01398nas a2200133   4500008004100000245008200041210006900123300001300192490000700205520090500212100001301117700002401130856011001154       1996                        eng d00aTrophic interactions and plant species richness along a productivity gradient0 aTrophic interactions and plant species richness along a producti  a603 -6070 v763 aWe analyzed the interactive effects of trophic structure and disturbance on species diversity of plant communities along a productivity gradient by merging the intermediate disturbance hypothesis with a simple three-trophic-level predator-prey model. In two-trophic-level systems, i.e. without carnivores, the model produces a unimodal, hump-shaped pattern of species richness, which is consistent with patterns predicted from other models. If carnivores are included, trophic cascades produce a bimodal pattern of species richness over the productivity gradient. We have found no appropriate data sets in the literature with which to assess the validity of our model. We thus offer the model as an alternative hypothesis to be tested regarding plant species richness in productivity gradients, and as a reminder of the importance of trophic structure for patterns and processes in plant communities.1 aMoen, J.1 aCollins, Scott., L.  uhttp://129.130.186.12/content/trophic-interactions-and-plant-species-richness-along-productivity-gradient