Article
Forestry
Antonio M. Cachinero-Vivar, Guillermo Palacios-Rodriguez, Miguel A. Lara-Gomez, Rafael M. Navarro-Cerrillo
Summary: The study found that thinning treatments can increase carbon sequestration capacity in Mediterranean pine species by altering tree growth patterns. There was a significant increase in biomass and soil organic carbon under higher thinning intensities, especially in P. nigra, P. sylvestris, and P. pinaster. These results can help improve silvicultural practices for carbon sequestration in dry Mediterranean forest plantations.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Oktay Tekin, Mehmet Cetin, Tugrul Varol, Halil Baris Ozel, Hakan Sevik, Ilknur Zeren Cetin
Summary: Global climate change will directly or indirectly affect all organisms and ecosystems, with plants being the most affected group. To minimize species and population losses, it is important to estimate changes in species' distribution areas and ensure migration mechanisms. This study reveals the potential distribution area changes of the fir tree species in Turkey due to climate change.
WATER AIR AND SOIL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Isabel L. McCoy, Mika A. Vogt, Robert Wood
Summary: Future precipitation changes are influenced by the energy budget of the atmosphere, with temperature, water vapor, and absorbing aerosols playing major roles in driving radiative changes. The impact of aerosol cleanup on precipitation is larger than the influence of changes in atmospheric circulation, indicating the significant importance of policy choices regarding absorbing aerosol emissions.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Hong Wang, Anming Zhu, Aiguo Duan, Hanbin Wu, Jianguo Zhang
Summary: This study analyzed the radial growth and wood density of Chinese fir provenances and found significant correlations with temperature and precipitation. The study also identified different geographic groups of Chinese fir based on their latitude and longitude. The findings are important for predicting the response of Chinese fir to climate change.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yu-Mei Mu, Ouya Fang, Lixin Lyu
Summary: The research on juniper tree growth on the Tibetan Plateau found that recent climate warming has an asymmetric effect on tree growth, with nighttime temperatures rising faster than daytime temperatures. However, the increase in winter minimum temperature has helped mitigate the decline in forest growth. This highlights the importance of understanding how different aspects of climate change can influence forest ecosystems.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jorge Cunha, Felipe S. Campos, Joao David, Rajchandar Padmanaban, Pedro Cabral
Summary: This study investigates the impact of forest changes on carbon sequestration and climate regulation in continental Portugal by 2030 under three land policy scenarios. The results suggest that the high intervention scenario will generate the highest economic outcome for climate regulation.
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT
(2021)
Article
Thermodynamics
Siyue Guo, Da Yan, Shan Hu, Yang Zhang
Summary: The importance of building energy use in China is increasing, with substantial room for growth as living standards and industrial services improve. By implementing suitable strategies and policies, the building sector in China can achieve the combined goals of energy revolution and climate change mitigation.
Article
Ecology
Elizabeth M. Campbell, Steen Magnussen, Joseph A. Antos, Roberta Parish
Summary: This study utilized tree-ring data to analyze tree growth responses to climate variability, revealing clear patterns related to tree size and species. While the climate signal was weak overall, large trees were found to be most sensitive to annual climate fluctuations, accounting for approximately 71% of the overall climate effect on growth.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Charlotte C. Reed, Sharon M. Hood
Summary: This study provides an in-depth exploration of tree mortality caused by drought and bark beetle outbreaks, showing that different tree species have different risk factors for mortality. It is difficult to find generalizable patterns of mortality when bark beetle outbreaks and long, hot droughts occur simultaneously. While physiological differences and beetle-related selection and variability in defenses may influence mortality susceptibility for ponderosa pine, beetle dynamics may play a more prominent role in mortality patterns for white fir and pinyon pine. In contrast, incense cedar mortality appears to be attributable to long-term effects of growth suppression.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Luke Kemp, Chi Xu, Joanna Depledge, Kristie L. Ebi, Goodwin Gibbins, Timothy A. Kohler, Johan Rockstrom, Marten Scheffer, Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, Will Steffen, Timothy M. Lenton
Summary: Understanding the potential catastrophic consequences of climate change is crucial for action, resilience, and policy-making. This article outlines the current knowledge and proposes a research agenda to examine the mechanisms and impacts of extreme climate change, including mass extinction events, human mortality and morbidity, societal vulnerabilities, and integration of multiple strands of evidence.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Camille Hankel, Eli Tziperman
Summary: Research suggests that the abrupt winter sea ice loss in the Arctic under high-emission scenarios may be linked to a local positive feedback cycle, where warm open oceans at the start of winter lead to delayed and diminished ice growth, increased shortwave absorption during spring, and further ice reduction in subsequent seasons. The strength of this feedback mechanism correlates with the abruptness of sea ice loss across different climate models, indicating a potential for hysteresis and irreversibility in sea ice loss.
JOURNAL OF CLIMATE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kevin R. Gurney, Siir Kilkis, Karen C. Seto, Shuaib Lwasa, Daniel Moran, Keywan Riahi, Meredith Keller, Peter Rayner, Muhammed Luqman
Summary: Projections of greenhouse gas emissions are crucial for understanding and anticipating future climate change. The influence of urban areas on global emissions is significant and increasing, especially with the rapid urbanization. Urban mitigation measures are vital for achieving climate neutrality.
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE-HUMAN AND POLICY DIMENSIONS
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Yang Han, Yafeng Wang, Bo Liu, Ru Huang, J. Julio Camarero
Summary: The radial growth of high-elevation shrubs in dry regions shows high sensitivity to climate, especially under lower temperatures. The study found that shrub growth is positively correlated with mean June or July temperatures, but not significantly related to precipitation. With increasing warming and drying trends, shrub growth along altitudinal gradients may shift from temperature to moisture limitation.
TREES-STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Habib Ullah, Xiaochun Wang, Quaid Hussain, Abdullah Khan, Naveed Ahmad, Nizar Ali, Muhammad Waheed Riaz, Izhar Hussain
Summary: The study investigated the relationship between the growth of Abies pindrow and Picea smithiana in different locations in Northern Pakistan and revealed varying correlations between species and geographical locations. As climate warming intensified, there were significant changes in the correlation between tree growth and seasonal precipitation and PDSI.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhi-Ting Chen, Hong-Yan Liu, Chong-Yang Xu, Xiu-Chen Wu, Bo-Yi Liang, Jing Cao, Deliang Chen
Summary: Climate warming has varying effects on vegetation growth in different regions. Under sustainable development scenario, there is no significant change in vegetation growth, but under high carbon emissions and severe warming scenario, vegetation growth may increase significantly in Northeast Asia. This is likely due to the high temperature sensitivities of deciduous needleleaf forests and permanent wetlands in these regions. When the temperature sensitivity exceeds 0.05, the increase in vegetation growth becomes more prominent.
ADVANCES IN CLIMATE CHANGE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Marin Pompa-Garcia, J. Julio Camarero, Michele Colangelo
Summary: Seasonal patterns of wood formation were examined in mixed pine-oak forests in a semi-arid Mexican forest. The study found that different tree species exhibited distinct seasonal variations in wood formation. Temperature and evaporation were found to be the key factors affecting cambium activity and cell radial enlargement in pines. High temperature and vapor pressure deficit were associated with cell-wall thickening and the maturation of earlywood and latewood tracheids in pines. In oak, the onset of cambial activity was constrained by high minimum temperatures, and vessel radial enlargement and radial increment were influenced by temperature and evaporation. The study highlights the importance of water availability and temperature in shaping wood formation patterns in mixed pine-oak forests.
JOURNAL OF FORESTRY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Jesus Julio Camarero, Antonio Gazol, Ester Gonzalez de Andres, Cristina Valeriano, Jose M. Igual, Jesus Causape
Summary: Intensive livestock management can cause nitrogen pollution in water bodies, but the impact of manure application on agroforestry systems is not well understood. This study assessed how pig manure affects tree growth and the nitrogen cycle in two commonly planted tree species. The results showed that fertilized trees had higher soil nutrient concentrations but lower soil microbial biomass. Pine trees showed similar growth between fertilized and non-fertilized trees, while almond trees showed lower growth when fertilized. Leaf nitrogen concentrations decreased, but wood nitrogen isotopes increased in trees subjected to pig manure application. This suggests that pig manure alters nitrogen cycling in both soil and trees.
Article
Agronomy
Sergi Garcia-Barreda, Cristina Valeriano, J. Julio Camarero
Summary: Droughts are becoming more frequent in the Mediterranean basin due to warmer conditions. This study examines the legacy effects of drought on acorn and male inflorescence production and radial growth in Quercus ilex trees. The results show that while there were few negative legacy effects on acorn production in the years following droughts, there was a negative effect of drought stress on tree growth and acorn production, linked to dry winter conditions. The timing, duration, intensity of the drought, and post-drought climate conditions all influence tree growth and reproduction legacies.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Cristina Valeriano, Emilia Gutierrez, Michele Colangelo, Antonio Gazol, Raul Sanchez-Salguero, Jan Tumajer, Vladimir Shishov, Jose Antonio Bonet, Juan Martinez de Aragon, Ricardo Ibanez, Mercedes Valerio, J. Julio Camarero
Summary: Tree phenology is sensitive to climate changes. The lack of long-term xylogenesis records hinders the analysis of growth response to climate variability. Using the VS growth model, this study investigated the climatic drivers of growth bimodality in eight conifers across Spain. The results showed that growth patterns were more bimodal in less continental sites with low spring/autumn precipitation ratios. Pine trees exhibited stronger bimodality compared to junipers. This study highlights the importance of climate drivers in growth patterns and their potential impacts on Mediterranean forests.
Article
Forestry
Ginette Ticse-Otarola, Osir D. Vidal, Laia Andreu-Hayles, Harold R. Quispe-Melgar, Mariano M. Amoroso, Guaciara M. Santos, Edilson J. Requena-Rojas
Summary: Tree-ring studies provide valuable information on forest ecology, such as climate sensitivity, tree growth patterns, and population age structure. This study analyzed the relationship between tree size and age of the high Andean tree species Polylepis rodolfo-vasquezii, and compared their growth patterns and climate sensitivity. The results showed no significant relationship between tree age and size, and the two forests exhibited similar growth patterns and response to temperature.
Article
Plant Sciences
Belen Mendez-Cea, Isabel Garcia-Garcia, Raul Sanchez-Salguero, Victor Lechuga, Francisco Javier Gallego, Juan C. Linares
Summary: This study evaluates the climate sensitivity and growth patterns of the Moroccan fir Abies marocana, and finds a negative effect of warming on tree growth. Genetic differentiation is weak between the studied populations, and growth trends and tree size are associated with genetics rather than climatic sensitivity. The findings highlight the potential of tree rings and genome-wide analysis in understanding the adaptive capacity of drought-sensitive forests.
Article
Ecology
Jesus Julio Camarero, Mercedes Guijarro, Rafael Calama, Cristina Valeriano, Manuel Pizarro, Javier Madrigal
Summary: In seasonally dry forests, wildfires can reduce competition for soil water among trees and improve forest resilience to drought. A study in southwestern Spain found that high-intensity prescribed burning can enhance the drought resistance of pine trees, leading to better post-drought recovery.
Article
Agronomy
Liangjun Zhu, Jie Zhang, J. Julio Camarero, David J. Cooper, Paolo Cherubini, Danyang Yuan, Xiaochun Wang
Summary: With climate warming intensifying, the risk of more frequent and hotter droughts to forest ecosystems globally, including temperate biomes, is significant. To accurately predict forests' response to drought, it is crucial to provide comprehensive information on tree growth resilience, its spatiotemporal changes, and the factors driving it. However, such information is often lacking for broadleaf species in temperate regions. In this study, the researchers analyzed ring-width series from 1981 trees across 40 sites in northeastern China, covering four dominant broad-leaf tree species. They found that factors such as minimum temperatures in most seasons, warm conditions, and drought stress in early summer were the main limitations to tree growth. Different tree species displayed varying levels of resistance and recovery to drought, with Quercus mongolica having the weakest growth resistance but the fastest growth recovery. The study also revealed spatial patterns in tree resilience driven by differences in site conditions and local climates. It highlighted the importance of considering biogeographical factors when studying forest resilience to drought.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Laia Andreu-Hayles, Ernesto Tejedor, Rosanne D'Arrigo, Giuliano Maselli Locosselli, Milagros Rodriguez-Caton, Valerie Daux, Rose Oelkers, Arturo Pacheco-Solana, Kathelyn Paredes-Villanueva, Clara Rodriguez-Morata
Summary: This Special Issue presents recent advancements in tropical dendrochronology in the Americas, focusing on new species identification, climate analysis using tree-ring records, and systematic reviews of past research. These studies contribute to understanding suitable tree species and dating techniques in dendrochronology, as well as the response of tropical forests to environmental change and past climate conditions. The importance of accurately distinguishing annual ring boundaries in complex tropical species and integrating dating methods and visualization techniques is emphasized. With a synthesis of diverse research findings, this Special Issue provides an overview of tropical dendrochronology, identifies knowledge gaps, and suggests future research directions. Ultimately, these advancements promote a deeper understanding of tropical forests, their role in the global climate system, and the need for their sustainable management and conservation.
Article
Ecology
J. Julio Camarero, Michele Colangelo, Angelo Rita, Andrea Hevia, Manuel Pizarro, Jordi Voltas
Summary: Assessing the impacts of defoliation caused by insect herbivores on tree growth, carbon budget and water use requires multi-proxy approaches. In this study, a methodological framework was presented to determine the impacts of the pine processionary moth on pine forests in northeastern Spain. The results showed significant reductions in tree cover, growth, wood density, and changes in wood features. Multi-proxy assessments combining several variables have the potential to improve our ability to understand and reconstruct insect outbreaks.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Isabel Garcia-Garcia, Belen Mendez-Cea, Ester Gonzalez de Andres, Antonio Gazol, Raul Sanchez-Salguero, David Manso-Martinez, Jose Luis Horreo, J. Julio Camarero, Juan Carlos Linares, Francisco Javier Gallego
Summary: Ongoing climatic change poses a threat to drought-sensitive tree species like silver fir. This study used ddRADseq to examine the genetic characteristics of declining and non-declining silver fir trees in the Spanish Pyrenees. While no genetic differences were found between the two groups, there were strong associations between the genome and environmental factors, suggesting the influence of climate, soil properties, and microbial diversity on local adaptation. Incorporating genetic data into silver fir forest dieback studies can provide valuable insights into local adaptation.
Article
Forestry
Caroline Leland, Laia Andreu-Hayles, Edward R. Cook, Kevin J. Anchukaitis, Oyunsanaa Byambasuren, Nicole Davi, Amy Hessl, Dario Martin-Benito, Baatarbileg Nachin, Neil Pederson
Summary: Recent climate extremes in Mongolia have sparked interest in studying past climate variability in north-central Asia. Tree-ring width records in Mongolia have been extensively studied as proxies for climate reconstruction, but the climate and environmental signals of tree-ring stable isotopes in this region still need further exploration.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lucrezia Unterholzner, Daniele Castagneri, Riccardo Cerrato, Marian-Ionut Stirbu, Catalin-Constantin Roibu, Marco Carrer
Summary: Climate change has severe impacts on relict species endemic to the subalpine forest, such as Pinus cembra in the Alps and Carpathians. Tree-ring width analysis is commonly used to understand their response to climate change, but it provides limited insight into specific growth processes and xylem functions. This study analyzed xylem anatomical traits and found that climate responses were similar across different sites, suggesting common species-specific response mechanisms. Temperature was positively correlated with cell number and cell wall thickness, while cell lumen size showed both positive and negative associations with temperature and precipitation. Long-term climate warming may negatively affect the xylem's ability to transport water, and there were slight advancements and decreased climate sensitivity in some xylem parameters in the past 30 years.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)