Tree diversity promotes crown complementarity and canopy packing through variation in architecture traits

doi:10.1093/jpe/rtag025

J Plant Ecol ›› 2026, Vol. 19 ›› Issue (4): rtag025.DOI: 10.1093/jpe/rtag025

Tree diversity promotes crown complementarity and canopy packing through variation in architecture traits

Muhammad Abdullah^{1, 2, 3}, Li-Ting Zheng^{1, 3, 4, 5, *}, Li Zhang^{1, 3}, Bai-Yu Yang^{1, 3}, Samreen Ghulam Rasool¹ and En-Rong Yan^{1, 3}

1.Zhejiang Zhoushan Island Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Zhejiang Tiantong National Forest Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China;
2.Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Agro-bioresources, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China;
3.Institute of Eco-Chongming (IEC), Shanghai 200062, China;
4.German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig 04103, Germany;
5.Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig 04103, Germany
^*Corresponding author.E-mail:liting.zheng@idiv.de

Received:2026-01-12 Revised:2026-01-26 Accepted:2026-01-26 Online:2026-02-23 Published:2026-08-01
Supported by:
We are grateful to Xiangyu Liu, Umar Aftab Abbasi, Wujian Xiong, Tian Su, Liang Li, Qiming Liang, Xiaotong Zhu, Xiao-Chen Fang, Di-Feng Bao, and Yu Zhang for their valuable assistance during the field planting experiment.

树木多样性通过构型性状变异促进树冠互补性和冠层装配

Abstract

Abstract: Crown complementarity and canopy packing are key drivers of tree diversity effects on ecosystem productivity. Tree architecture is an important determinant of height extension, light capture and crown development in trees, but how architectural traits mediate the effects of tree diversity on crown complementarity and canopy packing remains unclear. Here, we examined how the effects of tree diversity on crown complementarity and canopy packing are directly and indirectly mediated by variation in architectural traits in a tree diversity experiment on Putuo Island in eastern China. The results showed that tree species richness and functional diversity increased variation in crown expansion traits, including twig intensity (number of twigs per first-order branch), branch intensity (number of branches per individual) and crown volume. In addition, tree diversity had divergent effects on leaf arrangement traits, with greater variation in leaf intensity (number of leaves per twig) and petiole diameter, but reduced variation in twig angle and petiole length among interacting individuals. Greater variations in crown volume, branch intensity, leaf intensity and twig intensity therefore promoted both crown complementarity and canopy packing. Our findings suggest that variations in crown architectural traits play crucial roles in mediating the positive effects of tree diversity on tree crown complementarity and canopy packing. Our study highlights that diversity-driven variation in crown architectural traits provides a key mechanistic pathway linking tree diversity to canopy processes in early-stage experimental forests, with important implications for ecosystem structure and productivity.

This study reveals that tree diversity enhances crown complementarity and canopy packing through increased variation in architectural traits, and highlights that diversity-driven variation in crown architectural traits provides a key mechanistic pathway linking tree diversity to canopy processes in early-stage experimental forests.

Key words: tree-tree interactions, canopy dynamics, ecosystem function, functional diversity, species richness, tree architecture, tree diversity experiment

摘要：
树冠互补性和冠层装配是树木多样性影响生产力的关键机制。树木构型作为树木增长、光拦截和树冠扩展的重要因素，目前尚不清楚树木多样性如何通过调控构型变异，进而影响树冠互补性和冠层装配。本研究基于中国东部普陀山岛的一个树木多样性实验，研究了树木多样性对树冠互补性和冠层装配的影响。结果表明：1)物种多样性和功能多样性增加了与树冠扩展相关的构型性状变异，如末梢小枝密度(一级枝条上的末梢小枝数量)、枝条密度(每棵树木的枝条数量)和树冠体积。2)多样性对叶片排列相关性状的影响存在分异：促进了叶片密度(单个末梢小枝上着生的叶片数量)和叶柄直径的变异，但降低了末梢小枝与主枝夹角和叶柄长度的变异。3)树冠体积、枝条密度、叶片密度和末梢小枝密度等构型性状变异促进了树冠互补性和冠层装配。上述结果表明，树木构型变异是介导树木多样性对树冠互补性和冠层装配的关键途径。本研究揭示了树木构型变异在调控多样性影响冠层过程中的重要作用，对于准确预测森林生态系统结构和生产力具有重要意义。

关键词: 树木相互作用, 冠层动态, 生态系统功能, 功能多样性, 物种丰富度, 树木构型, 树木多样性实验

Muhammad Abdullah, Li-Ting Zheng, Li Zhang, Bai-Yu Yang, Samreen Ghulam Rasool, En-Rong Yan. Tree diversity promotes crown complementarity and canopy packing through variation in architecture traits[J]. J Plant Ecol, 2026, 19(4): 0-.

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Tree diversity promotes crown complementarity and canopy packing through variation in architecture traits

树木多样性通过构型性状变异促进树冠互补性和冠层装配

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