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Title: Productivity Is a Poor Predictor of Plant Species Richness.

Abstract

For more than 30 years, the relationship between net primary productivity and species richness has generated intense debate in ecology about the processes regulating local diversity. The original view, which is still widely accepted, holds that the relationship is hump-shaped, with richness first rising and then declining with increasing productivity. Although recent meta-analyses questioned the generality of hump-shaped patterns, these syntheses have been criticized for failing to account for methodological differences among studies. We addressed such concerns by conducting standardized sampling in 48 herbaceous-dominated plant communities on five continents. We found no clear relationship between productivity and fine-scale (meters-2) richness within sites, within regions, or across the globe. Ecologists should focus on fresh, mechanistic approaches to understanding the multivariate links between productivity and richness.

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
USDA Forest Service-Savannah River, New Ellenton, SC
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE; USDOE EM Office of Program and Site Support (EM-50)
OSTI Identifier:
1025881
Report Number(s):
11-04-P
Journal ID: ISSN 0036-8075; SCIEAS; none; TRN: US201121%%411
DOE Contract Number:  
AI09-00SR22188
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Science (Washington, D.C.)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 333; Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 0036-8075
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES; COMMUNITIES; ECOLOGY; PRODUCTIVITY; SAMPLING; PLANTS; Species richness

Citation Formats

Adler, Peter B, and et al. Productivity Is a Poor Predictor of Plant Species Richness.. United States: N. p., 2011. Web. doi:10.1126/science.1204498.
Adler, Peter B, & et al. Productivity Is a Poor Predictor of Plant Species Richness.. United States. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1204498
Adler, Peter B, and et al. 2011. "Productivity Is a Poor Predictor of Plant Species Richness.". United States. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1204498.
@article{osti_1025881,
title = {Productivity Is a Poor Predictor of Plant Species Richness.},
author = {Adler, Peter B and et al.},
abstractNote = {For more than 30 years, the relationship between net primary productivity and species richness has generated intense debate in ecology about the processes regulating local diversity. The original view, which is still widely accepted, holds that the relationship is hump-shaped, with richness first rising and then declining with increasing productivity. Although recent meta-analyses questioned the generality of hump-shaped patterns, these syntheses have been criticized for failing to account for methodological differences among studies. We addressed such concerns by conducting standardized sampling in 48 herbaceous-dominated plant communities on five continents. We found no clear relationship between productivity and fine-scale (meters-2) richness within sites, within regions, or across the globe. Ecologists should focus on fresh, mechanistic approaches to understanding the multivariate links between productivity and richness.},
doi = {10.1126/science.1204498},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1025881}, journal = {Science (Washington, D.C.)},
issn = {0036-8075},
number = 1,
volume = 333,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Sep 22 00:00:00 EDT 2011},
month = {Thu Sep 22 00:00:00 EDT 2011}
}