Increased diversity by cushion plants enhances alpine community productivity and stability

The relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning is well-documented in multiple ecosystems such as grasslands and forests, yet in harsh alpine environments where the formation and maintenance of diversity face significant challenges, it remains largely underexplored. This study examines the role of multiple alpine cushion plant species in promoting plant diversity and enhancing ecosystem functioning through assessments of community biomass production and spatial stability. Cushion-constructed micro-communities (CCMC) exhibit a substantial increase in plant species richness, ranging from 83% to 150%, compared to bare ground areas. These benefits are contingent on the facilitation strength of specific cushions and decrease with distance from the cushion edges. Importantly, the enhanced plant diversity within CCMCs strengthens the positive relationships between diversity and community biomass production and stability through complementarity effects. This increased micro-comm..., , # Increased diversity by cushion plants enhances alpine community productivity and stability

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.xksn02vv0](10.5061/dryad.xksn02vv0)

## Description of the dataset

This dataset was collected as part of a field investigation examining how multiple cushion plant species influence plant community structure, biomass production, and spatial stability in the alpine subnival belt of the Himalaya–Hengduan Mountains. The study involved sampling plant assemblages within and outside cushion canopies across 30 cm distance gradients to quantify cushion effects on subordinate species diversity and ecosystem functioning. Community-level data on species composition, aboveground biomass, and biomass variability were recorded from micro-communities constructed by different cushion species. These data were used to evaluate spatial patterns of facilitation, biodiversity effects on ecosystem productivity and stability, and cushion-specific contributions to ecosystem engineering.

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