Biomass productivity in diverse forests increases through the complementary use of the canopy by different tree species

The horizontal distribution and vertical stratification of tree crowns can affect light interception and tree growth, thus driving forest productivity and carbon storage. However, how canopy structure is affected by tree diversity and thus can mediate its effects on productivity remains unclear. Using 4-y consecutive unmanned aerial vehicle-borne light detection and ranging and ground-based growth measurements from 482 plots and 38,088 trees, 11 to 15 y after planting, within a large-scale forest biodiversity experiment in southeast China, we found that increased canopy structural complexity consistently explains the positive effects of tree diversity on productivity. Species complementarity was the main mediator of diversity-enhanced productivity, with the positive complementarity effects strengthening over time. Our study underscores the importance of establishing multispecies forest communities with complex canopy structure to maximize productivity and carbon sequestration in forest ecosystems.

Link Media Release Chinese Academy of Science:
https://english.cas.cn/newsroom/research_news/life/202510/t20251009_1075522.shtml

Original publication:

Xianglu Deng, Bernhard Schmid, Chen Chen, Yi Li, Shan Li, Felix Morsdorf, Tama Ray, Meredith C. Schuman, Ting Tang, Goddert von Oheimb, Keping Ma, Xiaojuan Liu (2025) Species complementarity increases canopy structural complexity and aboveground biomass in a long-term forest biodiversity experiment. PNAS 122: e2506750122. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2506750122