Disentangling interspecific and intraspecific variability in height–diameter allometry of dominant tree species in the Rocky Mountains across broad spatial scales

Author:

Liu Shuai1,Liu Yu1,Li Gaofei2,Mou Cun2

Affiliation:

1. Central South University of Forestry and Technology , Changsha 410004 , China

2. Hunan Botanical Garden , Changsha 410004 , China

Abstract

Abstract Height–diameter (H-D) allometric relationships provide us with insights into tree growth strategies and resource utilization. Yet, we have a poor understanding about the underlying drivers that limit or alter tree H-D allometries at large scales. Based on 569 502 pairs of height versus diameter from 53 808 plots of 20 species in the Rocky Mountains, USA, we used a mixed-effects approach to model the variability in H-D allometry across species (interspecific variation) and within-species (intraspecific variation) along gradients of site condition, climate, and competition. The allometric theories derived from physics or biological laws provide a fundamental framework for tree growth and performance, but our findings also show that physiological and environmental factors further shape the interspecific and intraspecific patterns in tree allometry with the intraspecific variation being smaller than the interspecific variation along all the gradients we considered. In general, trees growing in favorable site conditions and highly competitive environments tend to comparatively invest more in height growth, while trees may preferentially invest in diameter growth when constrained by water stress or other unfavorable climatic condition. Trees will choose the most appropriate growth strategies with corresponding allometric patterns to adapt to environmental changes. Our study is expected to provide applied value for estimating biomass and carbon stocks at broad environmental scales.

Funder

Forestry Science and Technology Research and Innovation Project of Hunan

Publisher

Oxford University Press (OUP)

Subject

Forestry

Cited by 1 articles. 订阅此论文施引文献 订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3