Data from: Defining a spectrum of integrative trait-based vegetation canopy structural types

Vegetation canopy structure is a fundamental characteristic of terrestrial ecosystems that defines vegetation types and drives ecosystem functioning. We use the multivariate structural trait composition of vegetation canopies to classify ecosystems within a global canopy structure spectrum. Across the temperate forest subset of this spectrum we assess gradients in canopy structural traits, characterize canopy structural types (CST), and evaluate drivers and functional consequences of canopy structural variation. We derive CSTs from multivariate canopy structure data, illustrating variation along three primary structural axes and resolution into six largely distinct and functionally relevant CSTs. Our results illustrate that within-ecosystem successional processes and disturbance legacies can produce variation in canopy structure similar to that associated with sub-continental variation in forest types and ecoclimatic zones. The potential to classify ecosystems into CSTs based on suites of structural traits represents an important advance in understanding and modeling structure-function relationships in vegetated ecosystems.植被冠层结构是陆地生态系统的核心特征，其界定了植被类型并驱动生态系统功能运转。本研究借助植被冠层的多变量结构性状组成，在全球冠层结构谱中对生态系统进行分类。针对该谱中的温带森林子集，我们评估了冠层结构性状的梯度变化，表征了冠层结构类型（Canopy Structural Types, CST），并解析了冠层结构变异的驱动因子及其功能后果。我们从多变量冠层结构数据中推导得到冠层结构类型，其展现出沿三个主要结构轴的变异，并可划分为六种大体独特且具备功能相关性的冠层结构类型。研究结果表明，生态系统内部的演替过程与干扰遗留效应所引发的冠层结构变异，可媲美森林类型及生态气候区在次大陆尺度上的变异水平。基于一系列结构性状将生态系统划分为冠层结构类型的可行路径，为理解和模拟植被生态系统的结构-功能关系提供了重要研究进展。