Plant diversity effects on plant longevity and their relationships to population stability in experimental grasslands

Identifying to what degree inherent characteristics of plant species and their variation in response environment regulate the temporal stability populations is important understand patterns coexistence ecosystems. Longevity a key characteristic life history an component demographic storage, but age usually unknown for herbaceous species. In 12-year-old biodiversity experiment (Jena Experiment) comprising 80 grassland communities with six levels richness (1, 2, 4, 8, 16 60 species) four functional groups 3 4 groups), we studied 38 dicotyledonous forb (N = 1,683 individuals). The sampled individuals represented three (legumes, small herbs tall herbs) two different growth forms (species long-lived primary roots clonal rhizomes/stolons). We assessed by means ring analysis related terms peak biomass production. On average, did not affect mean or maximum found population. Age taproots increased decreased increasing richness, cancelling out each other when were analysed together. Mean population was lowest highest herbs, while legumes had intermediate age. Herbs taproot on average older than rhizome. Across all species-richness levels, more stable production over time. Synthesis. Our study shows first time across multiple that longevity forbs affected diversity surrounding community, as storage increases