RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article
T1 Complementarity effects on tree growth are contingent on tree size and climatic conditions across Europe
A1 Madrigal González, Jaime
A1 Ruiz Benito, Paloma
A1 Ratcliffe, Sophia
A1 Calatayud Ortega, Joaquín Manuel
A1 Kändler, Gerald
A1 Lehtonen, Aleksi
A1 Dahlgren, J.
A1 Wirth, C.
A1 Zavala Gironés, Miguel Ángel de
K1 Biodiversity
K1 Forest ecology
K1 Medio Ambiente
K1 Environmental science
AB Neglecting tree size and stand structure dynamics might bias the interpretation of the diversityproductivityrelationship in forests. Here we show evidence that complementarity is contingent ontree size across large-scale climatic gradients in Europe. We compiled growth data of the 14 mostdominant tree species in 32,628 permanent plots covering boreal, temperate and Mediterraneanforest biomes. Niche complementarity is expected to result in significant growth increments of treessurrounded by a larger proportion of functionally dissimilar neighbours. Functional dissimilarity atthe tree level was assessed using four functional types: i.e. broad-leaved deciduous, broad-leavedevergreen, needle-leaved deciduous and needle-leaved evergreen. Using Linear Mixed Models we showthat, complementarity effects depend on tree size along an energy availability gradient across Europe.Specifically: (i) complementarity effects at low and intermediate positions of the gradient (coldesttemperateareas) were stronger for small than for large trees; (ii) in contrast, at the upper end of thegradient (warmer regions), complementarity is more widespread in larger than smaller trees, whichin turn showed negative growth responses to increased functional dissimilarity. Our findings suggestthat the outcome of species mixing on stand productivity might critically depend on individual sizedistribution structure along gradients of environmental variation.
YR 2016
FD 2016
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10017/37662
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10017/37662
LA eng
NO Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad
DS MINDS@UW
RD 24-abr-2024