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Tree-tree interactions and crown complementarity: The role of functional diversity and branch traits for canopy packing

Previous studies have shown that tree species richness increases forest productivity by allowing for greater spatial complementarity of tree crowns (crown complementarity), which in t...

In Paper, Feb 15, 2021

Tree species richness modulates water supply in the local tree neighbourhood: evidence from wood δ13C signatures in a large-scale forest experiment

Biodiversity is considered to mitigate the adverse effects of changing precipitation patterns. However, our understanding of how tree diversity at the local neighbourhood scale modula...

In Paper, Feb 05, 2021

9 PhD positions in forest biodiversity research within the International Research Training Group TreeDì (GRK 2324)

The International Research Training Group “TreeDì – Tree Diversity Interactions: The role of tree-tree interactions in local neighborhoods in Chinese subtropical forests” (GRK 2324), ...

In News, Jan 12, 2021

Host functional and phylogenetic composition rather than host diversity structure plant-herbivore networks

Plant-herbivore interactions is a key ecological process in ecosystem functioning and is usually altered by global environmental change, especially plant diversity. Previous study mos...

In Paper, Jun 22, 2020

Genetic richness affects trait variation but not community productivity in a tree diversity experiment

We argue that identifying functional diversity within and among species in forest communities is necessary to separate effects of species and genetic diversity on tree growth and comm...

In Paper, Apr 09, 2020

Directed species loss from species-rich forests strongly decreases productivity

At high species richness, directed loss, but not random loss, of tree species strongly decreases forest productivity. An international research team with the involvement of the Univer...

In Paper, Mar 12, 2020

Neighbourhood diversity mitigates drought impacts on tree growth

Abstract: Biodiversity is considered to mitigate detrimental impacts of climate change on the functioning of forest ecosystems, such as drought‐induced decline in forest productivity...

In Paper, Jan 13, 2020

Growth-trait relationships depend on species richness in subtropical forest

The Editor’s Choice article for Volume 108 Issue 1 is “Growth–trait relationships in subtropical forest are stronger at higher diversity“ by Bongers et al. This study assessed how gro...

In Paper, Jan 06, 2020

Neighbour species richness and local structural variability modulate aboveground allocation patterns and crown morphology of individual trees

Abstract:Local neighbourhood interactions are considered a main driver for biodiversity–productivity relationships in forests. Yet, the structural responses of individual trees in spe...

In Paper, Oct 17, 2019

Herbivore phylogenetic diversity can be affected by plant diversity loss

Global change leads to increasing biodiversity loss, usually with consequences for the structure and functioning of ecosystems, such as primary productivity and nutrient cycling.

In Paper, Aug 24, 2019

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