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 arra...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61389-7 |
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| _version_ | 1849764663482384384 |
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| author | Rémy Beugnon Georg Albert Georg Hähn Wentao Yu Sylvia Haider Stephan Hättenschwiler Andréa Davrinche Benjamin Rosenbaum Benoit Gauzens Nico Eisenhauer |
| author_facet | Rémy Beugnon Georg Albert Georg Hähn Wentao Yu Sylvia Haider Stephan Hättenschwiler Andréa Davrinche Benjamin Rosenbaum Benoit Gauzens Nico Eisenhauer |
| author_sort | Rémy Beugnon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c0d28c6653ba4d0e86aae435c336dee8 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-c0d28c6653ba4d0e86aae435c336dee82025-08-20T03:05:05ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-0116111010.1038/s41467-025-61389-7Improving forest ecosystem functions by optimizing tree species spatial arrangementRémy Beugnon0Georg Albert1Georg Hähn2Wentao Yu3Sylvia Haider4Stephan Hättenschwiler5Andréa Davrinche6Benjamin Rosenbaum7Benoit Gauzens8Nico Eisenhauer9German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-LeipzigGerman Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-LeipzigGerman Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-LeipzigGerman Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-LeipzigInstitute of Ecology, School of Sustainability, Leuphana University of LüneburgCEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRDGerman Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-LeipzigGerman Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-LeipzigGerman Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-LeipzigGerman Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-LeipzigAbstract 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.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61389-7 |
| spellingShingle | Rémy Beugnon Georg Albert Georg Hähn Wentao Yu Sylvia Haider Stephan Hättenschwiler Andréa Davrinche Benjamin Rosenbaum Benoit Gauzens Nico Eisenhauer Improving forest ecosystem functions by optimizing tree species spatial arrangement Nature Communications |
| title | Improving forest ecosystem functions by optimizing tree species spatial arrangement |
| title_full | Improving forest ecosystem functions by optimizing tree species spatial arrangement |
| title_fullStr | Improving forest ecosystem functions by optimizing tree species spatial arrangement |
| title_full_unstemmed | Improving forest ecosystem functions by optimizing tree species spatial arrangement |
| title_short | Improving forest ecosystem functions by optimizing tree species spatial arrangement |
| title_sort | improving forest ecosystem functions by optimizing tree species spatial arrangement |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61389-7 |
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