Frontiers and challenges of tree growth response to climate change in subalpine forests

doi:10.12006/j.issn.1673-1719.2024.302

Abstract

Abstract:

Subalpine forests, playing an important role in maintaining biodiversity and regional water and carbon balance, are highly sensitive to global climate changes. In the context of global climate change, response and adaptation of subalpine forests are among the key scientific issues of terrestrial ecosystems. Tree growth is an important reflection of changes in forest ecosystems. This paper summarizes the diverse patterns of subalpine tree growth along altitudinal gradients, and sums up potential mechanisms underlying the different growth responses of subalpine trees, which included “temperature and precipitation effect hypothesis”, “carbon supply limitation hypothesis”, “carbon utilization limitation hypothesis” and “the influence of underground ecological processes”. Finally, the shorting-comings of these existing hypothesizes are discussed, the importance of hydraulics character of trees in regulating ecological processes is disclosed, and the future research directions are prospected.

Key words: Climate change, Subalpine ecosystem, Tree growth

SUN Shou-Qin, XIE Wen-Tian, HU Zhao-Yong, WANG Wen-Zhi, WANG Gen-Xu. Frontiers and challenges of tree growth response to climate change in subalpine forests[J]. Climate Change Research, 2025, 21(2): 198-207.

Figures/Tables 2

References 81

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