Effect of Climate Change on the Growth and Distribution of Tree Species in Mediterranean Forests

Dear Colleagues,

Climate change is profoundly altering the composition, structure, and biogeographic distribution of forest ecosystems worldwide. The increase in temperatures, changes in precipitation regimes, and the higher frequency of extreme events will modify the physiological functioning, growth, and distribution of tree species, leading to habitat shifts, local extinctions, alterations in physiological responses, and modifications in tree growth rates and phenology. As a climate change hotspot, the Mediterranean basin represents one of the most vulnerable ecosystems in Europe. In the Mediterranean region, characterized by complex and heterogeneous climatology, tree growth responses to climatic variations can diverge depending on local conditions, species traits, and regional climatic context. Therefore, a greater understanding of how a changing climate affects tree growth and spatial distribution is essential to assessing forest productivity and guiding sustainable management strategies. Tree-ring analysis, through standard dendrochronological procedures, is widely used as a proxy for quantifying long-term tree responses to climatic variability, allowing for the reconstruction of past growth dynamics and the identification of the main climatic drivers. In recent years, dendrochronological analysis has been integrated with high-resolution remote sensing data (e.g., LiDAR data) to assess responses to extreme events and improve the development of more effective forest conservation and management strategies. However, integrating dendrochronological analysis with species distribution models—which are based on a wide range of bioclimatic variables, such as annual means, extremes, and seasonality of temperature and precipitation—to predict potential changes in tree habitats under future climate scenarios, could provide a more comprehensive understanding of the vulnerability, resilience, and adaptive potential of forests in the Mediterranean region. This could improve ecological prediction models and our ability to anticipate how tree species might respond to climate change.

This Special Issue aims to integrate dendrochronological data with species distribution models based on a broad set of bioclimatic variables in order to gain a better understanding of ecological dynamics and inform more effective management and conservation strategies.

Dr. Soraya Versace
Dr. Costanza Borghi
Dr. Davide Travaglini
Guest Editors

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