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The global spectrum of tree crown architecture

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Global

Publication date: May 26, 2025

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Tree crowns vary dramatically across species, yet the drivers of this diversity remain poorly understood. Using measurements from 374,888 trees representing 1,914 species worldwide, this study examines how climate, disturbance, competition, functional traits and evolutionary history shape height-diameter and crown‑width scaling. Height scaling is most strongly influenced by water availability and light competition, while crown width responds primarily to wind and fire exposure and covaries with traits linked to mechanical stability and photosynthesis. Distinctive lineages—such as slender Southeast Asian dipterocarps and wide‑crowned African savanna legumes—highlight evolutionary signatures in crown form. These findings map the global spectrum of tree crown architecture and identify the processes structuring the 3D form of woody ecosystems.

Subject Tags

  • Forest
  • Life Sciences

Abstract

Trees can differ enormously in their crown architectural traits, such as the scaling relationships between tree height, crown width and stem diameter. Yet despite the importance of crown architecture in shaping the structure and function of terrestrial ecosystems, we lack a complete picture of what drives this incredible diversity in crown shapes. Using data from 374,888 globally distributed trees, we explore how climate, disturbance, competition, functional traits, and evolutionary history constrain the height and crown width scaling relationships of 1914 tree species. We find that variation in height–diameter scaling relationships is primarily controlled by water availability and light competition. Conversely, crown width is predominantly shaped by exposure to wind and fire, while also covarying with functional traits related to mechanical stability and photosynthesis. Additionally, we identify several plant lineages with highly distinctive stem and crown forms, such as the exceedingly slender dipterocarps of Southeast Asia, or the extremely wide crowns of legume trees in African savannas. Our study charts the global spectrum of tree crown architecture and pinpoints the processes that shape the 3D structure of woody ecosystems.

Citation

Jucker, T., Fischer, F. J., Chave, J., Coomes, D. A., Caspersen, J., Ali, A., ... & Zimmermann, N. E. (2025). The global spectrum of tree crown architecture. Nature Communications, 16(1), 4876. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60262-x

TNC Authors