Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 519 |
| Journal | Nature Communications |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 22 Jan 2021 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Abstract
The complexity of forest structures plays a crucial role in regulating forest ecosystem functions and strongly influences biodiversity. Yet, knowledge of the global patterns and determinants of forest structural complexity remains scarce. Using a stand structural complexity index based on terrestrial laser scanning, we quantify the structural complexity of boreal, temperate, subtropical and tropical primary forests. We find that the global variation of forest structural complexity is largely explained by annual precipitation and precipitation seasonality (R² = 0.89). Using the structural complexity of primary forests as benchmark, we model the potential structural complexity across biomes and present a global map of the potential structural complexity of the earth´s forest ecoregions. Our analyses reveal distinct latitudinal patterns of forest structure and show that hotspots of high structural complexity coincide with hotspots of plant diversity. Considering the mechanistic underpinnings of forest structural complexity, our results suggest spatially contrasting changes of forest structure with climate change within and across biomes.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Chemistry(all)
- General Chemistry
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology
- Physics and Astronomy(all)
- General Physics and Astronomy
Sustainable Development Goals
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In: Nature Communications, Vol. 12, No. 1, 519, 22.01.2021.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Global patterns and climatic controls of forest structural complexity
AU - Ehbrecht, Martin
AU - Seidel, Dominik
AU - Annighöfer, Peter
AU - Kreft, Holger
AU - Köhler, Michael
AU - Zemp, Delphine Clara
AU - Puettmann, Klaus
AU - Nilus, Reuben
AU - Babweteera, Fred
AU - Willim, Katharina
AU - Stiers, Melissa
AU - Soto, Daniel
AU - Boehmer, Hans Juergen
AU - Fisichelli, Nicholas
AU - Burnett, Michael
AU - Juday, Glenn
AU - Stephens, Scott L.
AU - Ammer, Christian
N1 - Funding information: For financial support, we thank the German Research Foundation (DFG) (SE 2383/1-1; SE2383/4-1; SE2383/5-1), the Eva-Mayr-Stihl foundation (Project No. 180124), and the Dr. Erich Ritter-Foundation (T0021/29427/2017). For granting research permits and access to research sites, we thank the Sabah Biodiversity Centre, Sabah Biodiversity Council, Danum Valley and Maliau Basin Management Committee (Access License Ref. No. JKM/MBS.1000-2/2 JLD.9 (45), the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve, the Environmental Protection Office in Prešov, the administration of Poloniny National Park, the Agency of Protected Areas and the Lagodekhi Protected Areas administration and Budongo Conservation Field Station. For logistical, administrative and/or fieldwork support, we thank Mr. Geoffrey Muhanguzi, David Eryenyu, John Paul Okimat, Moses Businge, Douglas Ryan, Vasyl Lavnyy, Yuriy Berkela, Myroslav Kabal, Peter Jaloviar, Stanislav Kucbel, and Mrs. Natia Shalvashvili. The support from the South-East Asian Rainforest Research Partnership is gratefully acknowledged (SEARRP Project No. 18017). Martin Ehbrecht thanks Prof. Dr. Majeliiwa for the invitation to conduct parts of the fieldwork in Budongo Forest Reserve. Daniel Soto is thankful for the support of Fondecyt 11181140. We conducted parts of the research at HJ Andrews Experimental Forest, which is funded by the US Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station.
PY - 2021/1/22
Y1 - 2021/1/22
N2 - The complexity of forest structures plays a crucial role in regulating forest ecosystem functions and strongly influences biodiversity. Yet, knowledge of the global patterns and determinants of forest structural complexity remains scarce. Using a stand structural complexity index based on terrestrial laser scanning, we quantify the structural complexity of boreal, temperate, subtropical and tropical primary forests. We find that the global variation of forest structural complexity is largely explained by annual precipitation and precipitation seasonality (R² = 0.89). Using the structural complexity of primary forests as benchmark, we model the potential structural complexity across biomes and present a global map of the potential structural complexity of the earth´s forest ecoregions. Our analyses reveal distinct latitudinal patterns of forest structure and show that hotspots of high structural complexity coincide with hotspots of plant diversity. Considering the mechanistic underpinnings of forest structural complexity, our results suggest spatially contrasting changes of forest structure with climate change within and across biomes.
AB - The complexity of forest structures plays a crucial role in regulating forest ecosystem functions and strongly influences biodiversity. Yet, knowledge of the global patterns and determinants of forest structural complexity remains scarce. Using a stand structural complexity index based on terrestrial laser scanning, we quantify the structural complexity of boreal, temperate, subtropical and tropical primary forests. We find that the global variation of forest structural complexity is largely explained by annual precipitation and precipitation seasonality (R² = 0.89). Using the structural complexity of primary forests as benchmark, we model the potential structural complexity across biomes and present a global map of the potential structural complexity of the earth´s forest ecoregions. Our analyses reveal distinct latitudinal patterns of forest structure and show that hotspots of high structural complexity coincide with hotspots of plant diversity. Considering the mechanistic underpinnings of forest structural complexity, our results suggest spatially contrasting changes of forest structure with climate change within and across biomes.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85099942957&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/s41467-020-20767-z
DO - 10.1038/s41467-020-20767-z
M3 - Article
C2 - 33483481
AN - SCOPUS:85099942957
VL - 12
JO - Nature Communications
JF - Nature Communications
SN - 2041-1723
IS - 1
M1 - 519
ER -