title: Observational evidence that diversity may increase productivity in Mediterranean shrublands.
abstract: This paper reports field observational evidence on the diversity-biomass production relationship from eastern Mediterranean shrublands dominated by Cistus salviifolius. The main results are: (1) plant diversity and ecosystem primary production are positively correlated in the Cistus shrublands, which are multigrowth form systems; (2) the taxonomic and growth form diversity in Cistus shrublands suggests that there is strong differentiation along the structural niche axis, and thus functional redundancy is weak; (3) the performance of the dominant Cistus in terms of biomass production did not affect the overall diversity-biomass production of the studied communities.
authors.affiliation: Biodiversity Conservation Laboratory, University of the Aegean, Lesvos Island, 81100, Greece e-mail: atro@aegean.gr Fax: +30-251-41647, Greece.
authors.forename: A Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Troumbis
authors.affiliation: Biodiversity Conservation Laboratory, University of the Aegean, Lesvos Island, 81100, Greece e-mail: atro@aegean.gr Fax: +30-251-41647, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Memtsas
keywords: Cistus; Key words Diversity; Mediterranean shrublands; Productivity