Interactions Matter — Complex Effects of Competition, Disturbances, and Climate on Tree Growth

Dear Colleagues,

Tree growth is the keystone ecological process that shapes forest ecosystem structure and drives the provision of ecosystem services to humans by the world forests. Decades of dendroecological research have showed how several biotic and abiotic factors, such as climate, stand dynamics, natural disturbances, and forest management, affect tree development and regulate growth rates. Traditionally, such factors have been analyzed one at a time, while controlling for confounding interactions. However, an increasing body of literature has demonstrated that when two of more factors are taken into account (e.g., by analyzing the effect of competition on growth response to climate), their action is compounded in a non-linear way, generating indirect, threshold, or emergent tipping-point processes.

We now encourage all researchers to contribute to a special issue of the journal Forests that focuses on tree growth response to multiple, interacting factors. Studies using a suite of dendrochronological variables (ring width, wood density, xylem anatomical features, and stable isotopes) are welcome, as long as they investigate the effect of interacting exogenous factors on elements of tree growth. Both retrospective studies and simulation of future growth (validated by dendrochronological techniques) are suitable for the Special issue. The issue will contribute to the advancement of dendrochronology and forest ecology knowledge, helping researchers globally to better understand tree growth patterns and processes under the simultaneous influence of multiple drivers. This will improve our capacity to model forest growth, use tree rings as accurate proxies for ecological and climatic processes, and develop management practices and strategies to face climate change.

Dr. Giorgio Vacchiano
Dr. Daniele Castagneri
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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