Data from: Species richness mediates within-species nutrient resorption: implications for the biodiversity-productivity relationship

1.Between-species variation in nutrient resorption is one of the
mechanisms explaining the positive relationship between biodiversity and
primary productivity. Yet, the role of within-species variations in
nutrient resorption in mediating the relationship between biodiversity and
productivity remains unclear. 2.We examined how within-species nutrient
resorption, and ultimately productivity, respond to changes in species
richness by using four traits related to nitrogen and phosphorus use in
four dominant species from different plant functional groups in a
biodiversity removal experiment in the temperate steppe. 3.Nitrogen and
phosphorus concentrations in both green and senesced leaves in all species
significantly decreased with increasing plant species richness, suggesting
that plants used those limiting nutrients more efficiently with increasing
biodiversity. Plants in higher-diversity communities resorbed more
nutrients during senescence, which may facilitate reproduction and
vegetative regrowth in the next year. 4.Synthesis. Our results highlight
the importance of considering within-species variation in nutrient
resorption as an important underlying mechanism explaining the positive
effects of biodiversity on primary productivity and ecosystem carbon
accumulation.