One explanation for the especially rich diversity of trees in the tropics is that a process called 'density-dependent mortality' operates there. It turns out, however, that this process occurs in temperate forests too.
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ter Steege, H., Zagt, R. Density and diversity. Nature 417, 698–699 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/417698a
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/417698a
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