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Diversity-biomass relationship across forest layers: implications for niche complementarity and selection effects
Sylvanus Mensah1,2,3, Ben du Toit4, Thomas Seifert4
1Department of Forest and Wood Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa. sylvanus.m89@gmail.com.
Oecologia
|April 26, 2018
Summary
Tropical forest layers show distinct biodiversity-ecosystem function relationships. Sub-canopy species richness and functional diversity significantly drive aboveground biomass (AGB), highlighting niche complementarity as a key mechanism.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Forest Science
- Biodiversity Research
Background:
- Forest stratification influences light interception and photosynthesis.
- Limited understanding exists on how tropical forest stratification affects biodiversity-ecosystem function relationships, particularly the roles of species and functional traits within different layers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the relationship between diversity and aboveground biomass (AGB) across forest layers (sub-canopy, canopy, emergent).
- To investigate the roles of functional diversity and dominance, and the underlying mechanisms (niche complementarity, selection) in tropical forests.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of species richness, diversity, and aboveground biomass (AGB) across distinct forest layers.
- Focus on functional diversity and dominance to understand mechanisms driving the diversity-AGB relationship.
- Evaluation of niche complementarity and selection effects within each forest layer.
Main Results:
- The sub-canopy layer exhibited the highest species richness and diversity, while the emergent layer had the highest AGB.
- A positive species richness-AGB relationship was observed in all layers, being strongest in the sub-canopy.
- Total AGB strongly correlated with functional diversity and specific leaf/wood traits in the sub-canopy and canopy layers.
Conclusions:
- Sub-canopy and canopy species are key drivers of the stand diversity-AGB relationship in tropical forests.
- Niche complementarity, driven by complementary resource use among sub-canopy species, is a primary mechanism enhancing AGB.
- Selection effects are prominent in emergent species, while niche complementarity is significant in sub-canopy and canopy species.
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