Evapotranspiration and favorable growing degree-days are key to tree height growth and ecosystem functioning: Meta-analyses of Pacific Northwest historical data.

ABSTRACT: While temperature and precipitation comprise important ecological filtering for native ranges of forest trees and are predisposing factors underlying forest ecosystem dynamics, the extent and severity of drought raises reasonable concerns for carbon storage and species diversity. Based on historical data from common garden experiments across the Pacific Northwest region, we developed non-linear niche models for height-growth trajectories of conifer trees at the sapling stage using annual or seasonal climatic variables. The correlations between virtual tree height for each locality and ecosystem functions were respectively assessed. Best-fitted models were composed of two distinct components: evapotranspiration and the degree-days disparity for temperature regimes between 5 °C and 18 °C (ef

SUBMITTER: Liu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5974028 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature