Explaining Productivity Differences Among Tree Species via Biotic and Abiotic Factors

Area of Science:

• Forestry
• Ecology
• Climate Change Mitigation

Background:

• Human-emitted greenhouse gases drive global climate change.
• Afforestation with species like Cunninghamia lanceolata and Pinus massoniana is a key strategy for carbon sequestration.
• Understanding factors influencing these species' productivity is crucial for effective forest management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the differential effects of biotic and abiotic factors on the productivity of Cunninghamia lanceolata and Pinus massoniana.
• To clarify the mechanisms underlying forest productivity in response to climate, topography, biodiversity, and forest structure.
• To provide insights for optimizing afforestation strategies in southern China.

Main Methods:

• Utilized forest inventory data from Lishui City.
• Employed the Biomod2 model to predict species distribution and identify key climatic factors.
• Integrated Biomod2 with Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to analyze causal relationships between ecological factors and tree productivity.

Main Results:

• Pinus massoniana exhibited significantly higher biomass (384.67 kg) than Cunninghamia lanceolata (211.07 kg) at the same diameter at breast height.
• Dominant climatic factors influencing C. lanceolata productivity differed from those affecting P. massoniana.
• Biodiversity and forest growth were key biotic factors for C. lanceolata, while structural diversity and growth were critical for P. massoniana.

Conclusions:

• Forest management practices should tailor species selection to local environmental conditions.
• Biodiversity and structural diversity have stage-dependent effects on tree productivity, influencing early and late growth phases.
• The findings highlight the importance of considering species-specific responses and ecological interactions for successful afforestation and climate change mitigation.