Effect of forest structure and management on the functional diversity and composition of understorey plant communities

Abstract Questions Do forest structural parameters related to stand heterogeneity enhance functional diversity (FD) of understorey plant communities? FD and composition communities vary between high‐forest (HF) old coppices‐with‐standard (oldCWS) management types? Are HF stands characterized by a higher than oldCWS? Location Submediterranean beech forests Montagne della Duchessa Reserve (central Italy). Methods We sampled 57 (20 m × 20 m) plots, 29 oldCWS 28 stands, where we recorded species cover abundance. used Leaf–Height–Seed clonal traits, run multiple separate linear models quantify the effect types on communities. Results found that increasing lying deadwood enhanced specific leaf area (SLA) through micro‐environmental soil fertility regardless type. also increased horizontal stratification filtered range sizes, probably light reduction. SLA traits heterogeneity, while reducing size seed mass. tended select high resource acquisition strategies but lower persistence ramets, possibly as an more mature conditions. Conclusion Our study suggests community change in response structure management. Combining with offers promising framework for understanding predicting practices.