Forest Ecosystems最新文献

{"title":"Site-specific patterns of fine root biomass formation across European coniferous forests","authors":"Yury Karpechko,&nbsp;Anna Karpechko,&nbsp;Andrej Tuyunen","doi":"10.1016/j.fecs.2024.100269","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fecs.2024.100269","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fine roots play a crucial role in the biogeochemical cycles of terrestrial ecosystems. Patterns of fine roots biomass formation for broad geographical areas are still unclear. We use published estimates of characteristics of European pine and spruce stands to determine their productivity and calculate the needle biomass. Then, the relationship between the fine-root:needle biomass ratio of European pine and spruce forests and the stand quality index, which is a proxy of soil fertility, was determined. We show that a rise in soil fertility is accompanied by a decrease in this ratio. Moving from the northern edge of the boreal zone southwards, with the related rise in air and soil temperatures, we see a decline in the mass ratio of fine roots and needle. The change in the fine-root:needle biomass ratio is controlled by the change in specific water uptake by roots, which is related to the osmotic pressure of the solution in the absorbing root's central vascular cylinder. The fine-root:needle ratio does not vary among stands of the same age if the stand quality index and the geographical latitude (a proxy of air and soil temperatures) are constant. These findings may be useful for further in-depth analysis of forest ecosystem functioning in Europe.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54270,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecosystems","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100269"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2024-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142691097","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Late spring-early summer drought and soil properties jointly modulate two pine species' decline and climatic sensitivity in temperate Northern China","authors":"Yuheng Li ,&nbsp;Zhaofei Fan ,&nbsp;Lihong Xu ,&nbsp;Xiao Zhang ,&nbsp;Zhongjie Shi ,&nbsp;Xiaohui Yang ,&nbsp;Wei Xiong ,&nbsp;Ling Cong ,&nbsp;Semyun Kwon ,&nbsp;Leilei Pan ,&nbsp;Hanzhi Li ,&nbsp;Shuo Wen ,&nbsp;Xiaoyan Shang","doi":"10.1016/j.fecs.2024.100273","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fecs.2024.100273","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Increasing temperatures and severe droughts threaten forest vitality globally. Prediction of forest response to climate change requires knowledge of the spatiotemporal patterns of monthly or seasonal climatic impacts on the growth of tree species, likely driven by local climatic aridity, climate trends, edaphic conditions, and the climatic adaption of tree species. The ability of tree species to cope with changing climate and the effects of environmental variables on growth trends and growth-climate relationships across diverse bioclimatic regions are still poorly understood for many species. This study investigated radial growth trends, interannual growth variability, and growth-climate sensitivity of two dominant tree species, <em>Pinus tabulaeformis</em> (PT) and <em>Pinus sylvestris</em> var. <em>mongolica</em> (PS), across a broad climatic gradient with a variety of soil properties in temperate Northern China. Using a network of 83 tree ring chronologies (54 for PT and 29 for PS) from 1971 to 2010, we documented that both species maintained constant growth trends at wet sites, while both displayed rapid declines at dry sites. We reported the species-specific drivers of spatial heterogeneity in growth trends, interannual growth variability, and growth-climate relationships. Calculated climatic variables and soil properties were identified as the most critical factors affecting the growth trends and growth-climate relationships. However, climatic variables play more essential roles than soil properties in determining the spatial heterogeneity of the growth-climate relationship. Lower clay content and higher soil nutrient regimes can exacerbate the moisture-related susceptibility of tree growth. Our findings highlight that soil properties emerged as important modulating factors to predict the drought vulnerability of forests in addition to climatic variables. Considering the continued climate warming-drying trend in the future, both pines will face a more severe growth decline and increase in drought vulnerability at drier sites with lower clayed soil or higher nutrient regimes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54270,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecosystems","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100273"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2024-11-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142691128","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Site index determination using a time series of airborne laser scanning data","authors":"Maria Åsnes Moan,&nbsp;Ole Martin Bollandsås,&nbsp;Svetlana Saarela,&nbsp;Terje Gobakken,&nbsp;Erik Næsset,&nbsp;Hans Ole Ørka,&nbsp;Lennart Noordermeer","doi":"10.1016/j.fecs.2024.100268","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fecs.2024.100268","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Site index (SI) is determined from the top height development and is a proxy for forest productivity, defined as the expected top height for a given species at a certain index age. In Norway, an index age of 40 years is used. By using bi-temporal airborne laser scanning (ALS) data, SI can be determined using models estimated from SI observed on field plots (the direct approach) or from predicted top heights at two points in time (the height differential approach). Time series of ALS data may enhance SI determination compared to conventional methods used in operational forest inventory by providing more detailed information about the top height development. We used longitudinal data comprising spatially consistent field and ALS data collected from training plots in 1999, 2010, and 2022 to determine SI using the direct and height differential approaches using all combinations of years and performed an external validation. We also evaluated the use of data assimilation. Values of root mean square error obtained from external validation were in the ranges of 16.3%–21.4% and 12.8%–20.6% of the mean field-registered SI for the direct approach and the height differential approach, respectively. There were no statistically significant effects of time series length or the number of points in time on the obtained accuracies. Data assimilation did not result in any substantial improvement in the obtained accuracies. Although a time series of ALS data did not yield greater accuracies compared to using only two points in time, a larger proportion of the study area could be used in ALS-based determination of SI when a time series was available. This was because areas that were unsuitable for SI determination between two points in time could be subject to SI determination based on data from another part of the time series.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54270,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecosystems","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100268"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2024-11-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142691098","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hybrid ecophysiological growth model for deciduous Populus tomentosa plantation in northern China","authors":"Serajis Salekin ,&nbsp;Mark Bloomberg ,&nbsp;Benye Xi ,&nbsp;Jinqiang Liu ,&nbsp;Yang Liu ,&nbsp;Doudou Li ,&nbsp;Euan G. Mason","doi":"10.1016/j.fecs.2024.100270","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fecs.2024.100270","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Short rotation plantation forestry (SRF) is being widely adopted to increase wood production, in order to meet global demand for wood products. However, to ensure maximum gains from SRF, optimised management regimes need to be established by integrating robust predictions and an understanding of mechanisms underlying tree growth. Hybrid ecophysiological models, such as potentially useable light sum equation (PULSE) models, are useful tools requiring minimal input data that meet the requirements of SRF. PULSE models have been tested and calibrated for different evergreen conifers and broadleaves at both juvenile and mature stages of tree growth with coarse soil and climate data. Therefore, it is prudent to question: can adding detailed soil and climatic data reduce errors in this type of model? In addition, PULSE techniques have not been used to model deciduous species, which are a challenge for ecophysiological models due to their phenology. This study developed a PULSE model for a clonal <em>Populus tomentosa</em> plantation in northern China using detailed edaphic and climatic data. The results showed high precision and low bias in height (m) and basal area (m²·ha⁻¹) predictions. While detailed edaphoclimatic data produce highly precise predictions and a good mechanistic understanding, the study suggested that local climatic data could also be employed. The study showed that PULSE modelling in combination with coarse level of edaphic and local climate data resulted in reasonably precise tree growth prediction and minimal bias.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54270,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecosystems","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100270"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2024-11-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142720149","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tree growth decline to warm-wet conditions in boreal forests is linked to stand density","authors":"Bingqian Zhao ,&nbsp;Yihong Zhu ,&nbsp;Lushuang Gao ,&nbsp;Qibing Zhang ,&nbsp;Mingqian Liu ,&nbsp;Klaus von Gadow","doi":"10.1016/j.fecs.2024.100266","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fecs.2024.100266","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Warm-wet climatic conditions are widely regarded as conducive to remarkable tree growth, alleviating climatic pressures. However, the notable decline in tree growth observed in the southern edge of boreal forests has heightened concerns over the spatial-temporal dynamics of forest decline. Currently, attaining a comprehensive grasp of the underlying patterns and their propelling factors remains a formidable challenge. We collected tree ring samples from a network of 50 sites across the Greater Xing'an Mountains. These samples were subsequently grouped into two distinct clusters, designated as Groups A and B. The percentage change of growth (GC, %) and the proportion of declining sites were utilized to assess forest decline. The decline in tree growth within <em>Larix gmelinii</em> forests exhibits significant regional variation, accompanied by temporal fluctuations even within a given region. Group A exhibited a pronounced increase in frequency (59.26%) of occurrences and encountered more severe declines (21.65%) in tree growth subsequent to the 1990s, contrasting sharply with Group B, which observed lower frequencies (20.00%) and relatively less severe declines (21.02%) prior to the 1980s. The primary impetus underlying the opposite radial growth increments observed in <em>Larix gmelinii</em> trees from the interplay between their differential response to temperatures and wetter climatic conditions, which is significantly influenced by varying stand densities. In cold-dry conditions, low-density forests may experience soil water freezing, exacerbating drought conditions and thereby inhibiting tree growth, in Group B. Trees growth in high-density stands is restrained by warm-wet conditions, in Group A. These results provide new insights into the variability at the southern edge of the boreal forest biome with different responses to density and climate.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54270,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecosystems","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100266"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142652825","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identifying suitable areas for plenter forest management","authors":"Mathias Leiter ,&nbsp;Christoph Pucher ,&nbsp;Michael Kessler ,&nbsp;Ferdinand Hönigsberger ,&nbsp;Manfred J. Lexer ,&nbsp;Harald Vacik ,&nbsp;Hubert Hasenauer","doi":"10.1016/j.fecs.2024.100267","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fecs.2024.100267","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Plenter forests, also known as uneven-aged or continuous cover forests enhance forest resilience and resistance against disturbances compared to even-aged forests. They are considered as an adaptation option to mitigate climate change effects. In this study, we present a conceptual approach to determine the potentially suitable area for plenter forest management within central European mixed species forests and apply our approach to the case study area in Styria, the south-eastern Province of Austria. The concept is based on ecological and technical-economic constraints and considers expected future climate conditions and its impact on plenter forest management. For each 1 ​ha forest pixel, we assess the ecological conditions for plenter forest management according to the autecological growth conditions of silver fir, and at least one additional shade tolerant tree species. The technical-economic constraints are defined by slope (≤30%) and distance to the next forest road (≤100 ​m) to ensure cost-efficient harvesting. The results show that under current climate conditions 28.1% or 305,349 ​ha of the forests in Styria are potentially suitable for plenter forest management. For the years 2071–2100 and under the climate change scenario RCP 4.5, the potential area decreases to 286,098 ​ha (26.3% of the total forest area) and for the scenario RCP 8.5 to 208,421 ​ha (19.1% of the total forest area). The main reason for these changes is the unfavourable growing conditions for silver fir in the lowlands, while in the higher elevations silver fir is likely to expand. Our results may serve forest managers to identify areas suitable for plenter forests and assist in the transformation of even-aged pure forests to uneven-aged forests to increase resistance, resilience, and biodiversity under climate change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54270,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecosystems","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100267"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142652992","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Independent and interactive effects of N and P additions on foliar P fractions in evergreen forests of southern China","authors":"Qingquan Meng ,&nbsp;Zhijuan Shi ,&nbsp;Zhengbing Yan ,&nbsp;Hans Lambers ,&nbsp;Yan Luo ,&nbsp;Wenxuan Han","doi":"10.1016/j.fecs.2024.100265","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fecs.2024.100265","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fertilization or atmospheric deposition of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) to terrestrial ecosystems can alter soil N (P) availability and the nature of nutrient limitation for plant growth. Changing the allocation of leaf P fractions is potentially an adaptive strategy for plants to cope with soil N (P) availability and nutrient-limiting conditions. However, the impact of the interactions between imbalanced anthropogenic N and P inputs on the concentrations and allocation proportions of leaf P fractions in forest woody plants remains elusive. We conducted a meta-analysis of data about the concentrations and allocation proportions of leaf P fractions, specifically associated with individual and combined additions of N and P in evergreen forests, the dominant vegetation type in southern China where the primary productivity is usually considered limited by P. This assessment allowed us to quantitatively evaluate the effects of N and P additions alone and interactively on leaf P allocation and use strategies. Nitrogen addition (exacerbating P limitation) reduced the concentrations of leaf total P and different leaf P fractions. Nitrogen addition reduced the allocation to leaf metabolic P but increased the allocation to other fractions, while P addition showed opposite trends. The simultaneous additions of N and P showed an antagonistic (mutual suppression) effect on the concentrations of leaf P fractions, but an additive (summary) effect on the allocation proportions of leaf P fractions. These results highlight the importance of strategies of leaf P fraction allocation in forest plants under changes in environmental nutrient availability. Importantly, our study identified critical interactions associated with combined N and P inputs that affect leaf P fractions, thus aiding in predicting plant acclimation strategies in the context of intensifying and imbalanced anthropogenic nutrient inputs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54270,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecosystems","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100265"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142553000","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Meta-analysis of 21st century studies shows that deforestation induces profound changes in soil characteristics, particularly soil organic carbon accumulation","authors":"Abubakari Said Mgelwa ,&nbsp;Mbezele Junior Yannick Ngaba ,&nbsp;Bin Hu ,&nbsp;Geshere Abdisa Gurmesa ,&nbsp;Agnes Godfrey Mwakaje ,&nbsp;Mateg Pascale Bernadette Nyemeck ,&nbsp;Feifei Zhu ,&nbsp;Qingyan Qiu ,&nbsp;Linlin Song ,&nbsp;Yingying Wang ,&nbsp;Yunting Fang ,&nbsp;Heinz Rennenberg","doi":"10.1016/j.fecs.2024.100257","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fecs.2024.100257","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Deforestation is one of the most serious environmental problems facing humankind. It continues to escalate rapidly across many regions of the world, thereby deteriorating the forest soil quality. This has prompted a large number of field-based studies aimed at understanding the impacts of deforestation on soil properties. However, the lack of comprehensive meta-analyses that utilized these studies has limited our deeper understanding of how different soil properties, including the soil organic carbon (SOC) pool, respond to deforestation. To address this critical knowledge gap, we conducted a meta-analysis of 144 studies to explore the impacts of deforestation on soil chemical, physical, and biological properties, with special emphasis on the long-term changes in SOC, such as concentrations, stocks, and sequestration. The results revealed that deforestation significantly decreased soil organic matter, electrical conductivity, and base saturation by 52%, 50%, and 98%, respectively. While deforestation increased soil total nitrogen content and decreased available phosphorus content by 51% and 99%, respectively, it resulted in slight decreases in some chemical properties, including soil pH (1%) and base cations (1%–13%). Deforestation significantly increased bulk density by 27% and soil erosion by 47%, but significantly decreased soil aggregate stability by 39% and saturated hydraulic conductivity by 63%. Soil microbial biomass C and N concentrations and enzyme activities were significantly decreased as a consequence of deforestation. Soil biological properties were much more affected by deforestation than soil physical and chemical properties. Regarding the SOC, the land use conversion from forest to pasture significantly increased SOC concentrations, stocks, and sequestration rates (11%–13%), whereas the land use conversions from forest to both plantation and cropland significantly decreased SOC concentrations, stocks, and sequestration rates (10%–43%). This observed decline in SOC accumulations decreased with increasing years after deforestation. The SOC dynamics following deforestation were predominantly regulated by microbial biomass concentrations, dehydrogenase activity, soil erosion, saturated hydraulic conductivity, aggregate stability, as well as concentrations of total organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and organic matter. The present meta-analytical study provides compelling evidence that deforestation can induce profound changes in soil characteristics, including soil C contents, and has significant implications for soil health sustainability and climate change mitigation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54270,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecosystems","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100257"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142571408","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unveiling urbanization effects on trees outside forests along the urban-rural gradient in megacity Bengaluru","authors":"Tao Jiang ,&nbsp;Maximilian Freudenberg ,&nbsp;Christoph Kleinn ,&nbsp;V.P. Tewari ,&nbsp;B.N. Diwakara ,&nbsp;Nils Nölke","doi":"10.1016/j.fecs.2024.100258","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fecs.2024.100258","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rapid urbanization has caused significant changes along the urban-rural gradient, leading to a variety of landscapes that are mainly shaped by human activities. This dynamic interplay also influences the distribution and characteristics of trees outside forests (TOF). Understanding the pattern of these trees will support informed decision-making in urban planning, in conservation strategies, and altogether in sustainable land management practices in the urban context. In this study, we employed a deep learning-based object detection model and high resolution satellite imagery to identify 1.3 million trees with bounding boxes within a 250 ​km² research transect spanning the urban-rural gradient of Bengaluru, a megacity in Southern India. Additionally, we developed an allometric equation to estimate diameter at breast height (DBH) from the tree crown diameter (CD) derived from the detected bounding boxes. Our study focused on analyzing variations in tree density and tree size along this gradient. The findings revealed distinct patterns: the urban domain displayed larger tree crown diameters (mean: 8.87 ​m) and DBH (mean: 43.78 ​cm) but having relatively low tree density (32 trees per hectare). Furthermore, with increasing distance from the city center, tree density increased, while the mean tree crown diameter and mean tree basal area decreased, showing clear differences of tree density and size between the urban and rural domains in Bengaluru. This study offers an efficient methodology that helps generating instructive insights into the dynamics of TOF along the urban-rural gradient. This may inform urban planning and management strategies for enhancing green infrastructure and biodiversity conservation in rapidly urbanizing cities like Bengaluru.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54270,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecosystems","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100258"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142525895","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Quercus acutissima exhibits more adaptable water uptake patterns in response to seasonal changes compared to Pinus massoniana","authors":"Suimeng Zhang ,&nbsp;Xiaodi Wang ,&nbsp;Zhaowang Huang ,&nbsp;YiTao Bao ,&nbsp;Jiang Jiang ,&nbsp;Ziqiang Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.fecs.2024.100255","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fecs.2024.100255","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Seasonal precipitation variability significantly affects water use in forests; however, whether water uptake is adapted to changes in precipitation, particularly whether it could affect the coexistence of tree species, has rarely been quantified in forest systems.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>In this study, dual stable isotopes and the Li-6400 portable photosynthesis system were used to determine the water sources of a mixed conifer (<em>Pinus massoniana</em>) and broadleaf (<em>Quercus acutissima</em>) forest and changes in hydraulic characteristics during the dry and wet seasons in a southern hilly region of China.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Although the hydraulic characteristics of <em>P</em>. <em>massoniana</em> were lower than those of <em>Q</em>. <em>acutissima</em>, it maintained a stable water source from the deep soil layer and a higher stomatal conductance (Gs), leading to a higher transpiration rate (Tr) during the growing seasons. <em>Q. acutissima</em> mainly absorbed water from deeper soil layers in the dry season and took up from shallow soil layers in the wet season. Its Gs values exhibited sensitivity to precipitation, while it maintained a lower Tr value during the growing seasons. The excessive water-use strategy observed in <em>P. massoniana</em> may confer weak drought-tolerance during higher frequency and more intense extreme precipitation events, whereas <em>Q. acutissima</em> may exhibit better ecological adaption to precipitation changes.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The overlap of water niches in mixed forests did not appear to affect the coexistence of tree species. The present study provides insights into reforestation and water management in the southern hilly regions of China.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54270,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecosystems","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100255"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2024-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142417759","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}