Enhancing ecosystem productivity and stability with increasing canopy structural complexity in global forests

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 10(20)

Published: May 15, 2024

Forest canopy structural complexity (CSC) plays a crucial role in shaping forest ecosystem productivity and stability, but the precise nature of their relationships remains controversial. Here, we mapped global distribution CSC revealed factors influencing its using worldwide light detection ranging data. We find that predominantly demonstrates significant positive with stability globally, although substantial variations exist among ecoregions. The effects on are balanced results biodiversity resource availability, providing valuable insights for comprehending functions. Managed forests found to have lower more potent enhancing than intact forests, highlighting urgent need integrate into development management plans effective climate change mitigation.

Language: Английский

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Revealing legacy effects of extreme droughts on tree growth of oaks across the Northern Hemisphere

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 926, P. 172049 - 172049

Published: March 27, 2024

Forests are undergoing increasing risks of drought-induced tree mortality. Species replacement patterns following mortality may have a significant impact on the global carbon cycle. Among major hardwoods, deciduous oaks (Quercus spp.) increasingly reported as replacing dying conifers across Northern Hemisphere. Yet, our knowledge growth responses these to drought is incomplete, especially regarding post-drought legacy effects. The objectives this study were determine occurrence, duration, and magnitude effects extreme droughts how that vary species, sites, characteristics. quantified by deviation observed from expected radial indices in period 1940–2016. We used stand-level chronologies 458 sites 21 oak species primarily Europe, north-eastern America, eastern Asia. found could last 1 5 years after more prolonged dry sites. Negative (i.e., lower than expected) prevalent repetitive effect was stronger Mediterranean Quercus faginea. Species-specific analyses revealed Q. petraea macrocarpa negatively affected while several mesic increased during years. Sites showing positive correlations winter temperature showed little no depression drought, whereas with correlation previous summer water balance decreased growth. This indicate although warming favors droughts, previous-year precipitation predispose trees current-year droughts. Our results massive role determining highlighted sensitivity climate, seasonality species-specific traits drive species.

Language: Английский

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Microclimate modulation: An overlooked mechanism influencing the impact of plant diversity on ecosystem functioning

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 30(3)

Published: March 1, 2024

Abstract Changes in climate and biodiversity are widely recognized as primary global change drivers of ecosystem structure functioning, also affecting services provided to human populations. Increasing plant diversity not only enhances functioning stability but mitigates effects buffers extreme weather conditions, yet the underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear. Recent studies have shown that can mitigate (e.g. reduce temperature fluctuations or drought through microclimatic effects) different compartments focal ecosystem, which such may contribute effect on properties functioning. However, these potential diversity‐induced microclimate sufficiently understood. Here, we explored consequences modulation modification by for a mechanism contributing documented biodiversity–ecosystem (BEF) relationships, using combination theoretical simulation approaches. We focused diverse set response variables at various levels integration ranging from ecosystem‐level carbon exchange soil enzyme activity, including population dynamics activity specific organisms. demonstrated vegetation layer composed many species has influence thus mitigating negative impacts extremes Integrating processes temperature, humidity light modulation) BEF relationships is promising avenue improve our understanding better predict future structure, services. In addition, management monitoring should be seen tool practitioners adapt ecosystems change.

Language: Английский

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Drought response of the boreal forest carbon sink is driven by understorey–tree composition

Nature Geoscience, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 17(3), P. 197 - 204

Published: Feb. 13, 2024

Abstract The boreal forest is an important global carbon sink, but its response to drought remains uncertain. Here, we compiled biometric- and chamber-based flux data from 50 stands assess the impact of 2018 European summer on net ecosystem production (NEP) across a 68 km 2 managed landscape in northern Sweden. Our results reveal non-uniform reduction NEP (on average by 80 ± 16 g C m −2 yr − 1 or 57 13%) landscape, which was greatest young 20–50 years (95 39 ), gradually decreased towards older (54 ). This pattern attributed higher sensitivity forest-floor understorey decreasing contribution relative trees during stand development. suggests that age-dependent shift understorey–tree composition with increasing age drives NEP. Thus, our study advocates need for partitioning responses improve empirical modelling assessments cycle–climate feedbacks forests. It further implies structure may strongly determine sink projected increase events landscape.

Language: Английский

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Nutritional changes in trees during drought‐induced mortality: A comprehensive meta‐analysis and a field study

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 30(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Abstract Both macronutrients and micronutrients are essential for tree growth development through participating in various ecophysiological processes. However, the impact of nutritional status trees on their ability to withstand drought‐induced mortality remains inconclusive. We thus conducted a comprehensive meta‐analysis, compiling data 11 nutrients from 44 publications (493 independent observations). Additionally, field study was Pinus sylvestris L. with varying vitality loss “Visp” forest southern Switzerland. No consistent decline observed during mortality. The meta‐analysis revealed significantly lower leaf potassium (K), iron (Fe), copper (Cu) concentrations showed no causal relationships between levels trees. This discrepancy is mainly attributed intrinsic differences two types experimental designs ontogenetic stages target Nutrient reductions preceding were predominantly non‐field conditions, where seedlings saplings underdeveloped root systems. It limits nutrient uptake capacity these young drought. Furthermore, responses also influenced by many variables. Specifically, (a) more susceptible drought stress than other organs; (b) reduced prevalent evergreen species mortality; (c) all biomes, Mediterranean forests most vulnerable deficiencies; (d) soil affect direction extent responses. identified factors that influence relationship survival, proposed potential early‐warning indicators impending mortality, example, decreased K declining vitality. These findings contribute our understanding provide practical implications management strategies context global change.

Language: Английский

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Assessing the impact of multi-year droughts on German forests in the context of increased tree mortality

Ecological Modelling, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 492, P. 110696 - 110696

Published: April 6, 2024

Forests play a crucial role in climate regulation and societal well-being. Despite their significance, the increasing frequency of droughts poses severe threat to forest ecosystems, impacting carbon sequestration stability. In Germany, unprecedented 2018–2020 drought resulted extensive tree mortality damaged wood volume, with lasting effects observed subsequent years. As models project continuation such droughts, understanding impact on forests becomes imperative. However, it is unclear how will evolve future if duration continues increase. This study employs model analyze across various German types, focusing periods influence productivity. By utilizing an individual-based growth national inventories, addresses critical knowledge gaps regarding multi-year biomass productivity including monocultures mixed forests. The simulations consider drought-induced large increase caused by factors as pest infestations diseases Germany. Our simulation results reveal declining aboveground gross primary production (GPP) for all simulated scenarios, three- six-year drought. GPP reduced 46 % 3-year scenario 58 6-year scenario. Notably, prolonged lead cumulative losses, saturation effect scenarios exceeding eight Forest stand composition influences these impacts, greater losses low-biomass stands. Furthermore, different types exhibit varying responses. Monocultures even-sized (mostly planted managed forests) are more sensitive than uneven-sized provide valuable insights into resilience ecosystem responses increasingly frequent highlighting importance inform management strategies. Modelling biotic dynamics process-based manner remains challenge that requires research.

Language: Английский

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Recent Water Constraints Mediate the Dominance of Climate and Atmospheric CO₂ on Vegetation Growth Across China

Earth s Future, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12(6)

Published: June 1, 2024

Abstract Multiple lines of evidence confirm a widespread increase in vegetation growth across China over the past few decades. The relationship between and water availability is thought to be becoming stronger under climate change, that is, constraints on have been increasing. However, our understanding how influenced these greening trends, especially those change‐driven ones, remains limited. Here, we conduct comprehensive evaluation recent their implications for 1982 2015. By analyzing spatiotemporal patterns availability, reveal changes hidden within an overall trend China. Further analysis demonstrates two change‐related categories, defined broadly as “climate” (e.g., air temperature, precipitation, so on) “CO 2 ” (i.e., atmospheric carbon dioxide), exerted varying levels importance regulating different constraints. With increasing constraints, proportion climate‐dominated area has significantly risen, while CO ‐dominated sharply declined. Our findings highlight can mediate dominance growth. This great potential exacerbate uncertainty surrounding current future sustainable trends.

Language: Английский

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Tree Lifespans in a Warming World: Unravelling the Universal Trade‐Off Between Growth and Lifespan in Temperate Forests

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 31(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Tree growth and lifespan are key determinants of forest dynamics, ultimately control carbon stocks. Warming increasing CO

Language: Английский

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Stronger tree size-mortality association with increasing droughts and basal areas: A meta-analysis

Ecological Indicators, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 172, P. 113326 - 113326

Published: March 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Novel light regimes in European forests

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 8(2), P. 196 - 202

Published: Nov. 27, 2023

Language: Английский

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