Neighbourhood species richness reduces crown asymmetry of subtropical trees in sloping terrain

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Beitragende

Abstract

Reforestation in sloping terrain is an important measure for soil erosion control and sustainable watershed management. The mechanical stability of such reforested stands, however, can be low due to a strong asymmetric shape of tree crowns. We investigated how neighbourhood tree species richness, neighbourhood pressure, tree height, and slope inclination affect crown asymmetry in a large-scale plantation biodiversity-ecosystem functioning experiment in subtropical China (BEF-China) over eight years. We took the advantage of terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) measurements, which provide non-destructive, high-resolution data of tree structure without altering tree interactions. Neighbourhood species richness significantly reduced crown asymmetry, and this effect became stronger at steeper slopes. Our results suggest that tree diversity promotes the mechanical stability of forest stands in sloping terrain and highlight the importance of TLS-data for a comprehensive understanding of the role of tree diversity in modulating crown interactions in mixed-species forest plantations.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Aufsatznummer1441
Seitenumfang14
FachzeitschriftRemote Sensing
Jahrgang14
Ausgabenummer6
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 1 März 2022
Peer-Review-StatusJa

Externe IDs

Scopus 85127123382
ORCID /0000-0001-7408-425X/work/146165289

Schlagworte

Schlagwörter

  • BEF-China, LiDAR, biodiversity-ecosystem functioning, crown asymmetry, crown complementarity, forestry, sloping terrain, terrestrial laser scanning