20.500.12556/RUL-183250 Cross-country patterns of compositional and structural forest diversity across European regions Forest diversity is a multidimensional concept comprising different components such as species diversity, functional diversity, structural diversity and genetic diversity. These diverse elements are recognised as being connected to the health and functioning of forest ecosystems and human well-being. However, information on forest diversity at broad spatial scales is scarce. Thus, the primary goal of this study is to quantify compositional diversity (i.e., tree species heterogeneity) and structural diversity (i.e., tree size heterogeneity) across a wide climatic gradient in European forest ecosystems, while also examining the influence of forest attributes and climatic variables on these two key components of forest diversity. Using harmonised data from eight European National Forest Inventories (n = 146,235 plots), we calculated Shannon’s Diversity Index as a measure of compositional and structural diversity. Finally, we estimated measures of forest diversity at three spatial scales (α, β and γ-diversity) for each country. Basal area was positively related to compositional and structural diversity. In contrast, the quadratic mean diameter of the trees in each plot presented both positive and negative relationships with compositional and structural diversity, respectively. Climatic variables played a minor role, with precipitation and temperature showing a positive association with forest compositional and structural diversity. Furthermore, our findings revealed a positive link between compositional and structural diversity. Finally, the compound analyses of α, β, and γ-diversity emerged as key elements in interpreting compositional patterns at landscape scale. Results revealed strong scale dependence (from local to landscape level) in diversity metrics across countries, thereby highlighting the importance of reporting national forest information at multiple spatial scales. biodiversity conservation global change forestry monitoring gozdarstvo biotska raznovrstnost ohranjanje narave globalne spremembe true false true Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik Članek v reviji 2026-06-09 13:46:37 2026-06-09 13:46:47 2026-06-10 04:11:01 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2026 0 0 15 str. article no. 74 Vol. 145 2026 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 2026-05-26 630 1612-4677 10.1007/s10342-026-01909-2 280990211 RAZ_Moreno-Fernandez_Daniel_2026.pdf RAZ_Moreno-Fernandez_Daniel_2026.pdf 1 D86BC09BDB5549C3B31F9020181C2927 e8706e10248b77af566006def21db1f1d37afc4429ca5a755cc0f761d34f29fe ef578145-63f8-11f1-9b0d-0050569b8976 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=235191 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10342-026-01909-2 1 e6503f3d-63f8-11f1-9b0d-0050569b8976 https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=235190 Biotehniška fakulteta 0 0 0