@article{fdi:010062537,
  title = {{V}ertical stratification reduces competition for light in dense tropical forests},
  author = {{L}aurans, {M}. and {H}{\'e}rault, {B}. and {V}ieilledent, {G}. and {V}incent, {G}r{\'e}goire},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{D}ifferential growth response to light level is widely accepted as a potential mechanism for maintaining tree species richness in tropical forests. {T}he position of tree species in the hierarchy of the canopy is considered an important indicator of species light capture and growth strategy. {P}aradoxically, the relative importance of species identity and competition for light in determining individual tree growth is poorly documented at the adult stage. {I}n this study, we used a hierarchical {B}ayesian model to quantify the overall importance of species identity, light and belowground competition as determinants of tree growth in {F}rench {G}uiana tropical forest. {L}ight competitive status is assessed by a crown exposure score and below ground competition is estimated from local crowding. {W}e examined species sensitivity to both types of competition in relation to adult stature. {O}ur results are based on annual diameter increments of more than 13,510 stems from 282 species monitored over 10 years. {M}ean annual growth rate was 0.11 cm y(-1) with species identity explaining 35% of the individual variation in growth rate. {C}rown exposure and local crowding explained 3.5% and 2.4% of the variation in growth rate, respectively. {P}redicted changes in growth rate as crown exposure (resp. local crowding) index changed from lower to upper interquartile level was 0.03 cm y(-1) (resp. 0.02 cm y(-1)). {S}pecies sensitivity to crown exposure and to local crowding were positively correlated (i) with predicted growth rate at high-light standardized conditions and (ii) with adult stature. {T}his vertical niche partitioning is invoked to explain the limited contribution made by level of light competition for predicting individual tropical tree growth as the community-level response is dominated by the abundance of small-statured species with low sensitivity to light level. {L}ight appears to drive the stem growth rate of tropical trees through species differentiation more than through individual tree growth limitation. {T}his vertical stratification complements the previously reported regeneration niche and together these provide evidence for light niche partitioning in the three-dimensional space of tropical forests.},
  keywords = {{A}dult stature ; {L}ocal crowding ; {H}ierarchical {B}ayesian model ; {N}iche partitioning ; {F}rench {G}uiana ; {GUYANE} {FRANCAISE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{F}orest {E}cology and {M}anagement},
  volume = {329},
  numero = {},
  pages = {79--88},
  ISSN = {0378-1127},
  year = {2014},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.foreco.2014.05.059},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010062537},
}