Data from: Intraspecific variability in growth response to environmental fluctuations modulates the stabilizing effect of species diversity on forest growth

1.Differences between species in their response to environmental
fluctuations cause asynchronized growth series, suggesting that species
diversity may help communities buffer the effects of environmental
fluctuations. However, within-species variability of responses may impact
the stabilizing effect of growth asynchrony. 2.We used tree ring data to
investigate the diversity-stability relationship and its underlying
mechanisms within the temperate and boreal mixed woods of Eastern Canada.
We worked at the individual tree level to take into account the
intraspecific variability of responses to environmental fluctuations. 3.We
found that species diversity stabilized growth in forest ecosystems. The
asynchrony of species’ response to climatic fluctuations and to insect
outbreaks explained this effect. We also found that the intraspecific
variability of responses to environmental fluctuations was high, making
the stabilizing effect of diversity highly variable. 4.Synthesis. Our
results are consistent with previous studies suggesting that the
asynchrony of species’ response to environmental fluctuations drives the
stabilizing effect of diversity. The intraspecific variability of these
responses modulates the stabilizing effect of species diversity.
Interactions between individuals, variation in tree size and spatial
heterogeneity of environmental conditions could play a critical role in
the stabilizing effect of diversity.