What ecological insight was established by David Tilman's classic long-term outdoor ecosystem plot experiments regarding species diversity?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: A. Plots with higher species richness showed less year-to-year variation in total biomass

  1. Step 1: David Tilman conducted long-term outdoor grassland plot experiments over several decades at Cedar Creek, Minnesota.
  2. Step 2: He found that experimental plots harboring a higher number of plant species exhibited significantly less year-to-year variation in total community biomass.
  3. Step 3: In addition, Tilman's data demonstrated that increased biodiversity directly contributes to higher average ecosystem productivity and greater resilience against environmental perturbations like drought.
Answer
Plots with higher species richness showed less year-to-year variation in total biomass and displayed higher overall productivity
Why not the others: 'Plots with more species suffered catastrophic biomass collapse...' is the exact opposite of Tilman's findings (species-rich plots were far more drought-resistant); 'Plots with a single monoculture produced ten times more biomass...' contradicts the overyielding effect observed in diverse plots; 'Species diversity had zero correlation...' is flatly contradicted by Tilman's empirical data.

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