Title | Density-dependent vulnerability of forest ecosystems to drought |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2016 |
Authors | Bottero, Alessandra, D’Amato Anthony, Palik Brian J., Bradford John B., Fraver Shawn, Battaglia Mike A., and Asherin Lance A. |
Journal | Journal of Applied Ecology |
Date Published | Dec-10-2016 |
Keywords | climate change adaptation, Drought impacts, ecosystem services, Pinus ponderosa, Pinus resinosa, Semi-arid forests, Temperate forests, Thinning, Tree population density |
Abstract | Climate models predict increasing drought intensity and frequency for many regions, which may have negative consequences for tree recruitment, growth, and mortality, as well as forest ecosystem services. Furthermore, practical strategies for minimizing vulnerability to drought are limited. Tree population density, a metric of tree abundance in a given area, is a primary driver of competitive intensity among trees, which influences tree growth and mortality. Manipulating tree population density may be a mechanism for moderating drought-induced stress and growth reductions, although the relationship between tree population density and tree drought vulnerability remains poorly quantified, especially across climatic gradients. |
URL | http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.12847/abstract |
DOI | 10.1111/1365-2664.12847 |
Short Title | J Appl Ecol |