Relationship of Climatic and Forest Factors to Drought- and Heat-Induced Tree Mortality.

ABSTRACT: Tree mortality due to warming and drought is a critical aspect of forest ecosystem in responding to climate change. Spatial patterns of tree mortality induced by drought and its influencing factors, however, have yet to be documented at the global scale. We collected observations from 248 sites globally where trees have died due to drought and then assessed the effects of climatic and forest factors on the rate of tree mortality. The global mean annual mortality rate was 5.5%. The rate of tree mortality was significantly and negatively correlated with mean annual precipitation (P < 0.01). Tree mortality was lowest in tropical rainforests with mean annual precipitation >2000 mm and was severe in regions with mean annual precipitation <1000 mm. Mortality rates varied amongst species. The glo

SUBMITTER: Zhang Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5240974 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature