Primary forests are spatially diverse terrestrial ecosystems with unique characteristics, being naturally regenerative and heterogeneous, which supports the stability of their carbon storage through the accumulation of live and dead biomass. Yet, little is known about the interactions between biomass stocks, tree genus diversity and structure across a temperate montane primary forest. Here, we investigated the relationship between tree structure (variability in basal area and tree size), genus-level diversity (abundance, tree diversity) and biomass stocks in temperate primary mountain forests across Central and Eastern Europe. We used inventory data from 726 permanent sample plots from mixed beech and spruce across the Carpathian Mountains. We used nonlinear regression to analyse the spatial variability in forest biomass, structure, and genus-level diversity and how they interact with plot-level tree age, disturbances, temperature and altitude. We found that the combined effects of genus and structural indices were important for addressing the variability in biomass across different spatial scales. Local processes in disturbance regimes and uneven tree age support forest heterogeneity and the accumulation of live and dead biomass through the natural regeneration, growth and decay of the forest ecosystem. Structural complexities in basal area index, supported by genus-level abundance, positively influence total biomass stocks, which was modulated by tree age and disturbances. Spruce forests showed higher tree density and basal area than mixed beech forests, though mixed beech still contributes significantly to biomass across landscapes. Forest heterogeneity was strongly influenced by complexities in forest composition (tree genus diversity, structure). We addressed the importance of primary forests as stable carbon stores, achieved through structure and diversity. Safeguarding such ecosystems is critical for ensuring the stability of the primary forest, carbon store and biodiversity into the future.

中文翻译：

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树木结构和多样性塑造了原始温带山地森林的生物量


原生林是空间多样的陆地生态系统，具有独特的特性，具有自然再生和异质性，通过积累活的和死的生物量来支持其碳储存的稳定性。然而，人们对温带山地原始森林的生物量存量、树属多样性和结构之间的相互作用知之甚少。在这里，我们研究了中欧和东欧温带原始山地森林的树木结构（基部面积和树木大小的变化）、属水平多样性（丰度、树木多样性）和生物量存量之间的关系。我们使用了来自喀尔巴阡山脉山毛榉和云杉混合的 726 个永久样本地的清查数据。我们使用非线性回归来分析森林生物量、结构和属水平多样性的空间变异性，以及它们如何与地块水平的树龄、干扰、温度和海拔相互作用。我们发现属和结构指数的综合影响对于解决不同空间尺度上生物量的变化很重要。干扰状态和树龄不均匀的局部过程支持森林异质性以及通过森林生态系统的自然再生、生长和腐烂实现的活体和死体生物量的积累。在属水平丰度的支持下，基底面积指数的结构复杂性对总生物量存量产生积极影响，而总生物量存量受树龄和干扰的调节。云杉林的树木密度和基底面积高于混合山毛榉林，尽管混合山毛榉仍然对整个景观的生物量有很大贡献。森林异质性受森林组成复杂性 （树木属多样性、结构） 的强烈影响。 我们强调了原始森林作为稳定的碳储存库的重要性，这是通过结构和多样性实现的。保护此类生态系统对于确保原始森林、碳储存和生物多样性的未来稳定性至关重要。