Rethinking the complexity and uncertainty of spatial networks applied to forest ecology.

ABSTRACT: Characterizing tree spatial patterns and interactions are helpful to reveal underlying processes assembling forest communities. Spatial networks, despite their complexity, are powerful to examine spatial interactions at an individual level using well-defined patterns. However, complex forestation networks introduce uncertainties. Validation methods are needed to assess whether network-based metrics can identify different processes. Here, we constructed three types of networks, which reflect various aspects of tree competition. Based on five spatial null models and 199 Monte-Carlo simulations, we were able to select network-based metrics that exhibited well performance in distinguishing different processes. This technique was then applied to a tropical forest dataset in Costa Rica. We found

SUBMITTER: Wu HR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9508254 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature