Patterns of tree radial growth along an urbanrural gradient in Beijing, China

Abstract

With the acceleration of global climate change and urbanization, the climate and environment in urban and rural areas exhibit significant differences that may impact tree growth. The specific mechanisms underlying the interaction between climate change and urbanization on tree growth remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the interaction using a tree ring network spanning a gradient from the urban centre to rural areas. Our findings indicate that urbanization enhances tree growth in urban areas, likely due to elevated temperatures and increased concentrations of carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Conversely, rural tree growth appears to be predominantly influenced by climatic factors, particularly hydrothermal conditions which account for over 96 % of the variance. Additionally, we observed a gradual increase in the correlation between tree growth and climate factors as we move from the urban centre to rural areas. Overall, our results suggest that prolonged human disturbance and urbanization may reduce the sensitivity of trees to climate change while promoting their growth in urban settings. These findings offer valuable empirical data and insights for future studies on urban tree growth models and provide a foundation for urban landscaping practices.