Sardinilla (Panama)

The Sardinilla biodiversity experiment is one of the oldest experiments in TreeDivNet. The goal is to study complex links between biodiversity, land use and tropical ecosystem functioning, with a focus on biogeochemistry and plant health. Sardinilla consists of two subexperiments: the ‘main’ plantation (established in 2001) and the ‘high diversity’ one (established in 2003).

One of the plots in the main plantation in 2002

Design

main plantation

The 6 native tree species planted are of local economic and ecological value. They were chosen based on their relative growth rates: from fast-growing to more slowly growing long-lived pioneer species. The plantation consists of 12 monocultures (2 for all 6 species), 6 plots of different 3-species mixtures (1 species of the 3 growth rate categories), and 6 replicates of the 6-species mixture. Diversity treatments were randomly distributed to plots to reduce bias caused by differences in soil conditions. Within a plot, planting followed a multiple Latin-square design to ensure that systematic environmental variation did not bias the results. The seedlings were planted in diagonal rows, with 3 m planting distance. The species identity of neighbours around trees of a given species thus remained the same within a plot. The planting density was similar to standard reforestation practices in Central America, which allows comparing with other plantations

high-diversity plantation

The 8 plots follow a split-plot design with 3 diversity levels (6, 9 and 18 species) per plot. The highest species number is comparable to the tree species diversity in intact natural forests (19 species) and was chosen based on the estimated tree species diversity of 45 m x 45 m plots in the nearby lowland tropical moist forest of Barro Colorado Island. The diversity levels are nested within 4 different species composition lines, which makes it possible to test the effect of species composition, accumulation, and diversity on ecosystem functioning. The regular design within the plots also allows for an explicit test of neighbourhood effects.

The 24 plots of the main plantation (1, 3, 6 species)and the 8 plots of the high-diversity plantation (6, 9, 18 species)

Site characteristics

Sardinilla-main plantation (Panama) Sardinilla-high diversity plantation (Panama)

Country

Panama

Panama

Biome

tropical

tropical

Latitude

9.32

9.32

Longitude

-79.63

-79.63

Soil type

clay Alfisol, bedrock of limestone and other sediments

clay Alfisol, bedrock of limestone and other sediments

Former land use

original forest logged in 1952-53, 2 years of agriculture, then pasture

original forest logged in 1952-53, 2 years of agriculture, then pasture

Altitude

70 m

70 m

Design

stem-wise regular (multiple latin square)

stem wise randomisation

Plot shape

square

rectangular

Plot size (m^2)

2025 m²

675 m²

Plant distance (m)

3

3

Number of trees planted

5566

864

Planting date

July 2001

July 2003

Diversity variables

species richness
identity functional group

species richness
species assemblage identity

Size species pool

6

26

Species pool

Cordia alliodora
Luehea seemannii
Anacardium excelsum
Hura crepitans
Cedrela odorata
Tabebuia rosea

Albizia adinocephala
Anacardium excelsum
Astronium graveolens
Bursera simaruba
Cordia alliodora
Calycophyllum candidissimum
Colubrina glandulosa
Cedrela odorata
Dipteryx panamensis
Dalbergia retusa
Diphysa robinioides
Enterolobium cyclocarpum
Erythrina fusca
Gliricidia sepium
Guazuma ulmifolia
Hura crepitans
Hymenaea courbaril
Inga punctate
Luehea seemannii
Ormosia macrocalyx
Pachira quinata
Pseudomanea saman
Spondias mombin
Terminalia amazonia
Tabebuia rosea
Vochysia ferruginea

Contact person

Florian Schnabel

Florian Schnabel

Email

florian.schnabel@waldbau.uni-freiburg.de

florian.schnabel@waldbau.uni-freiburg.de

Research

The experiment was specifically designed to test how increases in tree species richness affect the cycling and storage of carbon. The research goal is to study the complex links between biodiversity, land use and tropical ecosystem functioning, with a focus on biogeochemistry and plant health. The high-diversity plantation was specifically planted to answer the following questions: (1) Is the 6-species diversity treatment relevant to the natural level of tree diversity in the local forests? (2) What is the importance of community composition at high tree species diversity?

Studies focus on the influence of tree species diversity on plant productivity, biomass accumulation, carbon sequestration potential, and carbon cycling; biogeochemistry, e.g., nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics, and water cycling; element cycles and water use of individual trees; plant health and herbivory. As tree-to-tree interactions are highly important to understand diversity effects, the impact of neighbour trees is studied in detail.

Extra information

Send an e-mail to the contact person or explore the publications that utilized data from this experiment.

PhD thesis

  • Schnabel F 2022 Forest productivity and stability under drought: the role of tree species richness, structural diversity and drought-tolerance trait diversity. PhD thesis, Leipzig University
  • Zeugin F 2010 The functional significance of tree diversity for nutrient acquisition in a tropical tree plantation. PhD thesis, ETH Zurich

Research papers

  • Blondeel H, Guillemot J, Martin‐StPaul N, Druel A, Bilodeau‐Gauthier S, Bauhus J, … Baeten L 2024 Tree diversity reduces variability in sapling survival under drought. Journal of Ecology 112(5): 1164-1180 - https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.14294
  • Zheng L, Barry KE, Guerrero-Ramírez NR, Craven D, Reich PB, Verheyen K, … Hautier Y 2024 Effects of plant diversity on productivity strengthen over time due to trait-dependent shifts in species overyielding. Nature communications 15(1): 2078 - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-46355-z
  • Depauw L, De Lombaerde E, Dhiedt E, Blondeel H, Abdala-Roberts L, Auge H, Barsoum N, Bauhus J, Chu C, Damtew A, Eisenhauer N, V. Fagundes M, Ganade G, Gendreau-Berthiaume B, Godbold D, Gravel D, Guillemot J, Hajek P, Hector A, Hérault B, Jactel H, Koricheva J, Kreft H, Liu X, Mereu S, Messier C, Muys B, Nock CA, Paquette A, Parker JD, Parker WC, Paterno, GB, Perring MP, Ponette Q, Potvin C, Reich PB, Rewald B, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Schnabel F, Sousa-Silva R, Weih M, Clara Zemp D, Verheyen K, Baeten L 2024 Enhancing Tree Performance Through Species Mixing: Review of a Quarter-Century of TreeDivNet Experiments Reveals Research Gaps and Practical Insights. Current Forestry Reports - https://doi.org/10.1007/s40725-023-00208-y
  • Warner E, Cook-Patton SC, Lewis, OT, Brown N, Koricheva J, Eisenhauer N, … Hector A 2023 Young mixed planted forests store more carbon than monocultures—a meta-analysis. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change (6): 1226514
  • FAO 2023 Towards more resilient and diverse planted forests. Unasylva (254)74: 2031/1. Rome. https://doi. org/10.4060/cc8584en
  • Cesarz S, Craven D, Auge H, Bruelheide H, Castagneyrol B, Gutknecht J, Hector A, Jactel H, Koricheva J, Messier C, Muys B, Brien MJO, Paquette A, Ponette Q, Potvin C, Reich PB, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Smith AR, Verheyen K, Eisenhauer N 2022 Tree diversity effects on soil microbial biomass and respiration are context dependent across forest diversity experiments. Global Ecology and Biogeography 31:872-885 - https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.13461
  • Kunert N, Brändle J, El-Madany TS 2022 Carbon allocation and tree diversity: shifts in autotrophic respiration in tree mixtures compared to monocultures. Biologia - https://doi.org/10.1007/s11756-022-01141-4
  • Müller S, Mitesser O, Oschwald L, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Potvin C 2022 Temporal Soundscape Patterns in a Panamanian Tree Diversity Experiment: Polycultures Show an Increase in High Frequency Cover. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 10 - https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2022.808589
  • Duarte MM, Moral RdA, Guillemot J, Zuim CIF, Potvin C, Bonat WH, Stape JL, Brancalion PHS 2021 High tree diversity enhances light interception in tropical forests. Journal of Ecology 109(7): 2597-2611 - https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.13669
  • Madsen C, Kunz M, von Oheimb G, Hall JS, Sinacore K, Turner BL, Potvin C 2021 Influence of neighbourhoods on the extent and compactness of tropical tree crowns and root systems. Trees 35: 1673-1686 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-021-02146-3
  • Proß T, Bruelheide H, Potvin C, Sporbert M, Trogisch S, Haider S 2021 Reprint of: Drivers of within-tree leaf trait variation in a tropical planted forest varying in tree species richness. Basic and Applied Ecology 55: 6-19 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2021.01.009
  • Messier C, Bauhus J, Sousa-Silva R, Auge H, Baeten L, Barsoum N, Bruelheide H, Caldwell B, Cavender-Bares J, Dhiedt E, Eisenhauer N, Ganade G, Gravel D, Guillemot J, Hall JS, Hector A, Hérault B, Jactel H, Koricheva J, Kreft H, Mereu S, Muys B, Nock CA, Paquette A, Parker JD, Perring MP, Ponette Q, Potvin C, Reich PB, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Schnabel F, Verheyen K, Weih M, Wollni M, Zemp DC 2021 For the sake of resilience and multifunctionality, let’s diversify planted forests! Conservation Letters e12829 - https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12829
  • Guillemot J, Kunz M, Schnabel F, Fichtner A, Madsen CP, Gebauer T, Härdtle W, von Oheimb G, Potvin C 2020 Neighbourhood‐mediated shifts in tree biomass allocation drive overyielding in tropical species mixtures. New Phytologist - https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.16722
  • Madsen C, Potvin C, Hall J, Sinacore K, Turner BL, Schnabel F 2020 Coarse root architecture: Neighbourhood and abiotic environmental effects on five tropical tree species growing in mixtures and monocultures. Forest Ecology and Management 460:117851 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2019.117851
  • Schnabel F, Schwarz JA, Dănescu A, Fichtner A, Nock CA, Bauhus J, Potvin C 2019 Drivers of productivity and its temporal stability in a tropical tree diversity experiment. Global Change Biology 25: 4257-4272- https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14792
  • Grossman JJ, Vanhellemont M, Barsoum N, Bauhus J, Bruelheide H, Castagneyrol B, Cavender-Bares J, Eisenhauer N, Ferlian O, Gravel D, Hector A, Jactel H, Kreft H, Mereu S, Messier C, Muys B, Nock C, Paquette A, Parker J, Perring MP, Ponette Q, Reich PB, Schuldt A, Staab M, Weih M, Zemp DC, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Verheyen K 2018 Synthesis and future research directions linking tree diversity to growth, survival, and damage in a global network of tree diversity experiments. Environmental and Experimental Botany 152: 68-89 - doi: 10.1016/j.envexpbot.2017.12.015
  • Guerrero-Ramírez NR, Craven D, Reich PB, Ewel JJ, Isbell F, Koricheva J, Parrotta JA, Auge H, Erickson HE, Forrester DI, Hector A, Joshi J, Montagnini F, Palmborg C, Piotto D, Potvin C, Roscher C, van Ruijven J, Tilman D, Wilsey B, Eisenhauer N 2017 Diversity-dependent temporal divergence of ecosystem functioning in experimental ecosystems. Nature Ecology & Evolution 1(11): 1639-1642 - doi: 10.1038/s41559-017-0325-1
  • Guerrero-Ramírez NR, Craven D, Messier C, Potvin C, Turner BL, Handa IT 2016 Root quality and decomposition environment, but not tree species richness, drive root decomposition in tropical forests. Plant and Soil 404: 125-139 – https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-016-2828-y
  • Verheyen K, Vanhellemont M, Auge H, Baeten L, Baraloto C, Barsoum N, Bilodeau-Gauthier S, Bruelheide H, Castagneyrol B, Godbold D, Haase J, Hector A, Jactel H, Koricheva J, Loreau M, Mereu S, Messier C, Muys B, Nolet P, Paquette A, Parker J, Perring M, Ponette Q, Potvin C, Reich P, Smith A, Weih M, Scherer-Lorenzen M 2016 Contributions of a global network of tree diversity experiments to sustainable forest plantations. Ambio 45: 29-41 - doi: 10.1007/s13280-015-0685-1
  • Salisbury CL, Potvin C 2015 Does tree species composition affect productivity in a tropical planted forest? Biotropica 47: 559-568 - doi: 10.1111/btp.12252
  • Paine CET, Amissah L, Auge H, Baraloto C, Baruffol M, Bourland N, Bruelheide H, Daïnou K, de Gouvenain RC, Doucet J-L, Doust S, Fine PVA, Fortunel C, Haase J, Holl KD, Jactel H, Li X, Kitajima K, Koricheva J, Martínez-Garza C, Messier C, Paquette A, Philipson C, Piotto D, Poorter L, Posada JM, Potvin C, Rainio K, Russo SE, Ruiz-Jaen M, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Webb CO, Wright SJ, Zahawi RA, Hector A 2015 Globally, functional traits are weak predictors of juvenile tree growth, and we do not know why. Journal of Ecology 103: 978-989 - doi: 10.1111/1365-2745.12401
  • Sapijanskas J, Paquette A, Potvin C, Kunert N, Loreau M 2014 Tropical tree diversity enhances light capture through crown plasticity and spatial and temporal niche differences. Ecology 95: 2479-2492 - doi: 10.1890/13-1366.1
  • Schwendenmann L, Pendall E, Sanchez-Bragado R, Kunert N, Hölscher D 2014 Tree water uptake in a tropical plantation varying in tree diversity: interspecific differences, seasonal shifts and complementarity. Ecohydrology 8: 1-12 - https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.1479
  • Riedel J, Dorn S, Plath M, Potvin C, Mody K 2013 Time matters: temporally changing effects of planting schemes and insecticide treatment on native timber tree performance on former pasture. Forest Ecology and Management 297: 49-56 - doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2013.02.003
  • Sapijanskas J, Potvin C, Loreau M 2013 Beyond shading: litter production by neighbors contributes to overyielding in tropical trees. Ecology 94: 941-952 - doi: 10.1890/12-0337.1
  • Sprenger M, Oelmann Y, Weihermüller L, Wolf S, Wilcke W, Potvin C 2013 Tree species and diversity effects on soil water seepage in a tropical plantation Forest Ecology and Management 309: 76-86 - doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2013.03.022
  • Yamamura T, Schwendenmann L, Lear G 2013 Tree species identity has little impact on the structure of soil bacterial communities in a 10-year-old tropical tree plantation. Biology and Fertility of Soils 49: 819-828 - doi: 10.1007/s00374-013-0774-x
  • Kunert N, Schwendenmann L, Potvin C, Hölscher D 2012 Tree diversity enhances tree transpiration in a Panamanian forest plantation. Journal of Applied Ecology 49: 135-144 - doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2011.02065.x
  • Plath M, Dorn S, Riedel J, Barrios H, Mody K 2012 Associational resistance and associational susceptibility: specialist herbivores show contrasting responses to tree stand diversification. Oecologia 169: 477-487 - doi: 10.1007/s00442-011-2215-6
  • Plath M, Mody K, Potvin C, Dorn S 2011 Establishment of native tropical timber trees in monoculture and mixed-species plantations: Small-scale effects on tree performance and insect herbivory. Forest Ecology and Management 261: 741-750 - doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2010.12.004
  • Potvin C, Mancilla L, Buchmann N, Monteza J, Moore T, Murphy M, Oelmann Y, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Turner BL, Wilcke W, Zeugin F, Wolf S 2011 An ecosystem approach to biodiversity effects: carbon pools in a tropical tree plantation. Forest Ecology and Management 261: 1614-1624 - doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2010.11.015
  • Ruiz-Jaen MC, Potvin C 2011 Can we predict carbon stocks in tropical ecosystems from tree diversity? Comparing species and functional diversity in a plantation and a natural forest. New Phytologist 189: 978-987 - doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2010.03501.x
  • Schneebeli M, Wolf S, Kunert N, Eugster W, Mätzler C 2011 Relating the X-band opacity of a tropical tree canopy to sapflow, rain interception and dew formation. Remote Sensing of Environment 115(8): 2116-2125 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2011.04.016
  • Wolf S, Eugster W, Potvin C, Buchmann N 2011 Strong seasonal variations in net ecosystem CO2 exchange of a tropical pasture and afforestation in Panama. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 151: 1139-1151 - doi: 10.1016/j.agrformet.2011.04.002
  • Wolf S, Eugster W, Potvin C, Turner BL, Buchmann N 2011 Carbon sequestration potential of tropical pasture compared with afforestation in Panama. Global Change Biology 17: 2763-2780 - doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2011.02460.x
  • Oelmann Y, Potvin C, Mark T, Werther L, Tapernon S, Wilcke W 2010 Tree mixture effects on aboveground nutrient pools of trees in an experimental plantation in Panama. Plant and Soil 326: 199-212 - doi: 10.1007/s11104-009-9997-x
  • Zeugin F, Potvin C, Jansa J, Scherer-Lorenzen M 2010 Is tree diversity an important driver for phosphorus and nitrogen acquisition of a young tropical plantation? Forest Ecology and Management 260: 1424-1433 - doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2010.07.020
  • Potvin C, Dutilleul P 2009 Neighborhood effects and size-asymmetric competition in a tree plantation varying in diversity. Ecology 90: 321-327 - doi: 10.1890/08-0353.1
  • Delagrange S, Potvin C, Messier C, Coll L 2008 Linking multiple-level tree traits with biomass accumulation in native tree species used for reforestation in Panama. Trees - Structure and Function 22: 337-349 - doi: 10.1007/s00468-007-0189-0
  • Murphy M, Balser T, Buchmann N, Hann V, Potvin C 2008 Linking tree biodiversity to belowground process in a young tropical plantation: impacts on soil CO2 flux. Forest Ecology and Management 255: 2577-2588 - doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2008.01.034
  • Potvin C, Gotelli NJ 2008 Biodiversity enhances individual performance but does not affect survivorship in tropical trees. Ecology Letters 11: 217-223 - doi: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2007.01148.x
  • Healy C, Gotelli NJ, Potvin C 2008 Partitioning the effects of biodiversity and environmental heterogeneity for productivity and mortality in a tropical tree plantation. Journal of Ecology 96: 903-913 - doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2008.01419.x
  • Scherer-Lorenzen M, Bonilla JL, Potvin C 2007 Tree species richness affects litter production and decomposition rates in a tropical biodiversity experiment. Oikos 116: 2108-2124 - doi: 10.1111/j.2007.0030-1299.16065.x
  • Potvin C, Whidden E, Moore T 2004 A case study of carbon pools under three different land-uses in Panama. Climatic Change 67: 291-307 - doi: 10.1007/s10584-004-0079-z
Note

! Website of experiment does no longer exist