Higher-order interactions enhance the latitudinal tree diversity gradient

Higher-order interactions are shown to contribute to the decrease in species diversity from low to high latitudes in global forests, potentially explaining why this intricate phenomenon cannot be adequately explained by pairwise interactions alone.

Analyzing data from over 1.2 million forest plots across six continents, the researchers found that three-way and four-way species interactions account for up to 35% of the observed diversity gradient, challenging conventional ecological models.