Improving forest ecosystem functions by optimizing tree species spatial arrangement
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In: Nature Communications, Vol. 16, No. 1, 6286, 12.2025.
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Improving forest ecosystem functions by optimizing tree species spatial arrangement
AU - Beugnon, Rémy
AU - Albert, Georg
AU - Hähn, Georg
AU - Yu, Wentao
AU - Haider, Sylvia
AU - Hättenschwiler, Stephan
AU - Davrinche, Andréa
AU - Rosenbaum, Benjamin
AU - Gauzens, Benoit
AU - Eisenhauer, Nico
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2025.
PY - 2025/12
Y1 - 2025/12
N2 - Reforestation and afforestation programs are promoted as strategies to mitigate rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations and enhance ecosystem services. Planting diverse forests is supposed to foster such benefits, but optimal tree planting techniques, especially regarding species spatial arrangement, are underexplored. Here, using field measurements from the subtropical BEF-China experiment, we simulate tree growth, leaf litterfall, and decomposition, as a function of various spatial arrangements of tree species, from clusters of species to random distributions. Our simulations suggest that increasing tree species spatial heterogeneity in forests composed of eight tree species leads to higher biomass production, more evenly distributed litterfall, increased litter decomposition, and associated nitrogen and carbon cycling. These effects on forest nutrient dynamics are amplified with increasing species richness. Our data show that the spatial arrangement of tree species is a critical component determining biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships. Therefore, we suggest the explicit consideration of spatial arrangements when planting trees for reforestation and afforestation projects.
AB - Reforestation and afforestation programs are promoted as strategies to mitigate rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations and enhance ecosystem services. Planting diverse forests is supposed to foster such benefits, but optimal tree planting techniques, especially regarding species spatial arrangement, are underexplored. Here, using field measurements from the subtropical BEF-China experiment, we simulate tree growth, leaf litterfall, and decomposition, as a function of various spatial arrangements of tree species, from clusters of species to random distributions. Our simulations suggest that increasing tree species spatial heterogeneity in forests composed of eight tree species leads to higher biomass production, more evenly distributed litterfall, increased litter decomposition, and associated nitrogen and carbon cycling. These effects on forest nutrient dynamics are amplified with increasing species richness. Our data show that the spatial arrangement of tree species is a critical component determining biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships. Therefore, we suggest the explicit consideration of spatial arrangements when planting trees for reforestation and afforestation projects.
KW - Biology
KW - Ecosystems Research
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105010577601&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/s41467-025-61389-7
DO - 10.1038/s41467-025-61389-7
M3 - Journal articles
C2 - 40634340
AN - SCOPUS:105010577601
VL - 16
JO - Nature Communications
JF - Nature Communications
SN - 2041-1723
IS - 1
M1 - 6286
ER -