Tree Diversity, Structure and Functional Trait Identity Promote Stand Biomass Along Elevational Gradients in Subtropical Forests of Southern China

作者：Anchi Wu, Xuli Tang, Andi Li, Xin Xiong, Juxiu Liu, Xinhua He, Qianmei Zhang, An‐Qiang Dong, Hongfeng Chen · 发表于：Journal of Geophysical Research Biogeosciences · 年份：2022 · DOI：10.1029/2022jg006950 · 被引用次数：15 · 研究领域：Forest ecology and management、Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies、Forest Management and Policy

Abstract Subtropical forests play an important role in regulating global carbon storage, a substantial portion of these forest carbon pools are stored in biomass stocks. Yet, we do not fully understand how tree diversity, stand structure and functional trait identity influence biomass stocks along elevational gradients. Here we used forest inventory data from nine 1‐ha plots across different elevational gradients in subtropical forests of southern China. We analyzed the effects of tree diversity, structure and functional trait identity on biomass along elevational gradients, and tested the complementarity effect, selection effect, mass‐ratio hypothesis and specie‐energy hypothesis. We found that multiple metrics of diversity and structural attributes significantly promoted biomass. Forest biomass was improved by traits with greater maximum height, larger seed mass (SM) and lower wood density (WD). Specifically, large‐diameter trees were the strongest independent predictor of biomass relative to other single variables. A significant increase in tree diversity, density and biomass was observed with increasing elevational gradients; additionally, trees dominated by traits related to greater maximum tree height, larger SM and lower WD also increased. Elevation indirectly increased biomass by increasing diversity and community‐weighted mean traits, but indirectly decreased it by reducing structural attributes. Our results support the complementarity effect, selection effect and ma...