Disturbances catalyze the adaptation of forest ecosystems to changing climate conditions.

ABSTRACT: The rates of anthropogenic climate change substantially exceed those at which forest ecosystems - dominated by immobile, long-lived organisms - are able to adapt. The resulting maladaptation of forests has potentially detrimental effects on ecosystem functioning. Furthermore, as many forest-dwelling species are highly dependent on the prevailing tree species, a delayed response of the latter to a changing climate can contribute to an extinction debt and mask climate-induced biodiversity loss. However, climate change will likely also intensify forest disturbances. Here, we tested the hypothesis that disturbances foster the reorganization of ecosystems and catalyze the adaptation of forest composition to climate change. Our specific objectives were (i) to quantify the rate of autonomous fore

SUBMITTER: Thom D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5159623 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature