Scale dependence of the diversity-stability relationship in a temperate grassland.

ABSTRACT: A positive relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem stability has been reported in many ecosystems; however, it has yet to be determined whether and how spatial scale affects this relationship. Here, for the first time, we assessed the effects of alpha, beta and gamma diversity on ecosystem stability and the scale dependence of the slope of the diversity-stability relationship.By employing a long-term (33 years) dataset from a temperate grassland, northern China, we calculated the all possible spatial scales with the complete combination from the basic 1-m² plots.Species richness was positively associated with ecosystem stability through species asynchrony and overyielding at all spatial scales (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 m²). Both alpha and beta diversity were positivel

SUBMITTER: Zhang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5916871 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature