Figure II.

Definition of a ‘true’ diversity effect in classical BEF experiments (A), with the translation of how one would conceptualise such an effect in ecological networks using energy flux (B). The double-headed arrow in (A) indicates the magnitude of the diversity effect on yield in a hypothetical three-species mixture. In (B), orange nodes denote three hypothetical species consuming a heterogeneous resource (consumption is indicated by coloured segments), with a complementarity effect on total energy flux depicted for the three-species mixture (all resources consumed simultaneously).