Influence of Climate Change on Tree Growth and Forest Ecosystems

Dear Colleagues,

Recent research has shown that climate change is already altering tree species ranges, mortality and growth rates. Recent analyses of the potential effects of climate change on tree growth in Europe and America have suggested that important timber species may lose suitable habitat and suffer adversely from a combination of warming trends and reduced growing season precipitation. In contrast, other species may actually expand their range and potentially show improved growth rates in parts of their existing range, or show potential for their use as commercial species in new regions. Research has uncovered species-specific growth responses to climate change. In addition, the complex interactions between tree growth and temperature, water, nutrients, and carbon dioxide are also modulated by inter- and intra-specific competition levels. The state-of-the-art currently focuses on understanding how forest ecosystems, and not only tree species, could respond to climate change. On this respect, the potential resilience of mixed forests towards changes in growing conditions could also be used to adapt forest management to the novel growing conditions that are slowly but steadily unfolding. Therefore, advancing the current knowledge of how climate change can influence tree growth and forest ecosystems is the focus of this Special Issue.

Dr. Juan A. Blanco
Dr. Yueh-Hsin Lo
Dr. Ester González-de-Andrés
Guest Editors

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