In containers, plants and microbes together supported productivity
Both kinds of diversity went along with ecosystem functioning across 101 grasslands. In containers, they jointly supported production and nutrients.
The key idea
Plants and microbes contribute to grasslands partly separately and partly together, and the balance varies with aridity.
The study, in plain language
A grassland depends on both visible plants and soil organisms. To explore their combined contribution, the team brought together observations from six continents and an experiment that varied plant diversity, microbial diversity, and water availability.
In the field, plant and soil-organism diversity each accounted for distinct and shared parts of differences in functioning among grasslands. In containers, their interactions supported plant production and nutrient storage. The field pattern varied with aridity: fungal richness had a more positive relationship in less arid areas, and plant richness in more arid areas.
What they found
- In the field, the variety of plants and soil organisms went along with grassland functioning.
- In containers, combining both kinds of diversity supported plant production and nutrient storage.
- The relationship was more positive for fungi in less arid areas, and for plants in more arid areas.
Something to think about
The next time you look at a grassland, remember that the greenery is only part of the story: organisms beneath the surface also contribute.
How they studied it
The team observed grasslands on six continents and also ran an experiment in containers. There they varied plant diversity, soil-microbe diversity, and water availability. They only observed the field sites and did not intervene there.
What the study cannot show
- Field observations cannot establish what caused the differences.
- The experiment lasted a few months and used containers with only one soil type.
- Field and experimental data are different kinds of evidence and should be considered separately.
The original study
Aboveground and belowground biodiversity have complementary effects on ecosystem functions across global grasslands
Source under CC BY 4.0. English adaptation and explanation by PaperFlow, with AI assistance. The text has been reorganized for a general audience; it is not the complete paper and does not imply endorsement by its authors.
One study alone does not represent a field's consensus. Educational content does not replace professional advice. Report a possible error.
