Climate and traits drive bark decomposition patterns at global scale.

ABSTRACT: Tree bark represents a large global carbon stock, comprising 2-20 % of woody biomass, and plays a distinct role in carbon and nutrient cycling. It is poorly understood how different abiotic and biotic drivers contribute to bark decomposition globally, or how these relationships play out in a changing climate. Here, we compile a global dataset to estimate the spatial variability of current bark decomposition rates (k values) and employ three machine learning approaches to project the response of k in future climate scenarios. We find that, globally, bark decomposes 2.9 times faster than the rate previously estimated for tree trunks (including bark). Mean k values increase latitudinally from 0.093 year^-1 in the boreal region to 1.339 year^-1 in the tropical region. Angio

SUBMITTER: Chang C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12800307 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature