Spatial complementarity in tree crowns explains overyielding in species mixtures

ABSTRACT Deciphering the mechanisms that link biodiversity with ecosystem functions is critical to understanding the consequences of changes in biodiversity. The hypothesis that

complementarity and selection effects drive relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem functions is well accepted, and an approach to statistically untangle the relative importance of

these effects has been widely applied. In contrast, empirical demonstrations of the biological mechanisms that underlie these relationships remain rare. Here, on the basis of a field

experiment with young trees, we provide evidence that one form of complementarity in plant communities—complementarity among crowns in canopy space—is a mechanism, related to light

interception and use, that links biodiversity with ecosystem productivity. Stem biomass overyielding increased sharply in mixtures with greater crown complementarity. Inherent differences

among species in crown architecture led to greater crown complementarity in functionally diverse species mixtures. Intraspecific variation, specifically neighbourhood-driven plasticity in

crowns, further modified spatial complementarity and strengthened the positive relationship with overyielding—crown plasticity and inherent interspecific differences contributed near equally

in explaining patterns of overyielding. We posit that crown complementarity is an important mechanism that may contribute to diversity-enhanced productivity in forests. Access through your

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CLIMATE REVERSES DIRECTIONALITY IN THE RICHNESS–ABUNDANCE RELATIONSHIP ACROSS THE WORLD’S MAIN FOREST BIOMES Article Open access 06 November 2020 EFFECTS OF PLANT DIVERSITY ON PRODUCTIVITY

STRENGTHEN OVER TIME DUE TO TRAIT-DEPENDENT SHIFTS IN SPECIES OVERYIELDING Article Open access 07 March 2024 BIODIVERSITY–STABILITY RELATIONSHIPS STRENGTHEN OVER TIME IN A LONG-TERM

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Download references ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS C. Tobner, S. Despoja, L. Nikinmaa, C. Archambault and numerous interns assisted with data collection. J. Cowles, D. Donoso, S. Gleason, S. Hobbie, W.

Pearse, P. Wragg and A. Wright provided helpful comments. McGill University supported the project with land and facilities. The project was financially supported by the University of

Minnesota (College of Biological Sciences, College of Food and Natural Resources, Institute on the Environment, and Graduate School), the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council

of Canada, and an International Fulbright Science and Technology Award. AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota,

St Paul, Minnesota 55108, USA Laura J. Williams & Jeannine Cavender-Bares * Centre for Forest Research, Université du Québec à Montréal, PO Box 8888, Centre-Ville Station, Montréal Alain

Paquette & Christian Messier * Québec, H3C 3P8, Canada Alain Paquette & Christian Messier * Institut des sciences de la forêt tempérée (ISFORT), Université du Québec en Outaouais,

58 Rue Principale, Ripon Christian Messier * Québec, J0V 1V0, Canada Christian Messier * Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota, St Paul, Minnesota 55108, USA Peter B. Reich

* Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales 2753, Australia Peter B. Reich Authors * Laura J. Williams View author publications You can

also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Alain Paquette View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Jeannine Cavender-Bares View

author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Christian Messier View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar *

Peter B. Reich View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar CONTRIBUTIONS A.P., P.B.R. and C.M. designed the broader IDENT study. L.J.W. designed the

crown complementarity study and its link to overyielding, with help from all authors. L.J.W. and A.P. collected data. L.J.W. analysed the data with assistance from P.B.R. and J.C.B., and

wrote the first draft of the manuscript with editorial assistance from P.B.R. All authors contributed to further manuscript development. CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to Laura J.

Williams. ETHICS DECLARATIONS COMPETING INTERESTS The authors declare no competing financial interests. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary Notes; Supplementary

Methods; Supplementary Figures; Supplementary Tables (PDF 888 kb) RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Williams, L., Paquette, A.,

Cavender-Bares, J. _et al._ Spatial complementarity in tree crowns explains overyielding in species mixtures. _Nat Ecol Evol_ 1, 0063 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-016-0063 Download

citation * Received: 08 November 2016 * Accepted: 20 December 2016 * Published: 01 March 2017 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-016-0063 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Anyone you share the

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