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Understanding negative biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationship in semi-natural wildflower strips.

Nadine Sandau^1,2, Russell E Naisbit^3,4, Yvonne Fabian³

¹Department of Biology, Ecology and Evolution, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland. nadine.sandau@gmail.com.

|December 12, 2018

Summary

In semi-natural agricultural experiments, higher plant diversity unexpectedly decreased productivity. This negative biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationship arose from low-performing species colonizing diverse plots, hindering overall biomass accumulation.

Keywords:

BEF Colonization Invasibility Phylogenetic diversity Species richness

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Area of Science:

Ecology
Agricultural Science
Biodiversity Research

Background:

Controlled experiments often show positive biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) relationships, contrasting with natural systems where relationships can be neutral or negative.
This discrepancy may stem from experimental limitations (closed species pools) versus natural dynamics (colonization, extinction) in meta-communities.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate plant community properties and above-ground biomass in a semi-natural experiment within an agricultural landscape.
To analyze the factors driving the observed biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) relationships in a realistic agricultural setting.

Main Methods:

Established eleven replicates with four diversity levels using a species pool of 20 wildflower species in a semi-natural, un-weeded agricultural experiment.
Analyzed plant community properties and above-ground biomass.
Employed structural equation modeling to explore relationships between sown species, colonizers, and overall productivity.

Main Results:

A significant negative relationship was found between total plant diversity and above-ground biomass (productivity).
Colonization by subordinate species in low-diversity plots increased richness but not productivity, suggesting invasion resistance.
Positive BEF relationships were observed for sown and colonizer species biomass separately, but the overall system relationship was negative.

Conclusions:

In semi-natural agroecosystems, a negative BEF relationship can emerge due to interactions between dominant sown species and colonization by subordinate species from the regional pool.
The findings highlight the importance of considering meta-community dynamics and species interactions in understanding BEF relationships in real-world agricultural systems.