Enhancing Tree Performance Through Species Mixing: Review of a Quarter-Century of TreeDivNet Experiments Reveals Research Gaps and Practical Insights

Current Forestry Reports, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 10(1), P. 1 - 20

Published: Jan. 26, 2024

Language: Английский

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Abiotic and biotic drivers of tree trait effects on soil microbial biomass and soil carbon concentration

Ecological Monographs, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 93(2)

Published: Dec. 30, 2022

Abstract Forests are ecosystems critical to understanding the global carbon budget, due their sequestration potential in both aboveground and belowground compartments, especially species‐rich forests. Soil is strongly linked soil microbial communities, this link mediated by tree community, likely modifications of microenvironmental conditions (i.e., biotic conditions, properties, microclimate). We studied concentration biomass 180 local neighborhoods along a gradient species richness ranging from 1 16 per plot Chinese subtropical forest experiment (BEF‐China). Tree productivity different functional traits were measured at neighborhood level. tested effects productivity, trait identity, dissimilarity on concentrations, mediation conditions. Our analyses showed strong positive correlation between concentrations. In addition, increased with root diameter, while it decreased litterfall C:N content. Moreover, (e.g., fungal association ratio) modulated substantial consequences for biomass. also that history topography should be considered future experiments plantations, as concentrations higher sites where historical beginning experiment) high, themselves being affected topography. Altogether, these results implied quantification pools community–soil stock relationships dependence diversity

Language: Английский

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Tree diversity effects on litter decomposition are mediated by litterfall and microbial processes

Oikos, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 2023(10)

Published: July 12, 2023

Forest ecosystems are critical for their carbon sequestration potential. Increasing tree diversity has been shown to enhance both forest productivity and litter decomposition. Litter increases decomposability by increasing the of substrates offered decomposers. However, relative importance decomposer community in mediating effects on decomposition remains unknown. Moreover, modulation litterfall spatial distribution, consequently decomposition, rarely tested. We studied leaf its mediation amount litterfall, species richness decomposability, soil microorganisms a large‐scale experiment subtropical China. Furthermore, we examined how functional identity affect decomposability. Finally, tested traits, biomass, structure drive distribution. found evidence that increased litterfall. showed this perform 84–87% changes microbial explained 19–37% variance. Additionally, up 20% variance was while itself determined identity, diversity, richness. Tree (+200% from monoculture eight‐species neighborhood). further demonstrated species‐specific with proximity modulated traits. These drivers heterogeneity thus highlighted multiple biomass‐ diversity‐mediated ecosystem properties driving nutrient cycling. conclude considering variability biotic will improve our mechanistic understanding functioning.

Language: Английский

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Plant neighbourhood diversity effects on leaf traits: A meta‐analysis

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 37(12), P. 3150 - 3163

Published: Sept. 29, 2023

Abstract Leaf traits often vary with plant neighbourhood composition, which in turn may mediate susceptibility to herbivory. However, it is unknown whether there are any common patterns of change leaf trait expression response diversity, and these responses confer increased resistance or herbivores. We used meta‐analysis combine data from 43 studies that examined the influence diversity on eight physical chemical could affect All apart thickness were highly plastic exhibited significant differences between monocultures species mixtures, but direction effect was variable. toughness only displayed a decrease whereas specific area (SLA) nitrogen both marginally mixtures. The magnitude independent density phylogenetic changes SLA correlated positively richness. also significantly experimental studies, not observational while neighbourhoods containing nitrogen‐fixers associated reduced phenolics. When over‐represented Betula pendula removed analysis, became nonsignificant, phenolics diverse composed mature trees, mixtures across all studies. Increases reductions herbivory, although some cases, reverse occurs, plants growing found suffer greater herbivory than those monocultures. This study offers potential explanation for latter phenomenon, as our results show certain cases lead quality, promote rates Read free Plain Language Summary this article Journal blog.

Language: Английский

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Using near-infrared spectroscopy to predict nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations of herbarium specimens under different storage conditions

Plant Methods, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 20(1)

Published: Feb. 1, 2024

Abstract Background Herbaria are becoming increasingly important as archives of biodiversity, and play a central role in taxonomic biogeographic studies. There is also an ongoing interest functional traits the way they mediate interactions between plant species its environment. Herbarium specimens allow tracking trait values over time, thus, capturing consequences anthropogenic activities such eutrophication. Here, we present open, reproducible, non-destructive workflow to collect leaf data from herbarium using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), proof concept for reliability this approach. Results We carried out three experiments test suitability NIRS methods predict both fresh dried leaves: (1) With fertilization experiment, studied whether was able capture changes N P during experiment compared contents predicted by with results obtained regular wet lab methods. Calibration models nitrogen phosphorus had quality R 2 = 0.7 0.5, respectively. fitted calibration readings on samples, which produced equally precise predictions analyses. (2) tested effect conservation simulating them through application six treatments combining freezing, drying pesticide spraying factorial scheme comparing these untreated samples. No consistent were observed spectra before after simulated conditions. (3) Finally, specimen storage duration 2018 study re-analyzed 2021. period. Conclusions The demonstrate measure Together method dataset presented here, provide toolset allowing researchers development their response environmental decades even centuries fast manner.

Language: Английский

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Tree and mycorrhizal fungal diversity drive intraspecific and intraindividual trait variation in temperate forests: Evidence from a tree diversity experiment

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 38(5), P. 1089 - 1103

Published: March 21, 2024

Abstract The study of tree species coexistence is crucial to understand the assembly forest communities. In this context, trees adjust their traits in response interactions with other and, specifically, as a result competition for resources. Further, mycorrhizal fungal diversity and associations are important drivers ecosystem functioning forests, but role intraspecific trait variation has been disregarded. Here, we studied diversity. We sampled 3200 leaves from 640 belonging 10 native, deciduous experiment Central Germany. This relies on combination gradients richness associations. To handle large amounts leaf samples, acquired leaf‐level spectral data used deep learning predict values five economics spectrum (LES): specific area, dry matter content, carbon nitrogen ratio, content phosphorus content. For every tree, calculated mean value two multi‐trait functional indices (functional dispersion) based individual leaves. Finally, sequencing‐based assess fungi associated trees. found that had an effect different traits. Specifically, positively affected area additionally, negative indicies, which revealed phenotypic within crown decreased richness. addition, ratio increasing arbuscular both ectomycorrhizal species. did not find differences between regarding location LES. Our results suggest modify strategy local diversity, only by shifting also variability intraindividually. higher does seem lead complementarity, instead, affect aspects Read free Plain Language Summary article Journal blog.

Language: Английский

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Within‐individual leaf trait variation increases with phenotypic integration in a subtropical tree diversity experiment

New Phytologist, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 240(4), P. 1390 - 1404

Published: Sept. 14, 2023

Covariation of plant functional traits, that is, phenotypic integration, might constrain their variability. This was observed for inter- and intraspecific variation, but there is no evidence a relationship between integration the variation within single plants (within-individual trait variation; WTV), which could be key to understand extent WTV in contexts like plant-plant interactions. We studied c. 500 trees 21 species planted forest patches varying richness subtropical China. Using visible near-infrared spectroscopy (Vis-NIRS), we measured nine leaf morphological chemical traits. For each tree, assessed metrics multitrait assess WTV, used network properties based on correlations quantify integration. Against expectations, strong tree led greater across leaves. Not only this true also dispersion tree's hypervolume positively associated with Surprisingly, detected weak influence surrounding tree-species diversity these relationships. Our study suggests integrated phenotypes allow variability organism supports prevents maladaptive variation.

Language: Английский

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Diversity-enhanced canopy space occupation and leaf functional diversity jointly promote overyielding in tropical tree communities

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 951, P. 175438 - 175438

Published: Aug. 10, 2024

Understanding the mechanisms that drive biodiversity-productivity relationships is critical for guiding forest restoration. Although complementarity among trees in canopy space has been suggested as a key mechanism greater productivity mixed-species tree communities, empirical evidence remains limited. Here, we used data from tropical diversity experiment to disentangle effects of species richness and community functional characteristics (community-weighted mean leaf traits) on filling, how these are related overyielding. We found filling was largely explained by identity rather than effects. Communities with high abundance conservative resource-use strategy were those most densely packed canopies. Across monocultures mixtures, higher translated into an enhanced wood productivity. Importantly, communities (83 %) produced more volume average their constituent monoculture (i.e. overyielded). Our results show overyielding increased positive net biodiversity which mainly arose due taxonomic diversity. These findings suggest both diversity-enhanced important drivers forests. Consequently, restoration initiatives should promote stands functionally diverse canopies selecting large interspecific differences nutrition, well branch morphology optimize carbon capture young stands.

Language: Английский

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Leaf trait variation within individuals mediates the relationship between tree species richness and productivity

Oikos, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 2024(2)

Published: Dec. 5, 2023

In forest ecosystems, many ecosystem functions such as tree growth are affected by species richness. This biodiversity–productivity relationship (BPR) is mediated leaf traits, which themselves known to be influenced richness; at the same time, primary organs of light capture, they an important factor for growth. However, how a tree's ability phenotypically adjust its traits within‐individual gradient has largely been unexplored. Furthermore, it not impacts within‐tree trait variation on individual sums up productivity community scale. this study we tested richness, mean and extinction coefficient within crown influence We measured these variables in temperate plantation Kreinitz biodiversity experiment. found that between richness via trees, turn was modified availability. particular, trees monocultures show higher variation, partly compensates lack among‐species thus affects BPR. It seems operates both through increased acquisitive values two processes cancelled out each other resulted absence significant effect our study. conclusion, understand BPR, underlying know ones reinforce or oppose other. highlights importance including ecological research one moderator

Language: Английский

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High within-tree leaf trait variation and its response to species diversity and soil nutrients

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 10, 2023

Abstract Leaf functional traits provide important insights into plants’ responses to different environments. have been increasingly studied within-species in the last decade, following growing realisation that neglecting intra-specific scale can result misreading response environmental change. However, while likely lead similar pitfalls, within-individual leaf are under-researched despite being at which elementary interactions shape ecosystem processes. To address this critical lack of understanding local scale, we assessed trait variation a large biodiversity-ecosystem functioning experiment subtropical China. We used optical spectroscopy determine nine morphological and biochemical >5800 leaves from 414 trees representing 14 species. evaluated relative importance intra-individual level for total variation, interacting effect two variation’s drivers, soil nutrient availability, species richness gradient. Comparing amount between-species, between-individuals levels, found accounted on average >25% variation. Additionally, was most prominent component partial support positive effects availability diversity strong interdependence both effects. Contrary amplifying expected, increased with intermediate diversity, but decreased low high diversity. Our findings quantify relevance expose complex interaction between its drivers. In particular, interactive suggest ranging alleviating competition enhancing complementarity. Taken together, our work highlights integrating an perspective understand trait-based mechanisms relationships.

Language: Английский

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