Sammanfattning

1. Differences between species in their response to environmental fluctuations cause asynchronized growth series, suggesting that species diversity may help communities buffer the effects of environmental fluctuations. However, within-species variability of responses may impact the stabilizing effect of growth asynchrony.2. We used tree ring data to investigate the diversity-stability relationship and its underlying mechanisms within the temperate and boreal mixed woods of Eastern Canada. We worked at the individual tree level to take into account the intraspecific variability of responses to environmental fluctuations.3. We found that species diversity stabilized growth in forest ecosystems. The asynchrony of species' response to climatic fluctuations and to insect outbreaks explained this effect. We also found that the intraspecific variability of responses to environmental fluctuations was high, making the stabilizing effect of diversity highly variable.4. Synthesis. Our results are consistent with previous studies suggesting that the asynchrony of species' response to environmental fluctuations drives the stabilizing effect of diversity. The intraspecific variability of these responses modulates the stabilizing effect of species diversity. Interactions between individuals, variation in tree size and spatial heterogeneity of environmental conditions could play a critical role in the stabilizing effect of diversity.

Nyckelord

biodiversity; dendrochronology; growth asynchrony; plant population and community dynamics; plant-climate interactions; plant-herbivore interactions; plant-plant interactions; tree growth

Publicerad i

Journal of Ecology
2017, Volym: 105, nummer: 4, sidor: 1010-1020
Utgivare: WILEY

SLU författare

• Drobyshev, Igor

  • Institutionen för sydsvensk skogsvetenskap, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    
  • Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT)

Associerade SLU-program

SLU Nätverk växtskydd


Globala målen

Skydda, återställa och främja ett hållbart nyttjande av landbaserade ekosystem, hållbart bruka skogar, bekämpa ökenspridning, hejda och vrida tillbaka markförstöringen samt hejda förlusten av biologisk mångfald


UKÄ forskningsämne

Skogsvetenskap


Publikationens identifierare

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.12728

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/91014