New J Ecol paper on defaunation effects on tree spatial patterns

New paper out in Journal of Ecology on the effects of defaunation on spatial patterns of trees in the western Amazon. Defaunation is associated with increased clustering of trees that persists into older (1 cm diameter at breast height) stems. We also find evidence that clustering decreases through size classes, indicative of negative density dependence. However, defaunation doesn’t appear to intensify thinning of conspecific stems.