Biodiversity and ecosystem stability in a decade-long grassland experiment
16-species plots produced 2.7x more biomass than monocultures on average
This paper reports results from the Cedar Creek Long-Term Ecological Research site, which has run continuous biodiversity experiments since 1994 - the longest-running in the world. It provides the empirical foundation for the diversity-stability relationship discussed throughout the chapter.
The researchers planted prairie plots with different numbers of species (1, 2, 4, 8, or 16) and measured productivity every year for decades. Results were unambiguous: plots with 16 species produced 2.7 times more biomass on average than monoculture plots, and this advantage increased during drought years. Diverse plots varied 15% year-to-year while monocultures varied 60%.
This research demonstrates that the portfolio effect operates in real ecosystems over long time periods, providing the scientific basis for applying biodiversity principles to organizational strategy.
Key Findings from Tilman et al. (2006)
- 16-species plots produced 2.7x more biomass than monocultures on average
- Diversity advantage increased during drought years
- Diverse plots varied 15% year-to-year; monocultures varied 60%
- Both portfolio effects and functional complementarity contributed to stability
- Effects strengthened over the decade as communities matured
- Higher biodiversity correlates with ecosystem stability
- Functional redundancy buffers against species loss
- Distributed contribution to ecosystem function provides resilience
Used in 2 chapters
See how this research informs the book's frameworks:
Reports results from world's longest-running biodiversity experiment showing 16-species plots produced 2.7x more biomass with 4x less variance than monocultures.
See diversity-stability evidence →Long-term experimental evidence that ecosystem diversity provides functional redundancy - a key advantage of distributed control architecture.
See distributed redundancy →