Improving forest ecosystem functions by optimizing tree species spatial arrangement

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Standard

Improving forest ecosystem functions by optimizing tree species spatial arrangement. / Beugnon, Rémy; Albert, Georg; Hähn, Georg et al.
In: Nature Communications, Vol. 16, No. 1, 6286, 12.2025.

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Harvard

Beugnon, R, Albert, G, Hähn, G, Yu, W, Haider, S, Hättenschwiler, S, Davrinche, A, Rosenbaum, B, Gauzens, B & Eisenhauer, N 2025, 'Improving forest ecosystem functions by optimizing tree species spatial arrangement', Nature Communications, vol. 16, no. 1, 6286. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61389-7

APA

Beugnon, R., Albert, G., Hähn, G., Yu, W., Haider, S., Hättenschwiler, S., Davrinche, A., Rosenbaum, B., Gauzens, B., & Eisenhauer, N. (2025). Improving forest ecosystem functions by optimizing tree species spatial arrangement. Nature Communications, 16(1), Article 6286. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61389-7

Vancouver

Beugnon R, Albert G, Hähn G, Yu W, Haider S, Hättenschwiler S et al. Improving forest ecosystem functions by optimizing tree species spatial arrangement. Nature Communications. 2025 Dec;16(1):6286. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-61389-7

Bibtex

@article{17de24f90968464bb2123de64d81a7ba,
title = "Improving forest ecosystem functions by optimizing tree species spatial arrangement",
abstract = "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.",
keywords = "Biology, Ecosystems Research",
author = "R{\'e}my Beugnon and Georg Albert and Georg H{\"a}hn and Wentao Yu and Sylvia Haider and Stephan H{\"a}ttenschwiler and Andr{\'e}a Davrinche and Benjamin Rosenbaum and Benoit Gauzens and Nico Eisenhauer",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2025.",
year = "2025",
month = dec,
doi = "10.1038/s41467-025-61389-7",
language = "English",
volume = "16",
journal = "Nature Communications",
issn = "2041-1723",
publisher = "Nature Publishing Group",
number = "1",

}

RIS

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 -