Tree Ecology and Management in the Era of Climate Change

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Ecology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2025) | Viewed by 896

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Botany and Forest Habitats, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Wojska Polskiego 71f, 60-625 Poznań, Poland
Interests: forest habitats; soil science; forest plant communities; and Natura 2000 network; the main directions of scientific activity include: forest typology; forest ecology; and the protection of forest ecosystems

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Trees play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by sequestering carbon, regulating the local climate, and providing a habitat for diverse flora and fauna. Climate change has significant implications for tree growth, species distribution, and overall forest ecosystems. In the face of rapidly changing climatic conditions, understanding tree ecology and implementing effective management strategies are paramount to the preservation of forests worldwide. Effective tree ecology studies are essential for comprehending how trees interact with their environment, respond to climatic stressors, and influence ecosystem dynamics. This knowledge is instrumental in developing sustainable forest management practices that enhance resilience to changing environmental conditions.

In this era of climate change, addressing tree ecology and management challenges requires interdisciplinary approaches, innovative technologies, and adaptive strategies to ensure the long-term health and sustainability of forest ecosystems

The aim of this Special Issue on “Tree Ecology and Management in the Era of Climate Change” is to explore the dynamic interplay between tree ecosystems and changing climatic conditions, providing insights into innovative strategies for sustainable forest management, adaptation, and conservation practices in response to the challenges posed by climate change.

Prof. Dr. Paweł Rutkowski
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • trees
  • ecology
  • climate change
  • forest

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

18 pages, 3824 KiB  
Article
A Spatial Structure of Key Tree Species Metrodorea nigra St. Hill. (Rutaceae) Is Associated with Historical Disturbance and Isolation in Southeastern Brazil
by Rômulo Maciel de Moraes Filho, Fernando Bonifácio-Anacleto, Fabio Alberto Alzate-Martinez, Carlos Alberto Martinez and Ana Lilia Alzate-Marin
Plants 2025, 14(5), 702; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14050702 - 25 Feb 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 539
Abstract
The semi-deciduous Brazilian Atlantic Forest has faced intense fragmentation, impacting Metrodorea nigra St. Hill., a fly-pollinated and autochorous tree. We investigated population structure, inbreeding, and spatial genetic structure (SGS) across adult (Adu) and juvenile (Juv) generations in three fragmented populations of M. nigra [...] Read more.
The semi-deciduous Brazilian Atlantic Forest has faced intense fragmentation, impacting Metrodorea nigra St. Hill., a fly-pollinated and autochorous tree. We investigated population structure, inbreeding, and spatial genetic structure (SGS) across adult (Adu) and juvenile (Juv) generations in three fragmented populations of M. nigra in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. We tested whether the magnitude of these effects could result from its mating system, seed dispersal, anthropogenic disturbances, matrix, and fragment size. Populations affected by selective logging, fire, and trail openings include M13-Rib (84 ha) and FAC-Crav (8 ha), both surrounded by sugar cane and BSQ-Rib (3 ha) in an urban matrix. We evaluated phenological events and germination rates in the BSQ-Rib fragment. We sampled leaves and amplified their DNA using ISSR (UBC 1, 2, 820, 834, 851, 858, 860, 886) and SSR (Mtn 1, 3, 13, 16, 19, 87, 95) molecular markers. Fst, PCoA, and AMOVA values suggest a lack of generational isolation, with most variance within generations. Inbreeding values were significant in all populations (Fis and Fit, p = 0.001), probably intensified by natural seed dispersal and pollinator behavior favoring geitonogamy. However, fragmentation, anthropogenic disturbances, and the surrounding matrix influenced SGS. The urban BSQ-Rib fragment recorded the highest SGS values (26 m Juv, 24 m Adu [ISSR]; 7 m Juv, 9 m Adu [SSR]), which may result in low fruit and seed production and germination rates. Despite being the largest fragment, M13-Rib shows SGS in the first distance class (19 m Juv, 24 m Adu [ISSR]; 0 m Juv, and 10 m Adu [SSR]), possibly due to selective logging and fire. FAC-Crav, a more conserved fragment, showed no SGS in adults but punctual SGS in juveniles (27 m [ISSR] and 8 m [SSR]), pointing to it as a promising source for seed collections for reforestation purposes. In summary, inbreeding in M. nigra, influenced by pollinator behavior and seed dispersal, along with fragmentation, anthropogenic disturbances, and the surrounding matrix, are critical in shaping SGS. These factors potentially impact the reproductive success of M. nigra and their long-term survival in the face of climate change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tree Ecology and Management in the Era of Climate Change)
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