Integrative Biology Journals

Plant Diversity ›› 2026, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (03): 598-607.DOI: 10.1016/j.pld.2026.01.001

• Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Stand structural attributes exert stronger and scale-dependent control on forest biomass than tree diversity across typical forest ecosystems in China

Yonghong Zhanga,c,d, Honglin Heb,c,d, Liang Shib,c,d, Josep Peñuelase,f, Jordi Sardanse,f, Yijing Baia,d, Chenxi Lib,c,d, Jiuying Peia   

  1. a State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China;
    b Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China;
    c College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China;
    d National Ecological Science Data Center, Beijing 100101, China;
    e Global Ecology Unit CREAF-CSIC-UAB, CREAF, Bellaterra 08193, Spain;
    f Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona 08193, Spain
  • Received:2025-08-09 Revised:2026-01-07 Online:2026-06-10 Published:2026-05-25
  • Contact: Honglin He,E-mail:hehl@igsnrr.ac.cn;Liang Shi,E-mail:shiliang0330@igsnrr.ac.cn
  • Supported by:
    This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (42141005 and 42030509).

Stand structural attributes exert stronger and scale-dependent control on forest biomass than tree diversity across typical forest ecosystems in China

Yonghong Zhanga,c,d, Honglin Heb,c,d, Liang Shib,c,d, Josep Peñuelase,f, Jordi Sardanse,f, Yijing Baia,d, Chenxi Lib,c,d, Jiuying Peia   

  1. a State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China;
    b Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China;
    c College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China;
    d National Ecological Science Data Center, Beijing 100101, China;
    e Global Ecology Unit CREAF-CSIC-UAB, CREAF, Bellaterra 08193, Spain;
    f Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona 08193, Spain
  • 通讯作者: Honglin He,E-mail:hehl@igsnrr.ac.cn;Liang Shi,E-mail:shiliang0330@igsnrr.ac.cn
  • 基金资助:
    This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (42141005 and 42030509).

Abstract: Understanding how biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) relationships scale spatially and temporally remains critical under global change. Here, using continuous monitoring databases across temperate, subtropical and tropical natural forests in China from 2004 to 2020, we quantified multiscale tree diversity-biomass dynamics. Linear mixed-effect and structural equation models were used to further disentangle the direct and indirect pathways through which tree diversity influences forest biomass at different scales. The results revealed significant positive linear relationships between tree species richness and stand biomass at 1200 and 400 m2 scales (P < 0.05), whereas no significant association was detected at 100 m2 scale (P > 0.05). Notably, these demonstrated relationships exhibited consistent temporal stability across all spatial scales throughout the study period. Importantly, the direct effect of tree diversity on biomass intensified with increasing spatial scale, while indirect effects mediated through stand structural attributes (CV_DBH and tree density) became proportionally stronger at finer scales. Further analyses showed that stand structural attributes emerged as the strongest predictor of biomass variation across all scales, surpassing both diversity and climate effects. Furthermore, spatial variation of climate factors (mean annual temperature and mean annual precipitation) mainly affected stand biomass through the indirect effects on tree species diversity and stand structural attributes. Overall, multiscale analyses revealed stand structural attributes dominates biomass prediction, with climate acting indirectly. Scaling biodiversity-structure strategies can enhance forest resilience under global change. Future work should integrate cross-scale mechanisms into climate-smart afforestation for sustainable carbon sequestration.

Key words: Forest ecosystem, Species richness, Stand structure, Biomass, Spatial scale, Succession

摘要: Understanding how biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) relationships scale spatially and temporally remains critical under global change. Here, using continuous monitoring databases across temperate, subtropical and tropical natural forests in China from 2004 to 2020, we quantified multiscale tree diversity-biomass dynamics. Linear mixed-effect and structural equation models were used to further disentangle the direct and indirect pathways through which tree diversity influences forest biomass at different scales. The results revealed significant positive linear relationships between tree species richness and stand biomass at 1200 and 400 m2 scales (P < 0.05), whereas no significant association was detected at 100 m2 scale (P > 0.05). Notably, these demonstrated relationships exhibited consistent temporal stability across all spatial scales throughout the study period. Importantly, the direct effect of tree diversity on biomass intensified with increasing spatial scale, while indirect effects mediated through stand structural attributes (CV_DBH and tree density) became proportionally stronger at finer scales. Further analyses showed that stand structural attributes emerged as the strongest predictor of biomass variation across all scales, surpassing both diversity and climate effects. Furthermore, spatial variation of climate factors (mean annual temperature and mean annual precipitation) mainly affected stand biomass through the indirect effects on tree species diversity and stand structural attributes. Overall, multiscale analyses revealed stand structural attributes dominates biomass prediction, with climate acting indirectly. Scaling biodiversity-structure strategies can enhance forest resilience under global change. Future work should integrate cross-scale mechanisms into climate-smart afforestation for sustainable carbon sequestration.

关键词: Forest ecosystem, Species richness, Stand structure, Biomass, Spatial scale, Succession