2025-12-01 中国科学院(CAS)
Spatial patterns of tree species richness (A) and structural diversity (B) in China’s natural forests. (Image by CHENG Changjinetal.)
<関連情報>
- https://english.cas.cn/newsroom/research_news/life/202512/t20251201_1134306.shtml
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-025-02922-1
中国の森林における樹種の豊富さと構造的多様性の空間パターンと将来の可能性 Spatial patterns and future potential of tree species richness and structural diversity in China’s forests
Changjin Cheng,Guoyi Zhou,Xuli Tang,Shaopeng Wang,Yanjun Su,Jin Wu,Xiangtao Xu,Wenfang Xu,Fangmei Lin,Yongshi Zhou,Genxu Wang,Junhua Yan,Keping Ma,Sheng Du,Shenggong Li,Shijie Han,Youxin Ma,Juxiu Liu & Donghai Wu
Nature Ecology & Environment Published:02 December 2025
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-025-02922-1
Abstract
Two fundamental aspects that characterize the diversity of natural forests are species richness and structural diversity. Our understanding of the fine-grained patterns and drivers of tree species richness and structural diversity in many regions has been limited by lack of spatially representative vegetation-plot data. Here we use data on 314,613 trees from 3,396 plots to elucidate spatial patterns, determinants and future potential of tree species richness and structural diversity in natural forests across China. We find that the patterns and their dominant drivers differed between tree species richness and structural diversity. Precipitation seasonality is the foremost predictor of species richness, whereas forest age is the leading predictor of structural diversity. Projections based on future climate scenarios SSP126 and SSP245 highlight the potential for substantial increases in fine-grained species richness (~36%) and structural diversity (~27%) by 2100. While this increase in diversity could enhance carbon sequestration, it may also pose threats to endangered species due to intensified competition for limited ecological niches.
