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Effects of canopy structure and species diversity on primary production in upper Great Lakes forests

TitleEffects of canopy structure and species diversity on primary production in upper Great Lakes forests
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2018
AuthorsScheuermann CM, Nave LE, Fahey RT, Nadelhoffer KJ, Gough CM
JournalOecologia
Volume18842211098218217142537632627632815132609242981265014892535430649351639730292051897617728313279669172151496619199815257
Pagination405 - 415
Date PublishedJan-10-2018
ISSN0029-8549
Abstract

Canopy structure and tree species diversity, shaped by succession, disturbance, and community composition, are linked to numerous ecosystem functions, including net primary production (NPP). Understanding of how ecosystem structural metrics are interrelated and mechanistically link to NPP, however, is incomplete. We characterized leaf area index (LAI), Simpson’s index of Diversity (D', a measure of species diversity), and canopy rugosity (Rc, a measure of canopy physical complexity) in 11 forest stands comprising two chronosequences varying in establishing disturbance, and in three late successional communities. We related LAI, D', and Rc to wood NPP (NPPw), and examined whether absorption of photosynthetically active radiation and light use-efficiency (LUE) link NPPw with ecosystem structure. We found that recovery of LAI and D' was delayed following more severe establishing disturbances, but that the development of Rc was strikingly conserved regardless of disturbance, converging on a common mean value in late-successional stands irrespective of differences in leaf area index and species diversity. LAI was significantly correlated with NPPw in each stage of ecosystem development, but NPPw was only correlated with Rc in early successional stages and with D' in late successional stages. Across all stands, NPPw was coupled with LAI and Rc, (but not D') through positive relationships with light absorption and LUE. We conclude by advocating for better integration of ecological disciplines investigating structure–function interactions, suggesting that improved understanding of such relationships will require ecologists to traverse disciplinary boundaries.

URLhttp://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00442-018-4236-xhttp://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00442-018-4236-x.pdfhttp://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00442-018-4236-x/fulltext.htmlhttp://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00442-018-4236-x.pdf
DOI10.1007/s00442-018-4236-x