AUTHOR=Picard Nicolas , Mortier Frédéric , Ploton Pierre , Liang Jingjing , Derroire Géraldine , Bastin Jean-François , Ayyappan Narayanan , Bénédet Fabrice , Boyemba Bosela Faustin , Clark Connie J. , Crowther Thomas W. , Engone Obiang Nestor Laurier , Forni Éric , Harris David , Ngomanda Alfred , Poulsen John R. , Sonké Bonaventure , Couteron Pierre , Gourlet-Fleury Sylvie TITLE=Using Model Analysis to Unveil Hidden Patterns in Tropical Forest Structures JOURNAL=Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution VOLUME=9 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/ecology-and-evolution/articles/10.3389/fevo.2021.599200 DOI=10.3389/fevo.2021.599200 ISSN=2296-701X ABSTRACT=

When ordinating plots of tropical rain forests using stand-level structural attributes such as biomass, basal area and the number of trees in different size classes, two patterns often emerge: a gradient from poorly to highly stocked plots and high positive correlations between biomass, basal area and the number of large trees. These patterns are inherited from the demographics (growth, mortality and recruitment) and size allometry of trees and tend to obscure other patterns, such as site differences among plots, that would be more informative for inferring ecological processes. Using data from 133 rain forest plots at nine sites for which site differences are known, we aimed to filter out these patterns in forest structural attributes to unveil a hidden pattern. Using a null model framework, we generated the anticipated pattern inherited from individual allometric patterns. We then evaluated deviations between the data (observations) and predictions of the null model. Ordination of the deviations revealed site differences that were not evident in the ordination of observations. These sites differences could be related to different histories of large-scale forest disturbance. By filtering out patterns inherited from individuals, our model analysis provides more information on ecological processes.