Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://dx.doi.org/10.25673/118013
Title: Positive feedbacks and alternative stable states in forest leaf types
Author(s): Zou, Yibiao
Bruelheide, HelgeLook up in the Integrated Authority File of the German National Library
[und viele weitere]
Issue Date: 2024
Type: Article
Language: English
Abstract: The emergence of alternative stable states in forest systems has significant implications for the functioning and structure of the terrestrial biosphere, yet empirical evidence remains scarce. Here, we combine global forest biodiversity observations and simulations to test for alternative stable states in the presence of evergreen and deciduous forest types. We reveal a bimodal distribution of forest leaf types across temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere that cannot be explained by the environment alone, suggesting signatures of alternative forest states. Moreover, we empirically demonstrate the existence of positive feedbacks in tree growth, recruitment and mortality, with trees having 4–43% higher growth rates, 14–17% higher survival rates and 4–7 times higher recruitment rates when they are surrounded by trees of their own leaf type. Simulations show that the observed positive feedbacks are necessary and sufficient to generate alternative forest states, which also lead to dependency on history (hysteresis) during ecosystem transition from evergreen to deciduous forests and vice versa. We identify hotspots of bistable forest types in evergreen-deciduous ecotones, which are likely driven by soil-related positive feedbacks. These findings are integral to predicting the distribution of forest biomes, and aid to our understanding of biodiversity, carbon turnover, and terrestrial climate feedbacks.
URI: https://opendata.uni-halle.de//handle/1981185920/119972
http://dx.doi.org/10.25673/118013
Open Access: Open access publication
License: (CC BY 4.0) Creative Commons Attribution 4.0(CC BY 4.0) Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
Journal Title: Nature Communications
Publisher: Springer Nature
Publisher Place: [London]
Volume: 15
Original Publication: 10.1038/s41467-024-48676-5
Page Start: 1
Page End: 15
Appears in Collections:Open Access Publikationen der MLU

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