Biodiversity II (E120) is designed to determine how the number of plant species affects the dynamics of ecological processes at the population, community, and ecosystem levels. By experimentally manipulating the number of species and the kinds of species, the amount of plant growth and the change from year to year, that result can be examined. Plots are large (9m x 9m actively maintained) and well-replicated, allowing responses of plant pathogens, insect herbivores, seed predators, soil parameters, invasive plant species and other variables to also be studied. Plots were seeded in May 1994 to have 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16 species, with roughly 30 replicates of each diversity level. The species composition of each plot was chosen by random draw from a pool of 18 grassland perennials that included four warm-season (C4) grasses, four cool-season (C3) grasses, four legumes, four non-legume forbs, and two woody species. All species occur in monoculture allowing comparison of responses of each species in monoculture to combinations of these same species. The experiment was established in 1994 by the lead investigators David Tilman, Peter Reich, Johannes Knops, and David Wedin. Experiment 120 is similar to Experiment 123, but it uses larger plots to provide a large capacity for long-term subexperiments.
All Methods Available for e120
denotes a Cedar Creek Signature dataset.
Arthropod Data: | Descriptions of Data Fields | TAB | JMP | EXCELBiomass and Soil Data: | Descriptions of Data Fields | TAB | JMP | EXCELPlant Cover Data: | Descriptions of Data Fields | TAB | JMP | EXCEL
Burt-Smith, G. S.; Grime, J. P.; Tilman, D.; Seedling resistance to herbivory as a predictor of relative abundance in a synthesized prairie community. Oikos 101:345-353. 2003 [Full Text] e120
Cadotte MW, Cavender-Bares J, Tilman D, Oakley TH (2009) Using Phylogenetic, Functional and Trait Diversity to Understand Patterns of Plant Community Productivity. PLoS ONE 4(5): e5695. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0005695 2009 [Abstract] [Full Text] e120
Chapin~III, F. S.; Sala, O. E.; Burke, I. C.; Grime, J. P.; Hooper, D. U.; Lauenroth, W. K.; Lombard, A.; Mooney, H. A.; Mosier, A. R.; Naeem, S.; Pacala, S. W.; Roy, J.; Steffen, W. L.; Tilman, D.; Ecosystem consequences of changing biodiversity. BioScience 48:45-52. 1998 [Full Text] e120
Chapin~III, F. S; Walker, B. H.; Hobbs, R. J.; Hooper, D. U.; Lawton, J. H.; Sala, O. E.; Tilman, D.; Biotic control over the functioning of ecosystems. Science 277:500-504. 1997 [Full Text] e120
Diaz, S.; Tilman, D.; Fargoine, J.; Stuart Chapin III, F.; Daily, G.C.; Dirzo, R.; Galetti, M.; Gemmill, B.; Harvell, D.; Kitzberger, T.; Laurance, W.F; "Biodiversity regulation of ecosystem services. In Millenium Ecosystem Assessmen Eds., Ecosystems and Human Well-Being Current State and Trends, Voulme 1. Island Press." 2005 [Full Text] e120
Dybzinsk, Ray; Fargione, Joseph E.; Zak, Donald R.; Fornara, Dario; Tilman, David; 1998. Soil fertility increases with plant species diversity in a long-term biodiversity experiment. Oecologia DOI 10.1007/s00442-008-1123-x 2008 [Abstract] [Full Text] e120
Fargione, J. E.; Tilman, D.; Diversity decreases invasion via both sampling and complementarity effects. Ecology Letters 8:604-611 2005 [Full Text] e120
Fargione, J.; Tilman, D.; Predicting relative yield and abundance in competition with plant species traits. Functional Ecology 20:533-450. 2006 [Abstract] [Full Text] e120
Fargione, J.; Tilman, D; Dybzinski, R; Lambers, J. H. R.; Clark, C; Harpole, W. S.; Knops, J. M. H.; Reich, P. B.; Loreau, M; From selection to complementarity: shifts in the causes of biodiversity-productivity relationships in a long-term biodiversity experiment. Proceedings of The Royal Society B 274:871-876. 2007 [Full Text] e120
Fargione, J; Hill, J; Tilman, D; Polasky, S; Hawthorne, P, "Biofuels: Effects on land and fire - Response", SCIENCE, p. 199, vol. 321. Published 2008 e120
Fargione, J; Hill, J; Tilman, D; Polasky, S; Hawthorne, P, "Biofuels: Putting current practices in perspective - Response", SCIENCE, p. 1420, vol. 320, Published 2008 e120
Fargione, J; Hill, J; Tilman, D; Polasky, S; Hawthorne, P, "Land clearing and the biofuel carbon debt", SCIENCE, p. 1235, vol. 319, Published, 10.1126/science.115274 2008 [Full Text] e120
Fornara, D. A., D. Tilman and S. E. Hobbie, "Linkages between plant functional composition, fine root processes and potential soil N mineralization rates", Journal of Ecology, p. , vol. Accepted 2008 [Abstract] [Full Text] e120
Fornara, D. A., and D. Tilman, "Ecological mechanisms associated with the positive diversity-productivity relationship: evidence from a long-term, N-limited grassland experiment.", Ecology, p. , vol. Accepted 2008 e120
Fornara, D. A.; Tilman, D.; Hobbie, S. E.; Linkages between plant functional composition, fine root processes and potential soil N mineralization rates. Journal of Ecology 97:48-56 2009 e120
Fornara, DA; Tilman, D, "Plant functional composition influences rates of soil carbon and nitrogen accumulation", JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, p. 314, vol. 96 Published, 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2007.01345. 2008 [Full Text] e120
Haddad, N. M.; Tilman, D.; Haarstad, J.; Ritchie, M.; Knops, J. M. H.; Contrasting effects of plant richness and composition on insect communities: a field experiment. The American Naturalist 158:17-35. 2001 [Full Text] e120
Hille Ris Lambers, J.; Harpole, W. S.; Tilman, D.; Knops, J.; Reich, P.; Mechanisms responsible for the positive diversity-productivity relationship in Minnesota grasslands. Ecology Letters 7:661-668 2004 [Full Text] e120
Kennedy, T. A.; Naeem, S.; Howe, K. M.; Knops, J. M. H.; Tilman, D.; Reich, P.; Biodiversity as a barrier to ecological invasion. Nature 417:636-638. 2002 [Full Text] e120
Kennedy, T.; "The causes and consequences of plant invasions. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Minnesota." 2002 [Abstract] [Full Text] e120
Knops, J. M. H.; Tilman, D.; Haddad, N. M.; Naeem, S.; Mitchell, C. E.; Haarstad, J.; Ritchie, M. E.; Howe, K. M.; Reich, P. B.; Siemann, E.; Groth, J.; "Effects of plant species richness on invasion dynamics, disease outbreaks, insect abundances and diversity. Ecological Letters 2:286-293." 1999 [Full Text] e120
Knops, J. M. H.; Wedin, D.; Tilman, D.; Biodiversity and decomposition in experimental grassland ecosystems. Oecologia 126:429-433. 2001 [Full Text] e120
Lehman, C. L.; Tilman, D.; "Biodiversity, stability, and productivity in competitive communities. The American Naturalist 156:534-552." 2000 [Full Text] e120
Loreau, M.; Naeem, S.; Inchausti, P.; Bengtsson, J.; Grime, J. P.; Hector, A.; Hooper, D. U.; Huston, M. A.; Raffaelli, D.; Schmid, B.; Tilman, D.; Wardle, D. A.; Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning: current knowledge and future challenges. Science 294:804-808. 2001 [Full Text] e120
Mitchell, C.; Tilman, D.; Groth, J. V.; "Effects of grassland plant species diversity, abundance, and composition on foliar fungal disease. Ecology 83:1713-1726." 2002 [Full Text] e120
Pacala, S.; Tilman, D.; "The transition from sampling to complementarity. Pages 151-166, in, A. P. Kinzig, S. W. Pacala and D. Tilman, Eds., The Functional Consequences of Biodiversity: Empirical Progress and Theoretical Extensions. Princeton University Press, Princeton and Oxford." 2002 e120
Siemann, E.; Tilman, D.; Haarstad, J.; Ritchie, M.; Experimental tests of the dependence of arthropod diversity on plant diversity. American Naturalist 152:738-750. 1998 [Full Text] e120
Strengbom, J.; Reich, P.B.; Elevated [CO2] and increased N supply reduce leaf disease and related photosynthetic impacts on Solidago rigida. OECOLOGIA 149:519-525. 2006 [Abstract] [Full Text] e120
Tilman, D.; "Causes, consequences and ethics of biodiversity. Nature 405:208-211." 2000 [Full Text] e120
Tilman, D.; "Effects of diversity and composition on grassland stability and productivity. Pages 183-207 in, M. C. Press, N. J. Huntly and S. Levin, Eds., Ecology: Achievement and Challenge. Blackwell Science, Oxford." 2001 [Full Text] e120
Tilman, D.; "Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services: Does Biodiversity Loss Matter?. M. Loreau Eds., Biodiversity: Science and Governance. Proceedings of Biodiversity Conference in Paris 2005." 2005 e120
Tilman, D.; "Functional diversity. Pages 109-120, in, S. A. Levin, Editor-in-Chief, Encyclopedia of Biodiversity, Vol. 3. Academic Press, San Diego, CA." 2001 [Full Text] e120
Tilman, D.; Commentary - An evolutionary approach to ecosystem functioning. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 98:10979-10980. 2001 [Full Text] e120
Tilman, D.; Distinguishing between the effects of species diversity and species composition. Oikos 80(1):185. 1997 [Abstract] [Full Text] e120
Tilman, D.; Diversity and production in European grasslands. Science 286:1099-1100. 1999 [Abstract] [Full Text] e120
Tilman, D.; Fargione, J.; Wolff, B.; Antonio, C. D.; Dobson, A.; Howarth, R.; Schindler, D.; Schlesinger, W. H.; Simberloff, D.; Swackhamer, D.; Forecasting agriculturally driven global environmental change. Science 292:281-284. 2001 [Full Text] e120
Tilman, D.; Hill, J.; Lehman, C.; "Response to comment on ""Carbon-negative biofuels from low-input high-diversity grassland biomass"""". SCIENCE 316:1598-1600. """ 2007 [Abstract] [Full Text] e120
Tilman, D.; Hill, J.; Lehman, C.; Carbon-negative biofuels from low-input high-diversity grassland biomass. SCIENCE 314:1598-1600. 2006 [Abstract] [Full Text] e120
Tilman, D.; Knops, J.; Wedin, D.; Reich, P.; "Experimental and observational studies of diversity, productivity and stability. Pages 42-70, in, A. P. Kinzig, S. W. Pacala and D. Tilman, Eds., The Functional Consequences of Biodiversity: Empirical Progress and Theoretical Extensions. Princeton University Press, Princeton and Oxford." 2002 e120
Tilman, D.; Knops, J.; Wedin, D.; Reich, P.; "Plant diversity and composition: effects on productivity and nutrient dynamics of experimental grasslands. Pages 21-35 in, Loreau, M., S. Naeem and P. Inchausti, eds., Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning: Synthesis and Perspectives. Oxford University Press, Oxford." 2002 e120
Tilman, D.; Knops, J.; Wedin, D.; Reich, P.; Ritchie, M.; Siemann, E.; The influence of functional diversity and composition on ecosystem processes. Science 277:1300-1302. (highlighted in Perspectives by Grime) 1997 [Abstract] [Full Text] e120
Tilman, D.; Lehman, C.; "Biodiversity, composition, and ecosystem processes: theory and concepts. Pages 9-41, in, A. Kinzig, S. Pacala and D. Tilman, Eds., Functional Consequences of Biodiversity: Empirical Progress and Theoretical Extensions. Princeton University Press, New Jersey." 2002 e120
Tilman, D.; Lehman, C.; Human-caused environmental change: Impacts on plant diversity and evolution. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science 98:5433-5440. 2001 [Full Text] e120
Tilman, D.; Naeem, S.; Knops, J.; Reich, P.; Siemann, E.; Wedin, D.; Ritchie, M.; Lawton, J.; Biodiversity and ecosystem properties. Science 278:1866-1867. 1997 [Full Text] e120
Tilman, D.; Reich, P. B.; Knops, J.M.H.; Wedin, D.; Mielke, T.; Lehman, C.; Diversity and productivity in a long-term grassland experiment. Science 294:843-845. 2001 [Full Text] e120
Tilman, D.; Reich, P.B.; Knops, J.; Diversity and stability in plant communities Reply. NATURE 446:E6-E8. 2007 [Abstract] [Full Text] e120
Tilman, D.; Reich, P.B.; Knops, J.M.H.; Biodiversity and ecosystem stability in a decade-long grassland experiment. NATURE 441:629-632. 2006 [Abstract] [Full Text] e120
Tilman, D.; The ecological consequences of changes in biodiversity: a search for general principles. The Robert H. MacArthur Award Lecture. Ecology 80:1455-1474. 1999 [Abstract] [Full Text] e120
Tilman, G.; Duvick, D. N.; Brush, S. B.; Cook, R. J.; Daily, G. C.; Heal, G. M.; Naeem, S.; Notter, D.; "Benefits of Biodiversity. Task Force Report No. 133, Council for Agricultural Science and Technology." 1999 e120
Waldrop, M.; Zak, D.R.; Blackwood, C.B.; Curtis, C.D.; Tilman, D.; Resource availability controls fungal diversity across a plant diversity gradient. ECOLOGY LETTERS 9:1127-1135. 2006 [Abstract] [Full Text] e120
Wright, J.; Naeem, S.; Hector, A.; Lehman, C.; Reich, P.B.; Schmid, B.; Tilman, D.; Conventional functional classification schemes underestimate the relationship with ecosystem functioning. ECOLOGY LETTERS 9:111-120. 2006 [Abstract] [Full Text] e120
Zak, D.; Holmes, W. E.; White, D. C.; Peacock , A. D.; Tilman, D.; "Plant diversity, soil microbial communities, and ecosystem function: Are there any links? Ecology 84:2042-2050." 2003 [Full Text] e120
