Climate Change and Forest Disturbances

Dear Colleagues,

Disturbances such as fires, tropical cyclones (hurricanes and typhoons), and insect outbreaks have pervasive effects on forest structure, function, dynamics, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration. Climate change is predicted to affect the frequency and intensity of many types of disturbance. For example, warming-induced drought is likely to increase forest fires, and warmer oceans may initiate more and more violent tropical cyclones. Disturbance and changes in the disturbance regime may push some species to the edge of survival but create opportunities for new species to invade the disturbed habitats. A large number of studies have examined the effects of disturbances on forest ecosystems. However, the changes in disturbance frequency/intensity may alter disturbance–forest interactions that are yet to be explored. From the perspectives of both theoretical understanding of disturbance ecology and practical management of forest ecosystems, we need more empirical and theoretical studies on disturbance–forest interactions in the context of climate change. Many of the disturbance–forest interactions vary among forests in different regions with different physical settings (e.g., differences in disturbance regime and geomorphological features) and biotic features (e.g., differences in biodiversity and species composition). Studies from a single region are unlikely to capture the full spectrum of disturbance–forest interactions. We need collective efforts from various regions to fully understanding disturbance–forest interactions from which to provide sound forest management practices that would be more sustainable under the (changing) disturbance regime.

Prof. Teng-Chiu Lin
Guest Editor

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• Mapping disturbance impact
• Modeling disturbance–forest interactions
• Disturbance and forest resistance/resilience
• Forest fire, tropical cyclones, insect outbreaks
• Disturbance–diversity relationship
• Disturbance and carbon sequestration
• Disturbance and species invasion
• New tools and methodologies for exploring disturbance–forest interactions