Tree species and genetic diversity increase productivity via functional diversity and trophic feedbacks

• DOI: 10.7554/elife.78703
• Publication Date: 2022-11-29T00:00:19Z
• Authors: Ting Tang; Naili Zhang; Franca J Bongers; Michael Staab; Andreas Schuldt; Felix Fornoff; Hong Lin; Jeannine Cavender...; Andrew L Hipp; Shan Li; Yu Liang; Baocai Han; Alexandra-Maria K...; Helge Bruelheide; Walter Durka; Bernhard Schmid; Keping Ma; Xiaojuan Liu
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; productivity; QH301-705.5; Science; 577; Genetics and Molecular Biology; Forests; Trees; Feedback; Soil; 03 medical and health sciences; 910 Geography & travel; Biology (General); BEF; Ecosystem; 2. Zero hunger; 0303 health sciences; General Immunology and Microbiology; Ecology; General Neuroscience; Q; R; Genetic Variation; General Medicine; genetic diversity; Biodiversity; 15. Life on land; functional diversity; trophic feedbacks; 10122 Institute of Geography; General Biochemistry; Medicine

Addressing global biodiversity loss requires an expanded focus on multiple dimensions of biodiversity. While most studies have focused on the consequences of plant interspecific diversity, our mechanistic understanding of how genetic diversity within plant species affects plant productivity remains limited. Here, we use a tree species × genetic diversity experiment to disentangle the effects of species diversity and genetic diversity on tree productivity, and how they are related to tree functional diversity and trophic feedbacks. We found that tree species diversity increased tree productivity via increased tree functional diversity, reduced soil fungal diversity, and marginally reduced herbivory. The effects of tree genetic diversity on productivity via functional diversity and soil fungal diversity were negative in monocultures but positive in the mixture of the four tree species tested. Given the complexity of interactions between species and genetic diversity, tree functional diversity and trophic feedbacks on productivity, we suggest that both tree species and genetic diversity should be considered in afforestation.