T. grandis.
The dataset used in the analyses was collected from 30 inventory plots of 0.18 ha (Houeto et al., 2014; Salako et al., 2013), and consisted of floristic information (tree species names, density, and diameter at breast height – dbh and tree height) and functional trait data (maximum plant height and specific wood density). In each plot, all individual of dbh ≥ 5 cm were measured for their dbh and tree height, and identified at species level. The number of primary branches at crown base level was also recorded for each individual to account for variability in the crown structure. Data on functional traits important to plant growth (maximum plant height and specific wood density) were obtained from field inventory and publicly available sources. The data on maximum plant height was obtained from the inventory data, while that of species wood density was obtained from the Global Wood Density Database (Zanne et al., 2009). We used wood density and plant maximum height because they are known to relate with light capture, stem growth and plant investment in biomass. For instance, plant maximum height enhance light capture and facilitate higher growth, while wood density indicates whether a tree species favors a fast growth whereby conductive tissues are rapidly built in lower wood density species (Falster et al., 2018; Prado-Junior et al., 2016).