Using long‐term tree diversity experiments to explore the mechanisms of temporal shifts in forest ecosystem functioning

Oikos, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 14, 2025

Plant diversity is known to influence ecosystem functioning, but the strength and direction of this relationship vary considerably among studies, most which have a short duration. In communities with long‐lived species, such as forests, traits individual trees change from seedlings maturity, environment in grow also continually changes through stand development forest succession. We argue that interactions between these community‐level effects over time will alter biodiversity‐ecosystem functioning (BEF) relationships, likely explaining at least part reported variation BEF studies. outline series mechanisms temporal tree levels can relationships illustrate processes using data long‐term Satakunta experiments Finland. are essential robustly characterize dynamics emerging complex interplay plant functional environmental conditions time. These provide critical insights for predicting consequences biodiversity loss on service provisioning

Language: Английский

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Grassland Changes in the Eastern Alps Over Four Decades: Unveiling Patterns Along an Elevation Gradient

Applied Vegetation Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 28(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Aims Alpine valleys have faced escalating global changes in recent decades such as a decline of traditional management and rural expansion. Grasslands are likely the type vegetation most affected by these transformations. This study investigates multifaceted plant diversity over past four major valley Italian Eastern Alps examines whether occurred uniformly across different elevations. Location Valsugana Valley, Alps, Italy. Methods In 2022, we resurveyed 115 plots (including vascular plants, mosses, lichens) originally sampled 1986–1988. Plots were collected grasslands span along an elevation gradient 2000 m. At each time period, automatically classified using EUNIS expert system habitats. We analysed variation species richness, diversity, beta (turnover nestedness), relative proportion life form, woodiness, neophyte gradient, subdivided low‐, middle‐, high‐elevation belts. Lastly, quantified number gained, winning, stable, losing, lost species. Results found differences classification habitats elevation‐dependent community composition. Many grassland types transformed into other or forests man‐made Species richness varied time, being constant at lower elevations but markedly increasing high Temporal turnover dominated elevations, especially sites, while nestedness components increased towards Neophytes hemicryptophytes decreased low‐elevation belt, therophytes geophytes low‐ middle‐elevation many dry replaced nitrophilous woody High‐elevation witnessed replacement with loss mountain increase therophyte geophyte Conclusions undergone substantial decades. Different processes acted gradient. Nonetheless driver, impoverishment semi‐natural was observed Understanding is essential for comprehensive evaluation ecological variations time. Conservation strategies should be tailored to address biodiversity varying counteract negative trends ongoing habitat transformation Alps.

Language: Английский

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Temporal changes in taxonomic and functional alpha and beta diversity across tree communities in subtropical Atlantic forests

Oikos, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 21, 2025

Biodiversity is changing globally, but how these changes impact the structure of local ecological communities remains uncertain and debated. Understanding whether biodiversity increases, decreases, or stable across different scales essential for predicting managing shifts. Here we assessed temporal taxonomic functional alpha beta diversity adult juvenile tree 11 sites in subtropical Brazilian Atlantic Forest to infer about trends drivers change. The were evaluated in: 1) diversity, 2) composition (beta diversity), 3) identifying potential abiotic biotic changes, considering three censuses a period 10 years. Our results revealed few little directionality evidenced directional diversity. Furthermore, rate change was slightly similar communities, both Beta decreased over time, which more pronounced than dissimilarity, suggesting homogenization within forests. findings offer important insights that help clarify mixed on trends, showing sensitive indicator community study highlights species loss gain, may influence ecosystem functioning, providing crucial information conservation management efforts. With most global time series datasets geographically skewed toward Northern Hemisphere, studies like ours are increasingly balanced understanding changes.

Language: Английский

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Temporal stability of forest productivity declines over stand age at multiple spatial scales

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16(1)

Published: March 20, 2025

There is compelling experimental evidence and theoretical predictions that temporal stability of productivity, i.e., the summation aboveground biomass growth surviving recruitment trees, increases with succession. However, change in productivity natural forests, which may undergo functional diversity loss during canopy transition, remains unclear. Here, we use forest inventory dataset across eastern United States to explore how at multi-spatial scales changes stand age transition. We find decreases local metacommunity scales. Specifically, consistent declines result less asynchronous dynamics among species over succession, consequently weakening stability. Meanwhile, increasing mortality transition from conservative acquisitive succession weaken Successional composition dissimilarity communities cause more communities. decline surpasses rise communities, resulting lower old forests. Our results suggest old-growth forests highlight urgency protecting multiple spatial maintain Forest should increase examining States, authors decreased recommend

Language: Английский

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Resilience of Aboveground Biomass of Secondary Forests Following the Abandonment of Gold Mining Activity in the Southeastern Peruvian Amazon

Diversity, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 16(4), P. 233 - 233

Published: April 15, 2024

Amazon rainforests are critical for providing a wide range of ecosystem services. In the Southeastern Peruvian Amazon; however, goldmining activities causing severe soil degradation and forest loss. We analyzed aboveground biomass (AGB), structure, species diversity recovery during secondary succession in 179 plots. Our study provides first field-based quantification AGB following abandonment by two types (heavy machinery suction pumping) Madre de Dios (Peru). found that successional forests areas subjected to pumping were more resilient than those heavy machinery. After 20 years, mean mining had reached 56% reference AGB, while it was only 18%. Mining type, stand age, distance from edge significant effect on AGB. The influence varies according type because effects mediated edge. results clearly showed dynamics across after goldmining, contrasting responses between types. disentangles importance key factors improves understanding resilience accumulation these highly degraded ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Diversity patterns along ecological succession in tropical dry forests: a multi‐taxonomic approach

Oikos, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 2024(4)

Published: Feb. 8, 2024

Evaluating the diversity of multiple taxa is fundamental to understand community assembly and assess integrity functionality tropical secondary forests. In this study, we analyzed natural regeneration dry forests (TDFs) in three regions Brazil using Hill–Simpson diversity, abundance β‐diversity trees five groups insects (herbivores, fruit‐feeding butterflies, ants, culicid mosquitoes dung beetles). Sampling was conducted 39 0.1 ha plots a chronosequence approach (13 early, intermediate old‐growth forests). We evaluated contribution different levels γ‐diversity: α (within plots), β 1 (among plots) 2 successional stages), further determined relative importance turnover (species replacement) nestedness (differences species number among sites) . Our results showed that, unexpectedly, consistently higher early than stages for all regions, but varied more widely stages. For each group separately, same trend observed beetles herbivores did not differ mosquitoes. Successional differences were only detected (increasing along gradient) (decreasing). According our expectations, additive partitioning analysis that ‐diversity contributed γ‐diversity ‐diversity, when considered together most them separately (except butterflies Most due turnover, with highest lowest beetles. suggest changes composition (as given by ‐diversity) are better indicators forest raw richness, corroborating previous studies plants animals.

Language: Английский

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Non‐natives are linked to higher plant diversity across spatial scales

Journal of Biogeography, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 51(7), P. 1290 - 1298

Published: March 1, 2024

Abstract Aim Although non‐native and invasive plants often pose a significant threat to biodiversity, global‐scale studies have yet conclusively demonstrate systematic pattern of reduced native plant diversity in areas affected by these invasions. Here, we aim explore the association with species richness evenness communities from local global scale. Location Global. Methods We use world's largest vegetation plot repository—sPlot—to compare community between invaded (by or non‐natives) plots equal size, paired within 32 km 2 grid cells distributed across all continents. Aggregating at cell, biome level, also quantified differences gamma different spatial scales. Results found that had higher similar evenness, trend largely consistent biomes. The total was not result additional species, as number plots. These patterns persisted larger Cell, were consistently than All held regardless whether non‐invasive. Main Conclusions Our study reveals globally pattern: diversity, both native, is when are present, spanning scales global. cannot infer causal effects, our results challenge prevailing hypothesis universally depress diversity.

Language: Английский

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The Phenotypic Variation in Moso Bamboo and the Selection of Key Traits

Plants, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 13(12), P. 1625 - 1625

Published: June 12, 2024

This research aimed to explore the diverse phenotypic characteristics of moso bamboo in China and pinpoint essential bamboo. In this study, 63 grids were selected using grid method investigate 28 traits across entire distribution area China. The results suggest that exhibit rich diversity, with coefficients variation ranging from 5.87% 36.57%. showed varying degrees correlation. A principal component analysis was used identify seven main trait indicators: diameter at breast height (DBH), leaf (LA), weight (LW), branch-to-leaf ratio (BLr), moisture content (Lmc), wall-to-cavity (WCr), node length (LN), which accounted for 81.64% total information. random forest model used, gave good validate results. average combined value (D-value) most germplasm 0.563. highest D-value found Wuyi 1 Fujian (0.803), while lowest observed Pingle 2 Guangxi (0.317). clustering classified China’s into four groups. Group I had is an important candidate excellent screening.

Language: Английский

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Leaf area predicts conspecific spatial aggregation of woody species

Global Ecology and Biogeography, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 33(10)

Published: June 28, 2024

Abstract Aim Addressing how woody plant species are distributed in space can reveal inconspicuous drivers that structure communities. The spatial of conspecifics varies not only at local scales across co‐existing but also larger biogeographical with climatic parameters and habitat properties. possibility shape the plants, however, has received sufficient attention. Location Global synthesis. Time Period 1997–2022. Major Taxa Studied Woody angiosperms conifers. Methods We carried out a quantitative synthesis to capture interplay between scale drivers. modelled conspecific aggregation as binary response through logistic models Ripley's L statistics distance which point process was least random mixed effects linear models. Our predictors covered range traits, descriptors habitat. Results hypothesized when summarized by predictors, exceed importance determining systems. This case relation frequency we observed aggregated distributions. probability observing intensity it higher for large leaves further depended on mycorrhiza. Main Conclusions Compared climate variables, traits perform poorly explaining species, even though leaf area is decisive trait related whether observe homogenous its intensity. Despite limited variance explained our models, found plants subject consistent constraints these beyond individual captured here area.

Language: Английский

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The photosynthetic traits of dominant species drive the multifunctionality of Liaodong oak (Quercus wutaishanica) communities in northern China

Global Ecology and Conservation, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. e03323 - e03323

Published: Nov. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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