TY - JOUR

T1 - Systematic distributions of interaction strengths across tree interaction networks yield positive diversity–productivity relationships

AU - Yu, Wentao

AU - Albert, Georg

AU - Rosenbaum, Benjamin

AU - Schnabel, Florian

AU - Bruelheide, Helge

AU - Connolly, John

AU - Härdtle, Werner

AU - von Oheimb, Goddert

AU - Trogisch, Stefan

AU - Rüger, Nadja

AU - Brose, Ulrich

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Authors. Ecology Letters published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

PY - 2024/1

Y1 - 2024/1

N2 - Understanding the mechanisms underlying diversity–productivity relationships (DPRs) is crucial to mitigating the effects of forest biodiversity loss. Tree–tree interactions in diverse communities are fundamental in driving growth rates, potentially shaping the emergent DPRs, yet remain poorly explored. Here, using data from a large-scale forest biodiversity experiment in subtropical China, we demonstrated that changes in individual tree productivity were driven by species-specific pairwise interactions, with higher positive net pairwise interaction effects on trees in more diverse neighbourhoods. By perturbing the interactions strength from empirical data in simulations, we revealed that the positive differences between inter- and intra-specific interactions were the critical determinant for the emergence of positive DPRs. Surprisingly, the condition for positive DPRs corresponded to the condition for coexistence. Our results thus provide a novel insight into how pairwise tree interactions regulate DPRs, with implications for identifying the tree mixtures with maximized productivity to guide forest restoration and reforestation efforts.

AB - Understanding the mechanisms underlying diversity–productivity relationships (DPRs) is crucial to mitigating the effects of forest biodiversity loss. Tree–tree interactions in diverse communities are fundamental in driving growth rates, potentially shaping the emergent DPRs, yet remain poorly explored. Here, using data from a large-scale forest biodiversity experiment in subtropical China, we demonstrated that changes in individual tree productivity were driven by species-specific pairwise interactions, with higher positive net pairwise interaction effects on trees in more diverse neighbourhoods. By perturbing the interactions strength from empirical data in simulations, we revealed that the positive differences between inter- and intra-specific interactions were the critical determinant for the emergence of positive DPRs. Surprisingly, the condition for positive DPRs corresponded to the condition for coexistence. Our results thus provide a novel insight into how pairwise tree interactions regulate DPRs, with implications for identifying the tree mixtures with maximized productivity to guide forest restoration and reforestation efforts.

KW - biodiversity–ecosystem functioning

KW - competition

KW - facilitation

KW - interaction network

KW - pairwise interaction

KW - Biology

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85178176578&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/abfffcfe-3f93-3e2e-a2e5-ff2c41256c17/

U2 - 10.1111/ele.14338

DO - 10.1111/ele.14338

M3 - Comments / Debate / Reports

C2 - 38030225

AN - SCOPUS:85178176578

VL - 27

JO - Ecology Letters

JF - Ecology Letters

SN - 1461-023X

IS - 1

M1 - e14338

ER -