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Ecosystems with many plant species produce more and survive threats better
June 01, 2006Prairie plants may also be good source of biofuel
Ecosystems containing many different plant species are not only more productive, they are better able to withstand and recover from climate extremes, pests and disease over long periods, according to a new study. It is the first experiment to gather enough data—over a sufficient time and in a controlled environment—to confirm a 50-year scientific debate about whether biodiversity stabilizes ecosystems.
The findings, published in this week's issue of the journal Nature, are the result of 12 years of experiments conducted by David Tilman, an ecologist at the University of Minnesota, and colleagues Peter Reich of the University of Minnesota and Johannes Knops of the University of Nebraska. The research was conducted at the Cedar Creek Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) site, one of 26 such National Science Foundation (NSF) sites.
"This study clearly demonstrates that stability of a plant community through time increases as species richness goes up," said Martyn Caldwell, program director in NSF's Division of Environmental Biology, which funded the research. "Only a long-term field experiment can provide this information."
Biodiversity of global ecosystems has decreased as global population has increased, said Tilman, because diverse ecosystems such as forests and prairies have been cleared to make way for agricultural fields, buildings and roads.
The research shows that ecosystems containing many different plant species are more productive than those containing only one species. A return to biodiversity may prove to be the key, Tilman and his colleagues believe, to meeting energy needs for the growing number of people on the planet and for restoring global ecosystems.
"Diverse prairie grasslands are 240 percent more productive than grasslands with a single prairie species," Tilman said. "That's a huge advantage. Biomass from diverse prairies can, for example, be used to make biofuels without the need for annual tilling, fertilizers and pesticides, which require energy and pollute the environment. Because they are perennials, you can plant a prairie once and mow it for biomass every fall, essentially forever," Tilman said.
The research was carried out in 168 plots, each of which was randomly planted with one to 16 perennial grasses and other prairie plants. Stability of plants in the plots depended upon diversity and root mass. Roots store nutrients and buffer against climate variations. Perennial prairie plants have far more root mass than crops such as corn, which must be replanted annually.
National Science Foundation
Biodiversity of global ecosystems has decreased as global population has increased, said Tilman, because diverse ecosystems such as forests and prairies have been cleared to make way for agricultural fields, buildings and roads.
The research shows that ecosystems containing many different plant species are more productive than those containing only one species. A return to biodiversity may prove to be the key, Tilman and his colleagues believe, to meeting energy needs for the growing number of people on the planet and for restoring global ecosystems.
"Diverse prairie grasslands are 240 percent more productive than grasslands with a single prairie species," Tilman said. "That's a huge advantage. Biomass from diverse prairies can, for example, be used to make biofuels without the need for annual tilling, fertilizers and pesticides, which require energy and pollute the environment. Because they are perennials, you can plant a prairie once and mow it for biomass every fall, essentially forever," Tilman said.
The research was carried out in 168 plots, each of which was randomly planted with one to 16 perennial grasses and other prairie plants. Stability of plants in the plots depended upon diversity and root mass. Roots store nutrients and buffer against climate variations. Perennial prairie plants have far more root mass than crops such as corn, which must be replanted annually.
National Science Foundation
Plant Species Current Events and Plant Species News RSSCan a plant be altruistic?
The concept of altruism has long been debated in philosophical circles, and more recently, evolutionary biologists have joined the debate.
Global Seed Banking Milestone Celebrated by Wildflower Center, 122 Other Organizations
An international partnership of 54 countries led by the United Kingdom's Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is celebrating a decade of work to set aside seeds for future generations from 10 percent of the world's wild flowering species.
Killer bees may increase food supplies for native bees
Aggressive African bees were accidentally released in Brazil in 1957. As "killer bees" spread northward, David Roubik, staff scientist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, began a 17-year study that revealed that Africanized bees caused less damage to native bees than changes in the weather and may have increased the availability of their food plants.
Erie County home to plant never before recorded in Pa.
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) scientists have discovered a plant in Erie County that has never been recorded in Pennsylvania.
Plants' response to fire tested
A team from the National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA) has developed a new method for identifying the flammability of plant species by using a device that measures how construction materials react to fire.
First global scientific conference supporting UN efforts to curb desertification opens in Argentina
As climate change negotiators continue to skirt the role of agricultural land use in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, top scientists working on land management in the world's vast dry areas will gather this week in Buenos Aires, Argentina, determined to make the case that thwarting desertification in drylands is viable and also critical to the success of a new climate deal.
Conflict between plant and animal hormones in the insect gut?
Cis-OPDA (12-oxophytodienoic acid) is a highly reactive plant hormone which simultaneously serves as a precursor molecule of the metabolic "master switch" jasmonic acid.
For carnivorous plants, slow but steady wins the race
Like the man-eating plant in Little Shop of Horrors, carnivorous plants rely on animal prey for sustenance. Fortunately for humans, carnivorous plants found in nature are not dependent on a diet of human blood but rather are satisfied with the occasional fly or other insect.
Indoor plants found to release volatile organic compounds
Potted plants add a certain aesthetic value to homes and offices, bringing a touch of nature to indoor spaces.
Cape tulips - pretty but pests in pastures
CSIRO and the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (DAFWA) are collaborating to try to outwit one of southern Australia's worst agricultural weeds.
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Antioxidants and Reactive Oxygen Species in Plants (Biological Sciences Series) by Nicholas Smirnoff (Editor) Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced during the interaction of metabolism with oxygen. As ROS have the potential to cause oxidative damage by reacting with biomolecules, research on ROS has concentrated on the oxidative damage that results from exposure to environmental stresses and on the role of ROS in defence against pathogens. However, more recently, it has become apparent that ROS also have important roles as signalling molecules. A complex network of enzymatic and small molecule antioxidants controls the concentration of ROS and repairs oxidative damage, and research is revealing the complex and subtle interplay between ROS and antioxidants in controlling plant growth, development and response to the environment. This book covers these new developments, generally... |
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Living Stone Plant - Lithops - Multiple Species -3" Pot by Hirt's Gardens Lithops,(commonly called "flowering stones" or "living stones") are true mimicry plants: their shape, size and color causes them to resemble small stones in their natural surroundings. The plants blend in among the stones as a means of protection. Grazing animals which would otherwise eat them during periods of drought to obtain moisture usually overlook them. Even experts in the field sometimes have difficulty locating plants for study because of this unusual deceptive camouflage. Lithops do well if they receive about 4 or 5 hours of direct (or only slightly filtered) sunlight during the early part of the day, and partial shade during the afternoon. Usually a southern window is the best location, unless it exposes the plants to full sunlight most of the day, which should be prevented.... |
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Nature Parks CAPE PENINSULA Cape Of Good Hope, South Africa Directed By: TravelVideoStore.com Also With: TravelVideoStore.com (Producer) |
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Marine Life of Fiji and Tonga: A Video Identification Guide Starring: 1272 species of fish mammals invertebrates plants, 2 DVDs plus a 14-page Reference Booklet Directed By: Josh Jensen Created for divers, snorkelers, aquarists and all marine enthusiasts. This identification video covers the incredible marine biodiversity of this fantastic corner of the South Pacific. It's a comprehensive aquatic field guide -- but instead of being a book full of pictures, it's a video with gorgeous real-life footage of each species. And, each of the video clips is labeled with the common and scientific names of each species. Beautifully filmed and visually engaging, Marine Life of Fiji and Tonga contains pretty much everything you are likely to see, catch or hear about when getting wet in this part of the world. * 2 DVD box set * 14-page reference booklet with line drawings, descriptions and helpful information ... |
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Biodiversity of West African Forests: An Ecological Atlas of Woody Plant Species (Cabi Publishing) by L. Poorter (Editor), F. Bongers (Editor), F.N'. Kouamý (Editor), W.D. Hawthorne (Editor) The rain forests of West Africa have been designated as one of the world's hotspots of biodiversity. This book focuses on the biodiversity and ecology of these forests. It analyses the factors that give rise to biodiversity and the structure of tropical plant communities. It includes an atlas with ecological profiles of 280 rare plant species and 56 large timber species, each with a one page entry including a colour photograph and distribution map. |
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Stanhopea grandiflora (species orchid plant) by Carter and Holmes Orchids This species plants produces large, white flowers from the base of the plant. Best for basket culture, this is one of the prettiest of the genus. We offer these plants in 2.5" pots. Blooming season is summer - fall. (Some leaf spots.) | |
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Florida's Best Native Landscape Plants: 200 Readily Available Species for Homeowners and Professionals by GIL NELSON (Author), DAVID CHIAPPINI (Editor) An illustrated guide to native plants for Florida gardening and landscaping, all readily available from the state's nurseries. Each of the 200 species accounts offers information on size and form, uses, features, range and distribution, appearance, culture, best companion plants, and more. |
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Mimicry Stone Cactus - Pleiospilos species - Rare/Easy by Hirt's Gardens The genus Pleiospilos is comprised of four species and four subspecies. The genus name is derived from the greek words pleios (full) and spilos (dots), which refers to the many dots on the plants. The plants are also known as kwaggavy (Quagga mesemb), lewerplant (liver plant), lewervygie (liver mesemb), klipplant (stone plant) and split rock. The plants may be compact or clustered. The branches have between one to four pairs of fleshy leaves (plants may be unbranched). Leaves are broad and rounded, fused at the base, grey-green to brownish in colour. The leaves are covered in a waxy layer which may flake. Flowers appear in autumn or winter. The large fragrant (cocoa suntan lotion) flowers open in mid-afternoon and close just after sunset. The flowers are borne on short pedicels and are... |
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The Usborne Illustrated Encyclopedia the Natural World (Over 1,500 illustrations, projects, experiments and activities, detailed information on over 600 species of plants and animals, Scolastic edition) by scholastic (Author), Lisa Watts (Editor), Felicity Brooks (Editor), Series Designer Amanda Barlow (Editor), Full list of Illustrators (Editor) First Schlastic printing 1996 | |
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Nature Parks CAPE PENINSULA Cape Of Good Hope, South Africa Directed By: TravelVideoStore.com Also With: TravelVideoStore.com (Producer) |
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