Meta-analysis shows that plant mixtures reduce pathogens and invertebrate herbivores and increase plant productivity

Pathogens and invertebrate herbivores are key to biodiversity-productivity relationships in terrestrial ecosystems. However, the mechanism through which plant diversity maintains higher productivity by reducing biomass loss from pests and diseases has not been explored on a global scale. Based on 316 studies across various ecosystems, we examined how plant taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversities affect the performance (abundance and damage) of pathogens and invertebrate herbivores and how plant productivity is further influenced.