Analogous Environments Across the Tropics Have Similar Levels of Tree Species Αlpha Diversity

Xiao, S-M and Wich, S ORCID: 0000-0003-3954-5174 Analogous Environments Across the Tropics Have Similar Levels of Tree Species Αlpha Diversity. National Science Review. ISSN 2095-5138 (Accepted)

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Abstract

Abstract Different regions of the tropics vary in overall tree species diversity, with the tropical Americas exhibiting strikingly higher regional tree species richness than Africa and Southeast Asia. We investigated whether these differences also occur at the local scale, and whether the environmental conditions associated with tree species richness are consistent across tropical regions despite highly dissimilar species pools. A spatial random forest (RF) model was trained using a network of 429 one-hectare plots across the tropics, together with 24 environmental variables, to predict plot-level tree α diversity. A combination of climatic, soil and topographical variables explained around 86% of variation in richness. Despite differences in regional species pools and potentially disruptive effects of different geological, climatic and evolutionary histories, the relationship between environmental variables and local scale tree species richness is closely similar across different continents. Our findings imply a pervasive role of niche-based mechanisms in structuring local tree species richness, regardless of regional species assemblages. This pantropical convergence in the richness-environment relationship poses a challenge for ecology to explain.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in National Science Review following peer review
Uncontrolled Keywords:	41 Environmental Sciences; 31 Biological Sciences; 3103 Ecology; 14 Life Below Water; 0703 Crop and Pasture Production
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences S Agriculture > SD Forestry
Divisions:	Biological and Environmental Sciences (from Sep 19)
Publisher:	Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date of acceptance:	14 October 2025
Date of first compliant Open Access:	23 December 2025
Date Deposited:	23 Dec 2025 14:51
Last Modified:	23 Dec 2025 14:51
DOI or ID number:	10.1093/nsr/nwaf465
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/27787

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