Abstract
Predictions of warmer droughts causing increasing forest mortality are becoming abundant, yet few studies have investigated the mechanisms of forest persistence. To examine the resistance of forests to warmer droughts, we used a five-year precipitation reduction (∼45% removal), heat (+4 °C above ambient) and combined drought and heat experiment in an isolated stand of mature Pinus edulis-Juniperus monosperma. Despite severe experimental drought and heating, no trees died, and we observed only minor evidence of hydraulic failure or carbon starvation. Two mechanisms promoting survival were supported. First, access to bedrock water, or 'hydraulic refugia' aided trees in their resistance to the experimental conditions. Second, the isolation of this stand amongst a landscape of dead trees precluded ingress by Ips confusus, frequently the ultimate biotic mortality agent of piñon. These combined abiotic and biotic landscape-scale processes can moderate the impacts of future droughts on tree mortality by enabling tree avoidance of hydraulic failure, carbon starvation, and exposure to attacking abiotic agents.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Article number | 045014 |
| Journal | Environmental Research Letters |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Apr 16 2019 |
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Keywords
- die-off
- drought
- precipitation
- refugia
- warming
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
- Environmental Science(all)
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Cite this
Mechanisms of a coniferous woodland persistence under drought and heat. / McDowell, Nate G.; Grossiord, Charlotte; Adams, Henry D.; Pinzón-Navarro, Sara; Mackay, D. Scott; Breshears, David D.; Allen, Craig D.; Borrego, Isaac; Dickman, L. Turin; Collins, Adam; Gaylord, Monica L; McBranch, Natalie; Pockman, William T.; Vilagrosa, Alberto; Aukema, Brian; Goodsman, Devin; Xu, Chonggang.
In: Environmental Research Letters, Vol. 14, No. 4, 045014, 16.04.2019.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Mechanisms of a coniferous woodland persistence under drought and heat
AU - McDowell, Nate G.
AU - Grossiord, Charlotte
AU - Adams, Henry D.
AU - Pinzón-Navarro, Sara
AU - Mackay, D. Scott
AU - Breshears, David D.
AU - Allen, Craig D.
AU - Borrego, Isaac
AU - Dickman, L. Turin
AU - Collins, Adam
AU - Gaylord, Monica L
AU - McBranch, Natalie
AU - Pockman, William T.
AU - Vilagrosa, Alberto
AU - Aukema, Brian
AU - Goodsman, Devin
AU - Xu, Chonggang
PY - 2019/4/16
Y1 - 2019/4/16
N2 - Predictions of warmer droughts causing increasing forest mortality are becoming abundant, yet few studies have investigated the mechanisms of forest persistence. To examine the resistance of forests to warmer droughts, we used a five-year precipitation reduction (∼45% removal), heat (+4 °C above ambient) and combined drought and heat experiment in an isolated stand of mature Pinus edulis-Juniperus monosperma. Despite severe experimental drought and heating, no trees died, and we observed only minor evidence of hydraulic failure or carbon starvation. Two mechanisms promoting survival were supported. First, access to bedrock water, or 'hydraulic refugia' aided trees in their resistance to the experimental conditions. Second, the isolation of this stand amongst a landscape of dead trees precluded ingress by Ips confusus, frequently the ultimate biotic mortality agent of piñon. These combined abiotic and biotic landscape-scale processes can moderate the impacts of future droughts on tree mortality by enabling tree avoidance of hydraulic failure, carbon starvation, and exposure to attacking abiotic agents.
AB - Predictions of warmer droughts causing increasing forest mortality are becoming abundant, yet few studies have investigated the mechanisms of forest persistence. To examine the resistance of forests to warmer droughts, we used a five-year precipitation reduction (∼45% removal), heat (+4 °C above ambient) and combined drought and heat experiment in an isolated stand of mature Pinus edulis-Juniperus monosperma. Despite severe experimental drought and heating, no trees died, and we observed only minor evidence of hydraulic failure or carbon starvation. Two mechanisms promoting survival were supported. First, access to bedrock water, or 'hydraulic refugia' aided trees in their resistance to the experimental conditions. Second, the isolation of this stand amongst a landscape of dead trees precluded ingress by Ips confusus, frequently the ultimate biotic mortality agent of piñon. These combined abiotic and biotic landscape-scale processes can moderate the impacts of future droughts on tree mortality by enabling tree avoidance of hydraulic failure, carbon starvation, and exposure to attacking abiotic agents.
KW - die-off
KW - drought
KW - precipitation
KW - refugia
KW - warming
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85068882066&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85068882066&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1088/1748-9326/ab0921
DO - 10.1088/1748-9326/ab0921
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85068882066
VL - 14
JO - Environmental Research Letters
JF - Environmental Research Letters
SN - 1748-9326
IS - 4
M1 - 045014
ER -