Global patterns and climatic controls of forest structural complexity.

The complexity of forest structures plays a crucial role in regulating forest ecosystem functions and strongly influences biodiversity. Yet, knowledge of the global patterns and determinants of forest structural complexity remains scarce. Using a stand structural complexity index based on terrestrial laser scanning, we quantify the structural complexity of boreal, temperate, subtropical and tropical primary forests.

How a measure of tree structural complexity relates to architectural benefit-to-cost ratio, light availability, and growth of trees.

Aboveground tree architecture is neither fully deterministic nor random. It is likely the result of mechanisms that balance static requirements and light-capturing efficiency. Here, we used terrestrial laser scanning data to investigate the relationship between tree architecture, here addressed using the box-dimension ( ), and the architectural benefit-to-cost ratio, the light availability, and the growth of trees.

Assessing Understory Complexity in Beech-dominated Forests ( L.) in Central Europe-From Managed to Primary Forests.

Understory vegetation influences several ecosystem services and functions of European beech ( L.) forests. Despite this knowledge on the importance of understory vegetation, it is still difficult to measure its three-dimensional characteristics in a quantitative manner.