loading page

Love thy neighbour? Tropical tree growth and its response to climate anomalies is mediated by neighbourhood hierarchy and dissimilarity in carbon and water related traits.
  • +16
  • Daniela Nemetschek,
  • Claire Fortunel,
  • Eric Marcon,
  • Johanna Auer,
  • Vincyane Badouard,
  • Christopher Baraloto,
  • Marion Boisseaux,
  • Damien Bonal,
  • Sabrina Coste,
  • Elia Dardevette,
  • Patrick Heuret,
  • Peter Hietz,
  • Sebastien Levionnois,
  • Isabelle Maréchaux,
  • Clément Stahl,
  • Jason Vleminckx,
  • Wolfgang Wanek,
  • Camille Ziegler,
  • Geraldine Derroire
Daniela Nemetschek
University of Bristol

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Claire Fortunel
Botanique et Modélisation de l'Architecture des Plantes et des Végétations
Author Profile
Eric Marcon
Botanique et Modelisation de l'Architecture des Plantes et des Vegetations
Author Profile
Johanna Auer
University of Vienna
Author Profile
Vincyane Badouard
Botanique et Modelisation de l'Architecture des Plantes et des Vegetations
Author Profile
Christopher Baraloto
Florida International University
Author Profile
Marion Boisseaux
ECOFOG
Author Profile
Damien Bonal
Université de Lorraine
Author Profile
Sabrina Coste
ECOFOG
Author Profile
Elia Dardevette
Botanique et Modelisation de l'Architecture des Plantes et des Vegetations
Author Profile
Patrick Heuret
Botanique et Modelisation de l'Architecture des Plantes et des Vegetations
Author Profile
Peter Hietz
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna
Author Profile
Sebastien Levionnois
Botanique et Modelisation de l'Architecture des Plantes et des Vegetations
Author Profile
Isabelle Maréchaux
Botanique et Modelisation de l'Architecture des Plantes et des Vegetations
Author Profile
Clément Stahl
ECOFOG
Author Profile
Jason Vleminckx
Universite Libre de Bruxelles
Author Profile
Wolfgang Wanek
University of Vienna
Author Profile
Camille Ziegler
ECOFOG
Author Profile
Geraldine Derroire
CIRAD Departement Environnements et Societes
Author Profile

Abstract

Taxonomic diversity effects on forest productivity and response to climate extremes range from positive to negative, suggesting a key role for complex interactions among neighbouring trees. To elucidate how neutral interactions, hierarchical competition and resource partitioning between neighbours shape tree growth and climate response in a highly diverse Amazonian forest, we combined 30 years of tree censuses with measurements of water and carbon related traits. We modelled individual tree growth response to climate and neighbourhood to disentangle the relative effect of neighbourhood densities, trait hierarchies and dissimilarities. While neighbourhood densities consistently decreased tree growth, trait dissimilarity increased it, and both influenced climate response. Greater water conservatism provided a competitive advantage to focal trees in normal years, but water spender neighbours reduced this effect in dry years. By highlighting the importance of density and trait-mediated neighbourhood interactions, our study offers a way towards improving predictions of forest response to climate change.
18 Feb 2024Submitted to Ecology Letters
28 Feb 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
07 Mar 2024Submission Checks Completed
07 Mar 2024Assigned to Editor
08 Mar 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
12 Apr 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Major
07 Jul 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
07 Jul 20241st Revision Received
08 Jul 2024Assigned to Editor
08 Jul 2024Submission Checks Completed
11 Jul 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
24 Aug 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
26 Sep 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
26 Sep 20242nd Revision Received
26 Sep 2024Submission Checks Completed
26 Sep 2024Assigned to Editor
26 Sep 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
27 Oct 2024Editorial Decision: Accept