A study examines latitudinal patterns in stabilizing conspecific negative density dependence (CNDD) in forest communities. Using dynamic mortality data from 23 forest sites, researchers found that stabilizing CNDD was present at all but one site, but average CNDD was not stronger toward the tropics. However, in tropical tree communities, rare and intermediate abundant species experienced stronger stabilizing CNDD than common species, a pattern absent in temperate forests. Interspecific variation in CNDD was high but not significantly different across latitudes. The study suggests that CNDD may play a more significant role in regulating species abundances in tropical forests, contributing to their high local diversity. The results challenge previous assumptions about a latitudinal gradient in CNDD, indicating that while CNDD is widespread in both tropical and temperate forests, its effect on community composition and biodiversity patterns remains debated. The study highlights the importance of dynamic data and robust statistical methods in understanding CNDD and its role in species coexistence and diversity.A study examines latitudinal patterns in stabilizing conspecific negative density dependence (CNDD) in forest communities. Using dynamic mortality data from 23 forest sites, researchers found that stabilizing CNDD was present at all but one site, but average CNDD was not stronger toward the tropics. However, in tropical tree communities, rare and intermediate abundant species experienced stronger stabilizing CNDD than common species, a pattern absent in temperate forests. Interspecific variation in CNDD was high but not significantly different across latitudes. The study suggests that CNDD may play a more significant role in regulating species abundances in tropical forests, contributing to their high local diversity. The results challenge previous assumptions about a latitudinal gradient in CNDD, indicating that while CNDD is widespread in both tropical and temperate forests, its effect on community composition and biodiversity patterns remains debated. The study highlights the importance of dynamic data and robust statistical methods in understanding CNDD and its role in species coexistence and diversity.