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- Title
Hidden diversity and productivity patterns in mixed Mediterranean grasslands.
- Authors
Troumbis, Andreas Y.; Dimitrakopoulos, Panayiotis G.; Siamantziouras, Akis-Stavros D.; Memtsas, Dimitris
- Abstract
A detailed study of the variation in productivity across a diversity gradient in an experimental Mediterranean grassland examines the effects of a dominant perennial grass species upon the overall diversity–productivity relationship. The experiment took place at the Greek site of the European-wide BIODEPTH programme. The experimental design is characterized by the use of a number of communities containing annuals and perennials within the total set of manipulated plots. The main results are: 1) a log-linear relationship between diversity and productivity exists in Mediterranean grasslands synthesized by annuals only, 2) in mixed communities where multiple growth forms coexist, the performance of a dominant or keystone species may reverse or hide the diversity–productivity pattern of a functional or growth form group of species taken separately, and 3) the introduction of the dominant grass in the low-diversity mixtures creates an ‘inverted’ sampling effect which can produce as an artefact a constant productivity response across the diversity gradient.
- Subjects
DIVERSITY in the workplace; EXAMPLE; LANDSCAPE ecology; STATISTICS
- Publication
Oikos, 2000, Vol 90, Issue 3, p549
- ISSN
0030-1299
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1034/j.1600-0706.2000.900313.x