Alexandra Weigelt, Elisabeth Marquard, Vicky M. Temperton, Christiane Roscher, Christoph Scherber, Peter N. Mwangi, Stefanie von Felten, Nina Buchmann, Bernhard Schmid, Ernst-Detlef Schulze, and Wolfgang W. Weisser. 2010. The Jena Experiment: six years of data from a grassland biodiversity experiment. Ecology 91:929.

Data Paper

Ecological Archives E091-066-D1.

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Author(s)

Alexandra Weigelt
Institute of Ecology
University of Jena
Dornburger Str. 159, D-07743 Jena, Germany
E-mail: [email protected]

Elisabeth Marquard
Institute of Environmental Sciences
University of Zürich
Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland, and
Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry
Hans-Knoell Strasse 10, D-07745 Jena, Germany

Vicky M. Temperton
Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry
Hans-Knoell Strasse 10, D-07745 Jena, Germany, and
Phytosphere (ICG-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, D-52425 Jülich, Germany

Christiane Roscher
Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry
Hans-Knoell Strasse 10, D-07745 Jena, Germany

Christoph Scherber
Department of Crop Sciences
University of Göttingen
Waldweg 26, D-37073 Göttingen, Germany

Peter M. Mwangi
Institute of Ecology
University of Jena
Dornburger Str. 159, D-07743 Jena, Germany, and
Department of Botany, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
P.O. Box 62000-00200 Nairobi, Kenya

Stefanie von Felten
Institute of Environmental Sciences
University of Zürich
Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland

Nina Buchmann
ETH Zürich
Universitätstr. 2, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland

Bernhard Schmid
Institute of Environmental Sciences
University of Zürich
Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland

Ernst-Detlef Schulze
Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry
Hans-Knoell Strasse 10, D-07745 Jena, Germany

Wolfgang W. Weisser
Institute of Ecology
University of Jena
Dornburger Str. 159, D-07743 Jena, Germany

This data set contains species-specific biomass and cover data as well as community leaf area index (LAI) and height from a large grassland biodiversity experiment (Jena Experiment). In this experiment, 82 grassland plots of 20 × 20 m were established from a pool of 60 species belonging to four functional groups (grasses, legumes, and tall and small herbs). In May 2002, varying numbers of plant species were sown into the plots to create a gradient of plant species richness (1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 60 species) and functional richness (1, 2, 3, and 4 functional groups). Plots were maintained by biannual weeding and mowing. The data set encompasses the 2002–2008 May and August biomass harvests from 3–4 subplots of 0.2 × 0.5 m per experimental plot sorted to species. Moreover, plant species and community cover estimated in an approximately 9-m² subplot per plot are included in the data set. Each biomass harvest was accompanied by measurements of vegetation height and LAI per plot. Analyses of the community biomass data have identified species richness as well as functional group composition as important drivers of a positive biodiversity–productivity relationship.

The data set can be used to study a variety of questions about how plant community composition and structure responds to changes in species richness and functional diversity over time. Sampling is ongoing, and new data will be added.

Key words: biodiversity experiment; functional composition; height; LAI; plant community; species biomass; species cover.