Chronic anthropogenic disturbance mediates the biodiversity‐productivity relationship across stand ages in a large temperate forest region

• DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14588
• Publication Date: 2024-01-27T05:25:10Z
• Authors: Senxuan Lin; Chunyu Fan; Juan Wang; Chunyu Zhang; Xiuhai Zhao; Klaus von Gadow
• Keywords: Temperate rainforest; Phylogenetic diversity; Forest dynamics

Abstract Temperate forests, especially those in the densely populated regions of world, are experiencing increasing levels habitat degradation and biological impoverishment due to subtle but pervasive chronic anthropogenic disturbances including frequent continuous grazing extraction non‐timber forest products. However, effects these subtle, on biodiversity‐productivity relationship have rarely been examined forests at different development stages. Accordingly, this study explores how disturbance affects between tree species diversity productivity stand stages a large temperate region. We used human footprint index as proxy for disturbance. Hierarchical Bayesian models were employed assess across age. Several measures employed, taxonomic, functional phylogenetic diversity. Forest consistently increased with biodiversity; biodiversity facets main drivers compared age, climate. magnitude which increases increments taxonomic diminishes disturbance, younger stands. The did not vary regardless Synthesis applications : Chronic region reduces increase community biodiversity, young forests. evidence suggests that mitigation conservation will be effective sustaining essential ecosystem functions.