Research

19 pages, 12793 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Predicting the Spatial Distribution of the Mangshan Pit Viper (Protobothrops mangshanensis) under Climate Change Scenarios Using MaxEnt Modeling

by Zeshuai Deng, Xin Xia, Mu Zhang, Xiangying Chen, Xiangyun Ding, Bing Zhang, Guoxing Deng and Daode Yang

Forests 2024, 15(4), 723; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15040723 - 20 Apr 2024

Viewed by 479

Abstract

This study explores the critical issue of understanding the potential impacts of climate change on the habitat suitability of the highly endangered forest-dwelling Mangshan pit viper (Protobothrops mangshanensis) in China. Through the application of the MaxEnt model, high-resolution bioclimatic datasets, and [...] Read more.

This study explores the critical issue of understanding the potential impacts of climate change on the habitat suitability of the highly endangered forest-dwelling Mangshan pit viper (Protobothrops mangshanensis) in China. Through the application of the MaxEnt model, high-resolution bioclimatic datasets, and species occurrence data, the research aims to elucidate the spatial and temporal dynamics of P. mangshanensis distribution from the present to the years 2050 and 2070. Through the integration of three climate models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) and exploring different shared socioeconomic pathway (SSP) scenarios (SSP126, SSP370, and SSP585), the study seeks to provide comprehensive insights into the potential variations in habitat suitability under diverse future climate conditions. The methodology employed involves the construction of the MaxEnt model utilizing the BioClim dataset and 83 species occurrence points. The SSP scenarios mentioned above represent future climate change scenarios, and the accuracy of the model is evaluated using the area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC). Key findings reveal that the MaxEnt model exhibits high accuracy (AUC = 0.998), pinpointing the current suitable habitat for P. mangshanensis to be confined to the Mangshan area within the Nanling Mountains, covering an approximate area of 1023.12 km². However, projections based on future climate scenarios suggest notable shifts in habitat suitability dynamics. While potential suitable habitats may emerge in the northwest of the current range, the existing suitable habitats are anticipated to undergo significant reduction or even complete disappearance. Notably, precipitation during the driest month emerges as a critical determinant influencing the distribution of the species. In conclusion, the study underscores the exacerbating impact of climate change on habitat deterioration and survival risks for P. mangshanensis, emphasizing the urgent need for conservation measures to safeguard the remaining suitable habitats for this endangered species. The implications of these findings are far-reaching, with the anticipated contraction of the snake’s range potentially leading to its disappearance and increased habitat fragmentation. By shedding light on the potential distributional changes of P. mangshanensis in Mangshan, the research provides valuable insights for informing targeted conservation strategies and policy interventions aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of climate change on endangered species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Species Distribution, Diversity and Growth under Climate Change)

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16 pages, 3714 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Pulses of Soil CO₂ Emission in Response to Rainfall Events in Central Siberia: Revisiting the Overall Frost-Free Season CO₂ Flux

by Anastasia V. Makhnykina, Eugene A. Vaganov, Alexey V. Panov, Nataly N. Koshurnikova and Anatoly S. Prokushkin

Forests 2024, 15(2), 355; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15020355 - 12 Feb 2024

Viewed by 826

Abstract

Boreal forests nowadays act as a sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide; however, their sequestration capacity is highly sensitive to weather conditions and, specifically to ongoing climate warming. Extreme weather events such as heavy rainfalls or, conversely, heat waves during the growing season might [...] Read more.

Boreal forests nowadays act as a sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide; however, their sequestration capacity is highly sensitive to weather conditions and, specifically to ongoing climate warming. Extreme weather events such as heavy rainfalls or, conversely, heat waves during the growing season might perturb the ecosystem carbon balance and convert them to an additional CO₂ source. Thus, there is an urgent need to revise ecosystem carbon fluxes in vast Siberian taiga ecosystems as influenced by extreme weather events. In this study, we focused on the soil CO₂ pulses appearing after the rainfall events and quantification of their input to the seasonal cumulative CO₂ efflux in the boreal forests in Central Siberia. Seasonal measurements of soil CO₂ fluxes (both soil respiration and net soil exchange) were conducted during three consecutive frost-free seasons using the dynamic chamber method. Seasonal dynamics of net soil exchange fluxes demonstrated positive values, reflecting that soil respiration rates exceeded CO₂ uptake in the forest floor vegetation layer. Moreover, the heavy rains caused a rapid pulse of soil emissions and, as a consequence, the release of additional amounts of CO₂ from the soil into the atmosphere. A single rain event may cause a 5–11-fold increase of the NSE flux compared to the pre-rainfall values. The input of CO₂ pulses to the seasonal cumulative efflux varied from near zero to 39% depending on precipitation patterns of a particular season. These findings emphasize the critical need for more frequent measurements of soil CO₂ fluxes throughout the growing season which capture the CO₂ pulses induced by rain events. This approach has inevitable importance for the accurate assessment of seasonal CO₂ soil emissions and adequate predictions of response of boreal pine forests to climatic changes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Species Distribution, Diversity and Growth under Climate Change)

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17 pages, 6809 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Predicting the Distributions of Morus notabilis C. K. Schneid under Climate Change in China

by Hui Gao, Qianqian Qian, Xinqi Deng, Yaqin Peng and Danping Xu

Forests 2024, 15(2), 352; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15020352 - 11 Feb 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 682

Abstract

As one of the common mulberry tree species, Morus notabilis C. K. Schneid plays a significant role in various industries such as silkworm rearing, papermaking, and medicine due to its valuable mulberry leaves, fruits, and wood. This study utilizes the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) [...] Read more.

As one of the common mulberry tree species, Morus notabilis C. K. Schneid plays a significant role in various industries such as silkworm rearing, papermaking, and medicine due to its valuable mulberry leaves, fruits, and wood. This study utilizes the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model to predict the potential distribution of M. notabilis in China under future environmental changes. By integrating the relative percentage contribution score of environmental factors with jackknife test analysis, important variables influencing the distribution of M. notabilis were identified along with their optimal values. The results indicate that Annual Precipitation (bio12), Precipitation of Driest Month (bio14), Min Temperature of Coldest Month (bio6), Temperature Annual Range (bio5–bio6) (bio7), Precipitation of Warmest Quarter (bio18), and Precipitation of Coldest Quarter (bio19) are the primary environmental variables affecting its potential distribution. Currently, M. notabilis exhibits high suitability over an area spanning 11,568 km², while medium suitability covers 34,244 km². Both current and future suitable areas for M. notabilis are predominantly concentrated in Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou provinces, as well as Chongqing city in southwest China. Under the SSP5-8.5 scenario representing high greenhouse gas concentrations by 2050s and 2090s, there is an increase in high suitability area by 2952 km² and 3440 km², with growth rates reaching 25.52% and 29.74%, respectively. Notably, these two scenarios exhibit substantial expansion in suitable habitats for this species compared to others analyzed within this study period. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Species Distribution, Diversity and Growth under Climate Change)

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18 pages, 3477 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Carbon Accumulation and the Possibility of Carbon Losses by Vertical Movement of Dissolved Organic Carbon in Western Siberian Peatlands

by Evgeny A. Zarov, Elena D. Lapshina, Iris Kuhlmann and Ernst-Detlef Schulze

Forests 2023, 14(12), 2393; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14122393 - 07 Dec 2023

Viewed by 894

Abstract

We studied the peat stratigraphy of the Mukhrino peatland, which is a typical ombrotrophic bog for the Middle Taiga zone of Western Siberia, to gain insights into its history, hydrology, and carbon fluxes. For the first time in Western Siberia, seven cores were [...] Read more.

We studied the peat stratigraphy of the Mukhrino peatland, which is a typical ombrotrophic bog for the Middle Taiga zone of Western Siberia, to gain insights into its history, hydrology, and carbon fluxes. For the first time in Western Siberia, seven cores were collected from locations that were chosen to represent the typical present-day vegetation types, and this was performed for the dating of the separated dissolved (DOC) and particulate organic carbon (POC) fractions, which were determined using the Accelerator Mass Spectrometer (AMS) radiocarbon (

^{14}

C) method. The oldest peat was found at the bottoms of an underlying lake (10,053 cal. year BP) and an ancient riverbed (10,989 cal. year BP). For the whole history of the peatland, the average peat accumulation rate was estimated to be 0.067 ± 0.018 cm yr

^{- 1}

(ranging from 0.013 to 0.332 cm yr

^{- 1}

), and the carbon accumulation rate was 38.56 ± 12.21 g m

^{- 2}

yr

^{- 1}

(ranging from 28.46 to 57.91 g m

^{- 2}

yr

^{- 1}

). There were clear age differences between the separated samples of the DOC and POC. The DOC was older than the POC in the uppermost 150 cm of the peat deposit and younger in the deeper layers. The difference in age increased with depth, reaching 2000–3000 years at the bottom of the peat deposit (depth of 430–530 cm). Following the consideration of a range of factors that could potentially cause the dating discrepancy, we hypothesised that the DOC continuously moves down into the mineral sediment beneath the peat, as an additional carbon flux that results in the mixing of younger and older carbon. On this basis, we estimated the apparent rate of the DOC’s downward movement and the associated rate of carbon loss. The first estimate of the average rate of the DOC’s downward movement in Western Siberia was 0.047 ± 0.019 cm yr

^{- 1}

, causing carbon loss in the range of 28–404 mg m

^{- 2}

yr

^{- 1}

. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Species Distribution, Diversity and Growth under Climate Change)

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18 pages, 12175 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Climate Change-Driven Cumulative Mountain Pine Beetle-Caused Whitebark Pine Mortality in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

by William W. Macfarlane, Brian Howell, Jesse A. Logan, Ally L. Smith, Cashe C. Rasmussen and Robert E. Spangler

Forests 2023, 14(12), 2361; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14122361 - 30 Nov 2023

Viewed by 1265

Abstract

An aerial survey method called the Landscape Assessment System (LAS) was used to assess mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae)-caused mortality of whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (59,000 km²; GYE). This consisted of 11,942 [...] Read more.

An aerial survey method called the Landscape Assessment System (LAS) was used to assess mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae)-caused mortality of whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (59,000 km²; GYE). This consisted of 11,942 km of flightlines, along which 4434 geo-tagged, oblique aerial photos were captured and processed. A mortality rating of none to severe (0–4.0 recent attack or 5.0–5.4 old attack) was assigned to each photo based on the amount of red (recent attack) and gray (old attack) trees visible. The method produced a photo inventory of 74 percent of the GYE whitebark pine distribution. For the remaining 26 percent of the distribution, mortality levels were estimated based on an interpolated mortality surface. Catchment-level results combining the photo-inventoried and interpolated mortality indicated that 44 percent of the GYE whitebark pine distribution showed severe old attack mortality (5.3–5.4 rating), 37 percent showed moderate old attack mortality (5.2–5.29 rating), 19 percent showed low old attack mortality (5.1–5.19 rating) and less than 1 percent showed trace levels of old attack mortality (5.0–5.09). No catchments were classified as recent attacks indicating that the outbreak of the early 2000’s has ended. However, mortality continues to occur as chronic sub-outbreak-level mortality. Ground verification using field plots indicates that higher LAS mortality values are moderately correlated with a higher percentage of mortality on the ground. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Species Distribution, Diversity and Growth under Climate Change)

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18 pages, 3490 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Climate Change and Fire on the Middle and Late Holocene Forest History in Yenisei Siberia

by Elena Novenko, Olga Rudenko, Natalia Mazei, Dmitriy Kupriyanov, Rodion Andreev, Anton Shatunov, Maria Kusilman, Anatoly Prokushkin and Alexander Olchev

Forests 2023, 14(12), 2321; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14122321 - 26 Nov 2023

Viewed by 935

Abstract

This study presents the long-term forest history in the forest–tundra ecotone of the Low Yenisei River basin. The new high-resolution pollen and macroscopic charcoal data were inferred from the 8.6 m long peat archive covering the last 6300 years. Climate reconstructions are based [...] Read more.

This study presents the long-term forest history in the forest–tundra ecotone of the Low Yenisei River basin. The new high-resolution pollen and macroscopic charcoal data were inferred from the 8.6 m long peat archive covering the last 6300 years. Climate reconstructions are based on the application of the best modern analogue technique using pollen data. Our findings suggest an alternation of phases of middle-taiga forests of Larix sibirica, Abies sibirica, Picea obovata, and Pinus sibirica (intervals of climate warming: 6320–6050, 5790–5370, 4480–4220, and 3600–2700 cal yr BP, respectively) and open larch woodlands with the participation of Betula, Picea, and Pinus sibirica, typical for northern taiga (intervals of climate cooling and increasing humidification: 5370–4480, 4220–3600 cal yr BP, respectively). The vegetation pattern of the region became similar to the modern one around 2700 cal yr BP. Climate warming caused a northward shift of vegetation-zone boundaries in Yenisei Siberia and an expansion of the range of Abies sibirica by about 200 km to the north compared to the present day. The increased frequency of fires and biomass burning during warm periods may promote the melting of the local permafrost, thereby enhancing the tree growth and regeneration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Species Distribution, Diversity and Growth under Climate Change)

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17 pages, 10424 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phenotypic Diversity of Litsea cubeba in Jiangxi China and the Identification of Germplasms with Desirable Characteristics

by Xuefang Wang, Xiaodan Ning, Guoxiang Liao, Guorong Fan, Xiaodeng Shi, Dan Fu, Zongde Wang, Shangxing Chen and Jiawei Wang

Forests 2023, 14(12), 2283; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14122283 - 22 Nov 2023

Viewed by 767

Abstract

Litsea cubeba (Lour.) Pers. is an important economic tree. We aimed to explore the phenotypic diversity of wild L. cubeba provenances from Jiangxi province and identify the germplasms with desirable characteristics. Nest variance analysis, multiple comparisons, correlation analysis, path analysis, redundancy analysis, and [...] Read more.

Litsea cubeba (Lour.) Pers. is an important economic tree. We aimed to explore the phenotypic diversity of wild L. cubeba provenances from Jiangxi province and identify the germplasms with desirable characteristics. Nest variance analysis, multiple comparisons, correlation analysis, path analysis, redundancy analysis, and cluster analysis were conducted to compare the phenotypes of 526 wild L. cubeba trees from 27 provenances. We detected significant differences in the growth traits, fruit traits, and essential oil (EO) content of L. cubeba provenances, as well as significant differences in tree height, thousand seed dry weight, and the proportion of five essential oil components (citral, neral, geranial, D-limonene, and citronellal) within the provenances. The fresh fruit yield (FFY) was mainly determined by the ground diameter and the annual average minimum temperature. The EO content was mainly affected by the water content, annual average temperature, longitude, and latitude. The proportion of citral (CitrP) was negatively affected by extreme low temperatures. Four individual L. cubeba trees had a high FFY of over 10.00 kg·tree⁻¹. Two trees had a high EO content exceeding 5%, with their CitrP over 80%. The provenances with high FFY were Guixi and Yushan (2.65 kg·tree⁻¹; 2.89 kg·tree⁻¹). The provenances with a high EO content of about 4.00% were Dayu, Yudu, Ji’an, Xinfeng, and Yushan. The provenance with the highest CitrP level (80.61%) was Ningdu. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Species Distribution, Diversity and Growth under Climate Change)

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13 pages, 10700 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Evaluation of Forestry Component Survival in Plots of the Program “Sembrando Vida” (Sowing Life) Using Drones

by José Luis Gallardo-Salazar, Cuauhtémoc Sáenz-Romero, Roberto A. Lindig-Cisneros, Arnulfo Blanco-García and Verónica Osuna-Vallejo

Forests 2023, 14(11), 2117; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14112117 - 24 Oct 2023

Viewed by 1173

Abstract

Reforestation is one of the main actions undertaken to mitigate the effects of climate change. In Mexico, the Federal Government program “Sembrando Vida” (Sowing Life) is currently the most important reforestation effort. It aims to recoup forest cover and achieve food [...] Read more.

Reforestation is one of the main actions undertaken to mitigate the effects of climate change. In Mexico, the Federal Government program “Sembrando Vida” (Sowing Life) is currently the most important reforestation effort. It aims to recoup forest cover and achieve food self-sufficiency through the establishment of agroforestry systems. The evaluation of tree survival in reforested areas helps to identify achievements and failures, as well as aspects of the program that require improvement. However, given the magnitude of this program, evaluation using traditional methodologies is labor-intensive and costly. In this context, drones equipped with high-resolution cameras are a promising tool. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using drones to monitor tree survival in reforested areas. This study was conducted in 12 randomly chosen plots, benefited by the “Sembrando Vida” program, located on the Purépecha Plateau in the state of Michoacán, in central–western Mexico. Field surveys with GPS were conducted to record the total number of live and dead forest-tree seedlings. Simultaneously, high-resolution images were captured using a DJI Phantom 4 Pro drone equipped with an RGB camera for subsequent visual interpretation in a geographic information system to determine the status of each seedling and calculate the rates of survival. ANOVA was performed to compare the survival calculated using the drone images compared to that recorded in the field. No significant difference was found between survival estimated using the drone and that recorded directly in the field in any of the study plots, although the drone overestimated survival by an average of 6%, mostly due to the presence of dead seedlings that had already lost their foliage and were thus missed when scoring the RGB image. It is therefore concluded that the estimation of survival using drones is a reliable method. For future research, it is recommended to evaluate machine-learning algorithms in terms of detecting both living and dead trees in reforested sites. It is also recommended to use multispectral thermal cameras and LiDAR technology to broaden the knowledge of the different levels of vigor/stress present in the vegetation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Species Distribution, Diversity and Growth under Climate Change)

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22 pages, 4284 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Climatic Stress Test of Scots Pine Provenances in Northeastern Europe Reveals High Phenotypic Plasticity and Quasi-Linear Response to Warming

by Csaba Mátyás, Pál Balázs and László Nagy

Forests 2023, 14(10), 1950; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14101950 - 26 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 809

Abstract

Research Highlights: Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) phenotypic plasticity will buffer and even benefit from temperature increases in Northeast Europe this century, except for the southern peripheries of the range. Objectives: The “stress test” aimed to assess the inherent potential [...] Read more.

Research Highlights: Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) phenotypic plasticity will buffer and even benefit from temperature increases in Northeast Europe this century, except for the southern peripheries of the range. Objectives: The “stress test” aimed to assess the inherent potential of existing populations to withstand projected changes in their lifetimes at their original location. Materials and Methods: This study applied an alternative analytic approach to calculate response and transfer equations from historic height growth data from provenance tests in the former USSR and Hungary. Results: Contrary to earlier analyses, the populations displayed quasi-linear responses to mimicked warming without clear ecological optima, forecasting a general growth acceleration north of Lat. 53° N. Climate-triggered mortality is predicted for the near future in the southern peripheries. Locally adapted populations at the distribution confines of the northern and southern limits deserve special attention. Conclusions: The observed adaptability to warming moderates the necessity of genetic management interventions such as assisted migration. The support of natural processes of adaptation and acclimation will be sufficient in boreal and central Northeast Europe this century. Evacuating heat and drought-tolerant populations should be envisaged in the endangered zone to conserve valuable genetic resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Species Distribution, Diversity and Growth under Climate Change)

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22 pages, 7656 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of the Vigor of Pinus hartwegii Lindl. along an Altitudinal Gradient Using UAV Multispectral Images: Evidence of Forest Decline Possibly Associated with Climatic Change

by José Luis Gallardo-Salazar, Roberto A. Lindig-Cisneros, Leonel Lopez-Toledo, Angel R. Endara-Agramont, Arnulfo Blanco-García and Cuauhtémoc Sáenz-Romero

Forests 2023, 14(6), 1176; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14061176 - 06 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1708

Abstract

Future climate forecasts predict major changes that will have negative impacts on the distribution, abundance, and dynamics of forest ecosystems. In Mexico, there is evidence of symptoms of massive forest decline; however, there is no consensus in terms of attributing these symptoms to [...] Read more.

Future climate forecasts predict major changes that will have negative impacts on the distribution, abundance, and dynamics of forest ecosystems. In Mexico, there is evidence of symptoms of massive forest decline; however, there is no consensus in terms of attributing these symptoms to climate change. This study aimed to provide evidence of forest decline possibly associated with climatic change in the highland pine (Pinus hartwegii Lindl.) populations of the Nevado de Toluca Flora and Fauna Protection Area. Using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) equipped with multispectral sensors, the study applied digital photogrammetry techniques, automated tree crown detection algorithms, and calculation of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and leaf chlorophyll index (LCI) to assess forest health across an altitudinal transect (from 3300 m to the timberline at 4040 m elevation). Climate analysis was conducted with TerraClimate data using mean annual temperature (MAT), April temperature, and Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) from the studied altitudinal transect and its xeric limit. We found that lower altitude populations had significantly higher stress levels, indicating forest decline phenomena, while intermediate altitude populations showed greater vigor of the detected trees. Statistically significant differences in the NDVI and LCI values along the altitudinal gradient provided evidence of forest decline in terms of forest vigor and productivity, with the greatest disturbance found at the lower altitude of the examined forest species. The analysis of the climatic data revealed an increase in April temperature +1.4 °C of the xeric limit of the transect (low altitude) when comparing the reference period, 1961–1990 (mean: 12.17 °C), with the decade prior to our study (2011–2020; mean: 13.57 °C). This would be equivalent to an upward shift in elevation of 280 m of the xeric limit. In addition, the PDSI analysis revealed that droughts are becoming increasingly intense at a rate of 0.06 PDSI units per decade, with greater intensity in the last five years. These findings highlight the negative impacts of climate change on forest ecosystems and the urgent need for alternative forest management and conservation practices to increase resilience and adaptation in the temperate forests of Mexico. This study sets a precedent for further research to improve our understanding of the impacts of climate change on forest ecosystems and the development of sustainable management practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Species Distribution, Diversity and Growth under Climate Change)

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22 pages, 2415 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Can Wood Pellets from Canada’s Boreal Forest Reduce Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Energy Generation in the UK?

by Michael T. Ter-Mikaelian, Jiaxin Chen, Sabrina M. Desjardins and Stephen J. Colombo

Forests 2023, 14(6), 1090; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14061090 - 24 May 2023

Viewed by 1524

Abstract

We present the results of a study on the climate forcing effects of replacing coal for power generation in the United Kingdom (UK) with wood pellets produced in northern Ontario, Canada. Continuous wood pellet production from two biomass sources were considered: fiber from [...] Read more.

We present the results of a study on the climate forcing effects of replacing coal for power generation in the United Kingdom (UK) with wood pellets produced in northern Ontario, Canada. Continuous wood pellet production from two biomass sources were considered: fiber from increased harvesting of standing live trees (stemwood scenario) and from harvest residue provided by ongoing harvesting operations (residue scenario). In both scenarios, biomass was collected from harvesting operations in two forest management units (FMUs) with contrasting harvest residue treatments: natural decay of slash piles in the Hearst FMU and slash pile burning in the Kenora FMU. Life cycle emissions associated with wood pellets were assessed for production, transportation, and combustion to replace coal at a hypothetical power generating station in the UK. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals in wood pellet and coal scenarios were assessed using two methods: global warming potential (GWP)-based mass balance and dynamic life cycle assessment (LCA) approaches. In the stemwood scenario, climate change mitigation from replacing coal with wood pellets was not achieved within the study timeline (2020–2100). In the residue scenario, immediate climate change mitigation was achieved with fiber sourced from the Kenora FMU where the current practice is to burn slash piles; for the Hearst FMU, where slash is allowed to decompose in the forest, climate change mitigation occurred 11.6 and 3.1 years after biomass collection began, as assessed by the mass balance and dynamic LCA methods, respectively. Factors affecting mitigation potential in the studied scenarios are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Species Distribution, Diversity and Growth under Climate Change)

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17 pages, 8541 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Climate Change Impacts the Distribution of Lithocarpus hancei (Fagaceae), a Dominant Tree in East Asian Montane Cloud Forests

by Yongjingwen Yang, Lin Lin, Yunhong Tan and Min Deng

Forests 2023, 14(5), 1049; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14051049 - 18 May 2023

Viewed by 1455

Abstract

Subtropical montane moist evergreen broadleaf forests (MMEBFs) have a unique environmental envelope harboring a high percentage of endemic biota. This ecosystem is highly vulnerable, and little is known about its possible response to future climate change. In this study, we used Lithocarpus hancei [...] Read more.

Subtropical montane moist evergreen broadleaf forests (MMEBFs) have a unique environmental envelope harboring a high percentage of endemic biota. This ecosystem is highly vulnerable, and little is known about its possible response to future climate change. In this study, we used Lithocarpus hancei (Fagaceae), a dominant tree in East Asian subtropical MMEBFs, as a proxy to investigate MMEBF distribution dynamics and key distribution restriction factors. In total, 607 L. hancei occurrence points were obtained after being gathered and filtered. The random forest model was selected as the best model. Eight environmental variables were selected to simulate the potential suitable areas of L. hancei under the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), present, and future (2041–2060, 2061–2080, 2081–2100) climate change scenarios, including four shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, SSP5-8.5). Our results showed that precipitation of the warmest quarter, the precipitation of the driest month, the mean diurnal range, and temperature seasonality are the key factors affecting the spatial range of L. hancei with 11.2%, 10.9%, 8.1%, and 7.6% contributions, respectively. The current distribution of L. hancei is mainly within East and South China, with a scattered distribution in North Indo-China and the Southeast Himalayas. The highly suitable area only accounts for 9.7% of the total distribution area. The distribution area of the current suitability area is the smallest compared to that under LGM and future scenarios. In all the future climatic scenarios, the highly suitable areas of L. hancei would decrease or even disappear, whereas the medium- and low-suitability areas might increase with the centroid of the total suitable area northern. Its distribution in Central China, the Southern Himalayas, and Northern Indo-China will be lost in the future. Overall, our study predicted a prominent degradation of East Asian MMEBFs in the future. In situ and ex situ conservation on East Asian MMEBFs should be prioritized and enforced. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Species Distribution, Diversity and Growth under Climate Change)

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20 pages, 4321 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Comparative Study of Climatology, Energy and Mass Exchange in Two Forests on Contrasting Habitats in Central Siberia: Permafrost Larix gmelinii vs. Permafrost-Free Pinus sylvestris

by Nadezhda M. Tchebakova, Viacheslav I. Zyryanov, Olga A. Zyryanova, Elena I. Parfenova, Takuya Kajimoto and Yojiro Matsuura

Forests 2023, 14(2), 346; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14020346 - 09 Feb 2023

Viewed by 1210

Abstract

Inter-annual and seasonal variations of energy, vapor water, and carbon fluxes and associated climate variables in a middle taiga pine (Pinus sylvestris) forest on sandy soils and in a northern taiga larch (Larix gmelinii) forest on permafrost in central [...] Read more.

Inter-annual and seasonal variations of energy, vapor water, and carbon fluxes and associated climate variables in a middle taiga pine (Pinus sylvestris) forest on sandy soils and in a northern taiga larch (Larix gmelinii) forest on permafrost in central Siberia were studied from eddy covariance measurements acquired during the growing seasons of 1998–2000 and 2004–2008, respectively. Both the pure Scots pine of 215-year-old and pure Gmelin larch of 105-year-old forests naturally regenerated after forest fires, differed by their tree stand characteristics, and grew in extremely contrasting environments with distinctive climatic and soil conditions. Net radiation was greater in the pine forest due to higher values in the summer months and a longer growing season. Sensible heat flux was the larger term in the radiation balance in both forests. The Bowen ratio stayed between 1 and 2 during the growing season and was as high as 8–10 in dry spring in both forests. In the dry summers, latent heat explained 70%–80% of the daily net ecosystem CO₂ exchange (NEE) variation in both forests. The average NEE was significantly smaller in the larch ecosystem at −4 µmol m⁻²s⁻¹ compared to −7 µmol m⁻²s⁻¹ in the pine forest. NEP for the growing season was 83 in the larch forest on continuous permafrost and 228 g C m⁻² in the pine forest on warm sandy soils. Water use efficiency was 5.8 mg CO₂ g⁻¹H₂O in the larch forest and 11 mg CO₂ g⁻¹H₂O in the pine forest and appeared to be consistent with that in boreal forests. As a result of the forest structure change from Gmelin larch to Scots pine due to the permafrost retreat in a warming climate, the boreal forest C-sink may be expected to increase. Thus, potential feedback to the climate system in these “hot spots” of forest-forming replacement species may promote C-uptake from the atmosphere. However, as many studies suggest, in the pace of transition from permafrost to non-permafrost, C-sink would turn into C-source in hot spots of permafrost retreat. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Species Distribution, Diversity and Growth under Climate Change)

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18 pages, 2697 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Leaf Traits and Resource Use Efficiencies of 19 Woody Plant Species in a Plantation in Fangshan, Beijing, China

by Guowei Zhong, Yun Tian, Peng Liu, Xin Jia and Tianshan Zha

Forests 2023, 14(1), 63; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14010063 - 29 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1398

Abstract

Plantations are typically monocultures, which limits their sustainability. Therefore, understanding acclimatization strategies and resource use efficiencies in plant species and life forms aids the improvement of vegetation diversity and ecological functions. Here, 19 species from forest plantations in Fangshan, Beijing, China were studied. [...] Read more.

Plantations are typically monocultures, which limits their sustainability. Therefore, understanding acclimatization strategies and resource use efficiencies in plant species and life forms aids the improvement of vegetation diversity and ecological functions. Here, 19 species from forest plantations in Fangshan, Beijing, China were studied. We determined their net photosynthetic (P_n), and transpiration rates (E), light response curve, stomatal conductance (g_s), and leaf nitrogen (N) content. We analyzed the leaf N content (N_mass), specific leaf area (SLA), maximum net photosynthetic rate (P_nmax), water use (WUE), nitrogen use (NUE), and carbon use (CUE) efficiencies and connected them with both species and life forms. P_nmax, SLA, N_mass, WUE, NUE, and CUE significantly differed among species. Evergreen conifers had the lowest SLA and N_mass but the highest WUE and CUE. Evergreen coniferous trees had lower SLA, N_mass, P_nmax, and NUE but higher WUE than deciduous trees and shrubs. The SLA, N_mass, and P_nmax of nitrogen-fixing plants were the highest. A correlation analysis revealed that WUE was positively correlated with CUE and negatively correlated with NUE. Moreover, WUE was negatively correlated with N_mass and SLA. These insights into the adaptability differences of woody plant species and life forms provide a scientific basis for the selection of appropriate species for sustainable forest plantations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Species Distribution, Diversity and Growth under Climate Change)

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15 pages, 7559 KiB

Open AccessArticle

by Biaosheng Huang, Jiawei Mao, Youjie Zhao, Yongke Sun, Yong Cao and Zhi Xiong

Forests 2022, 13(9), 1379; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13091379 - 29 Aug 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1217

Abstract

Tomicus yunnanensis Kirkendall (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) is a stem-boring pest that endangers Pinus yunnanensis Franch (Pinales:Pinoideae), which seriously affects the ecological environment safety in southwest China. In order to understand the potential distribution pattern and change in the potential distribution of P. yunnanensis and [...] Read more.

Tomicus yunnanensis Kirkendall (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) is a stem-boring pest that endangers Pinus yunnanensis Franch (Pinales:Pinoideae), which seriously affects the ecological environment safety in southwest China. In order to understand the potential distribution pattern and change in the potential distribution of P. yunnanensis and T. yunnanensis, this study used the maximum entropy model to predict the distribution of potentially suitable areas for P. yunnanensis and T. yunnanensis and explored the relationships between their different spatiotemporal distributions based on change analysis. The experimental results show that altitude is the main factor restricting the current distribution of P. yunnanensis. The current suitable areas of P. yunnanensis are mainly distributed in Yunnan, Sichuan and Guizhou. The minimum temperature of the coldest month is the main factor affecting the current distribution of T. yunnanensis. The current suitable areas of T. yunnanensis are mainly distributed in Yunnan, Sichuan and Tibet. Under future climate scenarios, the total suitable areas of P. yunnanensis and T. yunnanensis are expected to increase. The suitable areas tend to move to higher altitudes in the west and higher latitudes in the north. At the same time, this study finds that there is an obvious bottleneck of expansion to northeastern Sichuan near the Daba Mountains. The results of intersection analysis showed that, with future climate change, P. yunnanensis and T. yunnanensis mainly showed lowly suitable (or unsuitable)—lowly suitable (or unsuitable) to moderately (or highly) suitable—and moderate (or high) variation patterns of suitable areas under the SSP1-2.6 climate scenario. These results will provide an important basis for the breeding of P. yunnanensis and controlling T. yunnanensis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Species Distribution, Diversity and Growth under Climate Change)

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