Feb. 28 (UPI) — Previous studies showed more diverse tree stands to be
healthier and more productive than monoculture forests, but scientists
didn’t know why. New research suggests tree diversity lends a forest
adaptability, allowing it to maximize the sun’s energy.
Because different trees take on different forms, and can alter their shapes
in different ways, a diverse array of trees is more likely to efficiently fill
space in the canopy. A fuller canopy allows a forest to covert more solar
energy into biomass and absorb more carbon dioxide.
“It’s a common hypothesis that complementarity matters,” Laura Williams,
a graduate student in ecology at the University of Minnesota, said in a
news release. “This is a case study that provides evidence to support
complementarity in the use of space.”