TY - JOUR

T1 - The effect of neighbor species' phylogenetic and trait difference on tree growth in subtropical forests

AU - Klipel, Joice

AU - Bergamin, Rodrigo Scarton

AU - Bordin, Kauane Maiara

AU - Picolotto, Rayana Caroline

AU - Müller, Sandra Cristina

AU - de Bello, Francesco

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Vegetation Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Association for Vegetation Science.

PY - 2024/7/1

Y1 - 2024/7/1

N2 - Questions: To comprehensively understand ecological dynamics within a forest ecosystem, it is vital to explore how surrounding trees influence the growth of individual trees in a community. This study investigates the importance of biotic interactions on tree growth by examining several metrics of competitive interactions and community structure and considering three classes of intrinsic growth rates among the focal individuals: slower, intermediate, and faster-growing trees. We also separated the focal trees based on their canopy position. Location: Brazilian subtropical forests. Methods: We assessed various factors related to the focal trees and their neighbors, including differences in traits, neighborhood crowding, phylogenetic distance, and overall trait composition within the community. We then ran linear mixed-effects models to test how these different metrics influenced the growth rates of the focal trees. Results: Our results indicate that phylogenetic distance is linked to higher growth. Specific leaf area (SLA), leaf area (LA), and wood density (WD) are significantly related to tree growth. Trees surrounded by neighbors with higher SLA than themselves grow better, particularly smaller trees. Similarly, taller trees with smaller LA than their neighbors grow better. Trees in the intermediary growth class grow better when they have higher WD than their neighbors. Conversely, smaller trees benefit from greater WD difference between the focal trees and their neighbors, while height difference negatively impacts faster-growing trees. Moreover, communities with higher SLA and WD positively impact the growth of faster-growing trees. Conclusions: We conclude that the interactions between trees are mediated by their ecological differences, but the performance and responses to surrounding competitors vary along with their grow class and position within a community. This study has revealed that the tree's intrinsic growth rate mediates the effect of traits and phylogeny of surrounding trees on individual tree growth.

AB - Questions: To comprehensively understand ecological dynamics within a forest ecosystem, it is vital to explore how surrounding trees influence the growth of individual trees in a community. This study investigates the importance of biotic interactions on tree growth by examining several metrics of competitive interactions and community structure and considering three classes of intrinsic growth rates among the focal individuals: slower, intermediate, and faster-growing trees. We also separated the focal trees based on their canopy position. Location: Brazilian subtropical forests. Methods: We assessed various factors related to the focal trees and their neighbors, including differences in traits, neighborhood crowding, phylogenetic distance, and overall trait composition within the community. We then ran linear mixed-effects models to test how these different metrics influenced the growth rates of the focal trees. Results: Our results indicate that phylogenetic distance is linked to higher growth. Specific leaf area (SLA), leaf area (LA), and wood density (WD) are significantly related to tree growth. Trees surrounded by neighbors with higher SLA than themselves grow better, particularly smaller trees. Similarly, taller trees with smaller LA than their neighbors grow better. Trees in the intermediary growth class grow better when they have higher WD than their neighbors. Conversely, smaller trees benefit from greater WD difference between the focal trees and their neighbors, while height difference negatively impacts faster-growing trees. Moreover, communities with higher SLA and WD positively impact the growth of faster-growing trees. Conclusions: We conclude that the interactions between trees are mediated by their ecological differences, but the performance and responses to surrounding competitors vary along with their grow class and position within a community. This study has revealed that the tree's intrinsic growth rate mediates the effect of traits and phylogeny of surrounding trees on individual tree growth.

KW - absolute trait difference

KW - focal tree

KW - growth rate

KW - hierarchical trait difference

KW - neighborhood

KW - Biology

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85200890552&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1111/jvs.13296

DO - 10.1111/jvs.13296

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:85200890552

VL - 35

JO - Journal of Vegetation Science

JF - Journal of Vegetation Science

SN - 1100-9233

IS - 4

M1 - e13296

ER -