Summary of mixed effects models for resistance and proportional resistance of aboveground biomass after drought in August 2008 and 2009 to test for effects of diversity (numbers of initially sown species and functional group richness), management (separated into mowing and fertilizer amounts) and drought treatments.

<p>Models were fitted by stepwise inclusion of variables and likelihood ratio tests (L ratio) were applied to assess statistical significance of variables (p-values). Significance is given with * = <i>p</i><0.05, ** = <i>p</i><0.01, *** = <i>p</i><0.001; df = degrees of freedom.</p

Summary of mixed effects models for aboveground biomass in August 2008 and 2009 to test for effects of diversity (numbers of initially sown species and functional group richness), management and drought treatments.

<p>Models were fitted by stepwise inclusion of variables and likelihood ratio tests (L ratio) were applied to assess statistical significance of variables (p-values). Significance is given with * = <i>p</i><0.05. ** = <i>p</i><0.01. *** = <i>p</i><0.001; df = degrees of freedom.</p

Climatic parameters measured on field site during the two study years 2008 and 2009 with reference period 1961–1990 measured by the German Weather Service DWD in Jena, city center.

<p>Values represent monthly means (temperature, soil moisture) or sums (precipitation).</p

Time course of the growing season, including management and drought interventions of our study system.

<p>Stars indicate fertilization dates, vertical lines show mowing dates and dashed area represents our drought period. Frequently mown grassland types (M4, solid line) had four cuts per year and therefore four growth periods (first to fourth GP) previous to every cut. Normal mown grassland types (M2, dotted line) had two cuts per year and therefore two growth periods. Aboveground biomass is plotted as mean standing biomass above cutting height for each mowing grassland type.</p

Resistance of biomass production for 2008 and 2009.

<p>Resistance was calculated as the difference of drought and corresponding ambient treatments at the end of the drought period in August and was plotted against species richness (left) and management treatments (middle). Regression lines are given for significant effects of species richness. Proportional resistance (ratio of drought to ambient treatment) was plotted against management treatment (right). Management treatments are shown in white (M2F0), gray (M2F100), dark gray (M4F100) and black (M4F200).</p

Summary of mixed effects models for resilience and proportional resilience of aboveground biomass of the first cut in spring 2009 to test for effects of diversity (numbers of initially sown species and functional group richness), management (separated into mowing and fertilizer amounts) and drought treatments.

<p>Models were fitted by stepwise inclusion of variables and likelihood ratio tests (L ratio) were applied to assess statistical significance of variables (p-values). Significance is given with * = <i>p</i><0.05, ** = <i>p</i><0.01, *** = <i>p</i><0.001; df = degrees of freedom.</p

Resilience of biomass over sown species richness for each management treatment.

<p>Resilience of biomass was calculated as the difference of drought and corresponding ambient treatments for the first harvest in spring 2009 (M2-types: June, M4-types: April). Regression lines are given for significant effects obtained from linear models for every single management treatment per year: SR = effect of sown species richness (linear), drought = difference in drought and ambient treatments, * = p<0.05, ** = p<0.01, *** = p<0.001.</p

Aboveground biomass across sown species richness gradient for each management treatment.

<p>Aboveground biomass at the end of the induced drought period in August 2008 (left column) and 2009 (right column) measured regrowth since the last cut (M2-types: June; M4-types: July). The ambient treatment is given in open circles (dotted regression line) and drought treatment in closed circles (solid regression line). Significant effects obtained from mixed models for every single management treatment per year: SR = effect of sown species richness (linear), drought = difference in drought and ambient treatments, * = p<0.05, ** = p<0.01, *** = p<0.001.</p

MOESM1 of No consistent effect of plant species richness on resistance to simulated climate change for above- or below-ground processes in managed grasslands

Additional file 1. Additional figures and table

Schematic representation of the litter decomposition experiment.

<p>View on one of the BEF-China experimental sites (photograph of site A in spring 2012) and graph of one experimental plot, subplot and litterbag unit. The decomposition experiment encompassed two sites, 134 plots and three subplots per plot. Each subplot comprised three litterbags per litter species which were collected after two, six and eleven months.</p