COVER PHOTO: Structurally complex forest ecosystems are generally more biodiverse, but most means of characterizing complexity rely on overly simplistic one‐ or two‐dimensional measurements. In a study within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA, Walter et al. (Ecosphere, Volume 12, Issue 3, Article e03390; https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3390) developed a new three‐dimensional metric using terrestrial laser scanning of forest complexity to show positive correlations between forest structure and biodiversity, specifi cally highlighting relationships with stand height and structural variability. This link between ecosystem complexity and biodiversity can be leveraged in the future for regional, or even global, assessments of biodiversity. Photo credit: Atticus E. L. Stovall.

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封面照片：结构复杂的森林生态系统通常更具生物多样性，但是表征复杂性的大多数方法都依赖于过于简单的一维或二维测量。在美国大烟山国家公园内的一项研究中，Walter等人（美国）。（《生态圈》，第12卷，第3期，第e03390条； https：//doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3390）使用地面激光对森林复杂性进行扫描，开发了一种新的三维度量标准，以显示森林结构与生物多样性之间的正相关关系，突出显示与林分高度和结构变异性的关系。将来可以利用生态系统复杂性与生物多样性之间的这种联系来进行区域乃至全球的生物多样性评估。图片来源：Atticus EL Stovall。