relationships in grasslands ' (2006 ) 9 Ecology Letters : 1284 -1292 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Hector, A., Schmid, B., Beierkuhnlein, C., Caldeira, M. C., Dimer, M., Dimitrakapoulos, P. G., Finn, J. A., Freitas, H., Giller, P. S., Good, J., Harris, R., Högberg, P., Huss-Danell, K., Joshi, J., Jumpponen, A., Körner, C., Leadley, P. W., Loreau, M., Minns, A., Mulder, C. P. H., O’Donovan, G., Otway, S., Pereira, J. S., Prinz, A., Read, D. J., Scherer-Lorenzen, M., Schulze, E.-D., Siamantziouras, A.-S. D., Spehn, E. M., Terry, A. C., Troumbis, A. Y., Woodward, F. I., Yachi, S., and Lawton, J. H. 1999. Plant diversity and productivity experiments in European grasslands. Science 286: 1123–1127.

    Lawton J. H. , 'Plant diversity and productivity experiments in European grasslands ' (1999 ) 286 Science : 1123 -1127 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Hodgson, J.G., Thompson, K., Wilson, P.J. and Bogaard, A. 1998. Does biodiversity determine ecosystem function? The Ecotron experiment reconsidered. Functional Ecology 12: 843–856.

    Bogaard A. , 'Does biodiversity determine ecosystem function? The Ecotron experiment reconsidered ' (1998 ) 12 Functional Ecology : 843 -856 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Hooper, D.U. 1998. The role of complementarity and competition in ecosystem responses to variation in plant diversity. Ecology 79:704–719.

    Hooper D.U. , 'The role of complementarity and competition in ecosystem responses to variation in plant diversity ' (1998 ) 79 Ecology : 704 -719 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Hooper, D.U., Chapin, F.S., Ewel, J.J., Hector, A., Inchausti, P., Lavorel, S., Lawton, J.H., Lodge, D.M., Loreau, M., Naeem, S., Schmid, B., Setala, H., Symstad, A.J., Vandermeer, J., Wardle, D.A. 2005. Effects of biodiversity on ecosystem functioning: a consensus of current knowledge. Ecological Monographs 7: 3–35.

    Wardle D.A. , 'Effects of biodiversity on ecosystem functioning: a consensus of current knowledge ' (2005 ) 7 Ecological Monographs : 3 -35 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Hooper, D.U. and Vitousek, P.M. 1997. The effects of plant composition and diversity on ecosystem processes. Science 277: 1302–1305.

    Vitousek P.M. , 'The effects of plant composition and diversity on ecosystem processes ' (1997 ) 277 Science : 1302 -1305 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Huang, Y, Street-Perrott, F.A., Metcalf, S.E., Brenner, M., Moreland, M., Freeland, K.H. 2001. Climate Change as the Dominant Control on Glacial-Interglacial Variations on C3 and C4 Plant Abundance. Science 293(31 August 2001): 1647–1651.

    Freeland K.H. , 'Climate Change as the Dominant Control on Glacial-Interglacial Variations on C3 and C4 Plant Abundance ' (2001 ) 293 Science : 1647 -1651 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Huston, M., 1993. Biological diversity, soils and econonmics. Science , 262: 1676–1680.

    Huston M. , 'Biological diversity, soils and econonmics ' (1993 ) 262 Science : 1676 -1680 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Huston, M.A. 1997. Hidden treatments in ecological experiments: re-evaluating the ecosystem function of biodiversity. Oecologia 110: 449–460.

    Huston M.A. , 'Hidden treatments in ecological experiments: re-evaluating the ecosystem function of biodiversity ' (1997 ) 110 Oecologia : 449 -460 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Huston, M. A., Aarssen, L. w., Austin, M. P., Cade, B. S., Fridley, J. D., Garnier, E., Grime, J. P., Hodgson, J., Lauenroth, W. K., Thompson, K., Vandermeer, J. H., and Wardle, D. A. 2000. No consistent effect of plant diversity on productivity. Science 289:1255a.

    Wardle D. A. , 'No consistent effect of plant diversity on productivity ' (2000 ) 289 Science : 1255a -.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Johnson, K.H., Vogt, K.A., Clark, H.J., Schmitz, O.J. and Vogt, D.J. 1996. Biodiversity and the productivity and stability of ecosystems. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 9: 372–377.

    Vogt D.J. , 'Biodiversity and the productivity and stability of ecosystems ' (1996 ) 9 Trends in Ecology and Evolution : 372 -377 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Kutiel, P. and Danin, A. 1987. Annual-species diversity and aboveground phytomass in relation to some soil properties in the sand dunes of the northern Sharon Plains, Israel. Vegetatio 70: 45–59.

    Danin A. , 'Annual-species diversity and aboveground phytomass in relation to some soil properties in the sand dunes of the northern Sharon Plains, Israel ' (1987 ) 70 Vegetatio : 45 -59 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Lauenroth, W.K., Coffin, D.P., Burke, I.C., and Virginia, R.A. 1997. Interactions between demographic and ecosystem processes in a semi-arid and arid grassland: a challenge for plant functional types. In T.M. Smith, H.H. Shugart & F.I. Woodward (eds.), Plant Functional Types . Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, pp. 234–254.

    Virginia R.A. , '', in Plant Functional Types , (1997 ) -.

  • Leriche H., Le Roux X., Gignoux J., Tuzet A., Fritz H., Abbadie L. and Loreau M. 2001. Which functional processes control the short-term effect of grazing on net primary production in grasslands? Oecologia 129: 114–124.

    Loreau M. , 'Which functional processes control the short-term effect of grazing on net primary production in grasslands? ' (2001 ) 129 Oecologia : 114 -124 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Loreau, M. 1998. Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning: A mechanistic model. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 95: 5632–5636.

    Loreau M. , 'Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning: A mechanistic model ' (1998 ) 95 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences : 5632 -5636 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Loreau, M. and Hector, A. 2001. Partitioning selection and complementarity in biodiversity experiments. Nature 412: 72–76.

    Hector A. , 'Partitioning selection and complementarity in biodiversity experiments ' (2001 ) 412 Nature : 72 -76 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Milner, C. and Hughes, R.E. 1968. Methods for the Measurement of Primary Production of Grassland . IBP Handbook No. 6. Blackwell, Oxford, UK.

    Hughes R.E. , '', in Methods for the Measurement of Primary Production of Grassland , (1968 ) -.

  • Morgan Ernest, S.K. and Brown, J.H. 2001. Homeostasis and compensation: the role of species and resources in ecosystem stability. Ecology 82: 2118–2132.

    Brown J.H. , 'Homeostasis and compensation: the role of species and resources in ecosystem stability ' (2001 ) 82 Ecology : 2118 -2132 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Naeem, S., Thompson, L.J., Lawler, S. P., Lawton, J. H. and Woodfin, R. M. 1994. Declining biodiversity can alter the performance of ecosystems. Nature 368: 734–737.

    Woodfin R. M. , 'Declining biodiversity can alter the performance of ecosystems ' (1994 ) 368 Nature : 734 -737 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Ovington, J.D., Heitkamp, D. and Lawrence, D.B. 1963. Plant biomass and productivity of prairie, savanna, oakwood and maize field ecosystems in central Minnesota. Ecology 44: 52–65.

    Lawrence D.B. , 'Plant biomass and productivity of prairie, savanna, oakwood and maize field ecosystems in central Minnesota ' (1963 ) 44 Ecology : 52 -65 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Ricklefs, R.E. 1990. Ecology . Freeman, New York, NY, USA.

    Ricklefs R.E. , '', in Ecology , (1990 ) -.

  • Rosenzweig, M.L. 1992. Species diversity gradients: we know more and less than we thought. Journal of Mammalogy 73: 715–730.

    Rosenzweig M.L. , 'Species diversity gradients: we know more and less than we thought ' (1992 ) 73 Journal of Mammalogy : 715 -730 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Sala, O.E., Lauenroth, W.K. and Golluscio, R.A. 1997. Plant functional types in temperate semi-arid regions . In: T.M. Smith, H.H. Shugart and F.I. Woodward (eds.), Plant Functional Types . Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, pp. 217–233.

    Golluscio R.A. , '', in Plant Functional Types , (1997 ) -.

  • Schwartz, M. W., Brigham, C. A., Hoeksema, J. D., Lyons, K. G., Mills, M. H., and van Mantgem, P. J. 2000. Linking biodiversity to ecosystem function: Implications for conservation ecology. Oecologia 122: 297–305.

    Mantgem P. J. , 'Linking biodiversity to ecosystem function: Implications for conservation ecology ' (2000 ) 122 Oecologia : 297 -305 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Spehn, E.M., Joshi, J., Schmid, B., Diemer, M. and Körner, C. 2000. Above-ground resource use increases with plant species richness in experimental grassland ecosystems. Functional Ecology 14: 326–337.

    Körner C. , 'Above-ground resource use increases with plant species richness in experimental grassland ecosystems ' (2000 ) 14 Functional Ecology : 326 -337 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Stubbendieck, J., Hatch, S.L. and Butterfield, C.H. 1992. North American Range Plants . University of Nebraska Press, Nebraska, USA, 493 pp.

    Butterfield C.H. , '', in North American Range Plants , (1992 ) -.

  • The Great Plains Flora Association. 1986. Flora of the Great Plains . University Press of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, U.S.A. pp 1392.

    '', in Flora of the Great Plains , (1986 ) -.

  • Tieszen, L.L., Reed, B.C., Bliss, N.B., Wylie, B.K. and DeJong, D.D. 1997. NDVI, C3 and C4 production, and distributions in Great Plains grassland land cover classes. Ecological Applications 7: 59–78.

    DeJong D.D. , 'NDVI, C3 and C4 production, and distributions in Great Plains grassland land cover classes ' (1997 ) 7 Ecological Applications : 59 -78 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Tilman, D. 1999. The ecological consequences of biodiversity: a search for general principles. Ecology 80: 1455–1474.

    Tilman D. , 'The ecological consequences of biodiversity: a search for general principles ' (1999 ) 80 Ecology : 1455 -1474 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Tilman, D. 2000. Causes, consequences and ethics of biodiversity. Nature 405(11 May 2000): 208–211.

    Tilman D. , 'Causes, consequences and ethics of biodiversity ' (2000 ) 405 Nature : 208 -211 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Tilman, D. 2001. Effects of diversity and composition on grassland stability and productivity. In: M.C. Press, N.J. Huntly and S.A. Levin (eds.), Ecology: Achievement and Challenge . Blackwell Science, London, UK, pp. 183–207.

    Tilman D. , '', in Ecology: Achievement and Challenge , (2001 ) -.

  • Tilman, D., Knops, J., Wedin, D., Reich, P., Ritchie, M., and Siemann, E. 1997a. The influence of functional diversity and composition on ecosystem processes. Science 277: 1300–1302.

    Siemann E. , 'The influence of functional diversity and composition on ecosystem processes ' (1997 ) 277 Science : 1300 -1302 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Tilman, D., Lehman, C.L. and Thomson, K.T. 1997b. Plant diversity and ecosystem productivity: theoretical considerations. Proceedings of the Natural Academy of Sciences 94: 1857–1861.

    Thomson K.T. , 'Plant diversity and ecosystem productivity: theoretical considerations ' (1997 ) 94 Proceedings of the Natural Academy of Sciences : 1857 -1861 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Tilman, D., Reich, P. B., Knops, J., Wedin, D., Mielke, T., and Lehman, C. 2001. Diversity and productivity in a long-term grassland experiment. Science 294: 843–845.

    Lehman C. , 'Diversity and productivity in a long-term grassland experiment ' (2001 ) 294 Science : 843 -845 .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Webster, R. 1979. Nested classification and sampling. In: R. Webster (ed.), Quantitative Numerical Methods in Soil Classification Survey . Oxford University Press, Bristol, UK. pp 90–106.

    Webster R. , '', in Quantitative Numerical Methods in Soil Classification Survey , (1979 ) -.
  • Collapse
  • Expand
Cover Community Ecology
Community Ecology An Interdisciplinary Journal Reporting Progress in Community and Population Studies
Print ISSN:
1585-8553
Online ISSN:
1588-2756

To see the editorial board, please visit the website of Springer Nature.

Manuscript Submission: HERE

For subscription options, please visit the website of Springer Nature.

Community Ecology
Language English
Size A4
Year of
Foundation		 2000
Volumes
per Year		 1
Issues
per Year		 3
Founder Akadémiai Kiadó
Founder's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245
Publisher Akadémiai Kiadó
Springer Nature Switzerland AG
Publisher's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
CH-6330 Cham, Switzerland Gewerbestrasse 11.
Responsible
Publisher		 Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN 1585-8553 (Print)
ISSN 1588-2756 (Online)

Monthly Content Usage

Abstract Views Full Text Views PDF Downloads
Apr 2024 31 0 0
May 2024 4 0 0
Jun 2024 10 0 0
Jul 2024 35 0 0
Aug 2024 29 0 0
Sep 2024 44 0 0
Oct 2024 29 0 0