Tree Diversity Increases Carbon Stocks and Fluxes Above—But Not Belowground in a Tropical Forest Experiment

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 31(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT International commitments advocate large‐scale forest restoration as a nature‐based solution to climate change mitigation through carbon (C) sequestration. Mounting evidence suggests that mixed compared monospecific planted forests may sequester more C, exhibit lower susceptibility extremes and offer broader range of ecosystem services. However, experimental studies comprehensively examining the control tree diversity on multiple C stocks fluxes above‐ belowground are lacking. To address this gap, we leverage data from Sardinilla experiment in Panama, oldest tropical experiment, which features gradient one‐, two‐, three‐ five‐species mixtures native species. Over 16 years, measured fluxes, ranging aboveground over leaf litter production, soil organic (SOC). We show significantly increased with 57% higher gain monocultures (35.7 ± 1.8 vs. 22.8 3.4 Mg ha −1 ) years after planting. In contrast, observed net reduction SOC (on average −11.2 1.1 across levels) no significant difference 3 (the predominantly tree‐derived, i.e., plant‐derived fraction) between (13.0 0.9 15.1 1.3 ). Positive effects persisted despite repeated strengthened time for growth. Structural equation models showed growth enhanced coarse woody debris soil, resulting tightly linked cycle aboveground. did not observe links fluxes. Our study elucidates mechanisms bolsters potential restoration. Restoration schemes should prioritize forests.

Language: Английский

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Timing and duration of drought modulate tree growth response in pure and mixed stands of Scots pine and Norway spruce

Journal of Ecology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 110(11), P. 2673 - 2683

Published: Aug. 8, 2022

Abstract Climate change is increasing the severity and frequency of droughts around globe, leading to tree mortality that reduces production provision other ecosystem services. Recent studies show growth mixed stands may be more resilient drought than pure stands. The two most economically important widely distributed species in Europe are Norway spruce ( Picea abies (L.) Karst) Scots pine Pinus sylvestris L.), but little known about their susceptibility when coexist. This paper analyses resilience (resistance, recovery rate time) at individual‐tree level using a network tree‐ring collections from 22 sites along climatic gradient central Scandinavia. We aimed identify differences following between stands, how environmental variables (climate, topography site location) characteristics influence them. found both timing duration drive different responses compositions. showed higher vulnerability summer drought, with lower resistance longer time pine. Mixtures provided for compared benefit decreases drought. Especially climate sensitive old trees climatically marginal were affected by stress. Synthesis . Promoting forests promising strategy adapting European change. However, if future become longer, advantage could disappear which would especially negative spruce.

Language: Английский

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Biodiversity stabilizes plant communities through statistical-averaging effects rather than compensatory dynamics

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 13(1)

Published: Dec. 17, 2022

Abstract Understanding the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem stability is a central goal of ecologists. Recent studies have concluded that increases community temporal by increasing asynchrony dynamics different species. Theoretically, this enhancement can occur through either increased between-species compensatory dynamics, fundamentally biological mechanism; or an averaging effect, primarily statistical mechanism. Yet it remains unclear which mechanism dominant in explaining diversity-stability relationship. We address issue mathematically decomposing into components separately quantifying statistical-averaging effects. applied new decomposition approach to plant survey experimental data from North American grasslands. show averaging, rather than was principal mediator effects on stability. Our simple helps integrate concepts stability, asynchrony, suggests primary means confers ecological

Language: Английский

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How to measure response diversity

Methods in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(5), P. 1150 - 1167

Published: March 21, 2023

Abstract The insurance effect of biodiversity—that diversity stabilises aggregate ecosystem properties—is mechanistically underlain by inter‐ and intraspecific trait variation in organismal responses to the environment. This variation, termed response , is therefore a potentially critical determinant ecological stability. However, has yet be widely quantified, possibly due difficulties its measurement. Even when it been measured, approaches have varied. Here, we review methods for measuring from them distil methodological framework quantifying experimental and/or observational data, which can practically applied laboratory field settings across range taxa. Previous empirical studies on most commonly invoke traits as proxies aimed at capturing species' Our approach, based environment‐dependent any biotic or abiotic environmental variable, conceptually simple robust form response, including nonlinear responses. Given derivation data responses, this approach should more directly reflect than trait‐based dominant literature. By even subtle environment dependencies diversity, hope will motivate tests diversity–stability relationship new perspective, provide an mapping, monitoring conserving dimension biodiversity.

Language: Английский

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Dominant species determine grazing effects on the stability of herbaceous community production at multiple scales in drylands

Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 60(9), P. 1917 - 1928

Published: July 10, 2023

Abstract Sustainable provision of critical ecosystem services in drylands is reliant on their stability under anthropogenic disturbances. Livestock grazing and shrub encroachment are the primary drivers disturbance that impact biodiversity production dynamics. However, effects at multiple scales, particularly following transition from grass‐dominated to shrub‐encroached drylands, still largely unexplored. Here, we conducted comparable sheep‐grazing experiments two types (grass‐dominated vs. grasslands) Mongolia Plateau explore scales. We examined how affected temporal aboveground biomass herbaceous communities both grasslands, through potential mechanisms: insurance changes population‐level individual species. found an increase sheep intensity had significant negative by decreasing species asynchrony spatial but it no population stability, consequently leading reductions community grasslands. grazing‐increased cancelled out grazing‐decreased contributing Likely, because grazing‐induced relative abundance dominant were more noticeable grasslands than Moreover, was directly correlated increases not despite positive relationships between drylands. Synthesis applications . Our results indicate can decrease this effect attenuated with suggesting be altered Furthermore, grasses plays a crucial role stabilizing should considered promoting sustainable functioning

Language: Английский

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