Linking physiological drought resistance traits to growth and mortality of three northeastern tree species

• DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpae095
• Publication Date: 2024-07-29T23:33:28Z
• Authors: Alexandra M Barry; Bean Bein; Yong-jiang Zhang; Jay W Wason
• Keywords: Drought Resistance; Tree (set theory)

Abstract Climate change is raising concerns about how forests will respond to extreme droughts, heat waves and their co-occurrence. In this greenhouse study, we tested carbon water relations relate seedling growth mortality of northeastern US trees during after drought, warming, combined drought warming. We compared the response our focal species red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) with a common associate (paper birch, Betula papyrifera Marsh.) expected increase abundance in region climate (northern oak, Quercus rubra L.). tracked mortality, photosynthesis use 216 seedlings these through treatment recovery year. Each was planted containers either alone or another simulate potential competition, were exposed combinations (irrigated, 15-d ‘short’ 30-d ‘long’) temperature (ambient 16 days at +3.5 °C daily maximum) treatments. found dominant effects reducing photosynthesis, midday potential, but that oak showed considerable resistance stress. The planting together moderate likely due competition for limited water. Despite high temperatures all species, warming imposed study minorly impacted only Overall, diverse water-use strategies employed by related following This provides physiological evidence support prediction native like paper birch are susceptible future extremes may favor other northern leading impacts on tree community dynamics under change.