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Evidence of scale-free clusters of vegetation in tropical rainforests
Phys. Rev. E 109, L042402 – Published 19 April, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.109.L042402
Abstract
Tropical rainforests exhibit a rich repertoire of spatial patterns emerging from the intricate relationship between the microscopic interaction between species. In particular, the distribution of vegetation clusters can shed much light on the underlying process that regulates the ecosystem. Analyzing the distribution of vegetation clusters at different resolution scales, we show the first robust evidence of scale-invariant clusters of vegetation, suggesting the coexistence of multiple intertwined scales in the collective dynamics of tropical rainforests. We use field data and computational simulations to confirm our hypothesis, proposing a predictor that could be particularly interesting to monitor the ecological resilience of the world's “green lungs.”
Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)
Focus
Uncovering Networks in Rainforest Plants
The spatial arrangement of plants in a rainforest corresponds to a special “critical” state that could be vital for ecosystem robustness.
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