title: Stress as a modifier of biodiversity effects on ecosystem processes?
abstract: Does stress, defined as a reduction in growth by external constraints, modify biodiversity effects on ecosystem functioning? That is, are diversity effects stronger under stressful, as opposed to favourable conditions? The study by Fugère et al. (2012) in this issue borrows the stress-gradient hypothesis from plant ecology to explore this issue in an aquatic detritus-detritivore system. Although they find weak support for their hypothesis, the study opens the door for future experimental and theoretical investigations into the role of stress in modifying the relationship between the diversity of animal communities and ecosystem processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Limnology, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Alte Fischerhütte 2, 16775, Stechlin, Germany.|Department of Ecology, Berlin Institute of Technology (TU Berlin), Ernst-Reuter-Platz 1, 10587, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Mark O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Gessner
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Limnology, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Alte Fischerhütte 2, 16775, Stechlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Jes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hines
mesh_terms: D033304:Amphipoda / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D060434:Herbivory; D007313:Insecta / Q000502:physiology*; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000378:metabolism*; D045483:Rivers