Climatic Warming Caused a Transition in Tree Growth Sensitivity from Temperature to Moisture Conditions: Evidence from Multi-Species Tree-Ring Data in the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau

Wenwen Luo; Chengsheng Xie; Songlin Shi; Jingji Li; Guoyan Wang; Xiaojuan Bie

doi:10.3390/f15020241

journal article Open Access Jan 26, 2024

Climatic Warming Caused a Transition in Tree Growth Sensitivity from Temperature to Moisture Conditions: Evidence from Multi-Species Tree-Ring Data in the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau

Wenwen Luo Chengsheng Xie

Forests Vol. 15 No. 2 pp. 241 · MDPI AG

View at Publisher Save 10.3390/f15020241

Abstract

Traditionally, investigations into the climatic response of various tree species have spanned different regions. However, dendrochronological studies within a single region, characterized by minor climatic differences, have received comparatively less attention. Therefore, this study collected 230 tree cores from four prevalent conifer species (P. yunnanensis, A. forrestii, P. likiangensis, and T. dumosa) in the Lugu Lake Wetland Nature Reserve of southwestern China, a region undergoing climate warming and drying. This study employed dendrochronological methods to investigate tree growth–climate static responses, individual tree responses to climate, and dynamic tree–climate interactions. Our findings revealed that as the trend of warming and drying persists, tree growth exhibits an initial increase followed by a subsequent decrease. Dynamic response analyses, along with standardized assessments, indicate that in the early stages of warming, tree growth benefits from elevated temperatures. However, in the later stages of warming, the combined effects of warming and drying become more pronounced. During this phase, the facilitating impact of temperature diminishes, while the controlling influence of moisture conditions intensifies. Looking ahead, with the ongoing intensification of warming and drying, tree growth in the region is anticipated to become increasingly reliant on the water supply. This shift may lead to the decline or mortality of tree species intolerant to drought, such as T. dumosa.

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Details

Published: Jan 26, 2024
Vol/Issue: 15(2)
Pages: 241
License: View

Authors

W

Wenwen Luo

College of Geography and Planning, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China

C

Chengsheng Xie

College of Earth Science, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China

S

Songlin Shi

College of Geography and Planning, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China; Research Center for Human Geography of Tibetan Plateau and Its Eastern Slope, Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences of College in Sichuan Province, Chengdu 610059, China

J

Jingji Li

College of Ecology and Environment, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China

G

Guoyan Wang

College of Geography and Planning, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China; Research Center for Human Geography of Tibetan Plateau and Its Eastern Slope, Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences of College in Sichuan Province, Chengdu 610059, China

X

Xiaojuan Bie

College of Geography and Planning, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China; Research Center for Human Geography of Tibetan Plateau and Its Eastern Slope, Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences of College in Sichuan Province, Chengdu 610059, China

Funding

Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program Award: 2023NSFSC0188

Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Award: 2023NSFSC0188

Key Research and Development Program of Sichuan Award: 2023NSFSC0188

Cite This Article

Wenwen Luo, Chengsheng Xie, Songlin Shi, et al. (2024). Climatic Warming Caused a Transition in Tree Growth Sensitivity from Temperature to Moisture Conditions: Evidence from Multi-Species Tree-Ring Data in the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau. Forests, 15(2), 241. https://doi.org/10.3390/f15020241

Climatic Warming Caused a Transition in Tree Growth Sensitivity from Temperature to Moisture Conditions: Evidence from Multi-Species Tree-Ring Data in the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau

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