Skip to main content

By Chinese Academy of Sciences

Forests, which cover 31% of the Earth’s land surface, are essential for maintaining biodiversity and regulating the climate. However, climate change poses a significant challenge to forest growth, with different tree species responding very differently to extreme drought conditions.

As the frequence and intensity of extreme drought events increase under global warming, there is an urgent need for in-depth research into the climate adaptability of different tree species, in order to take effective measures to protect forest ecosystems and combat the effects of global warming.

According to a study published in Global Ecology and Conservation, a research team led by Profs. CAI Qiufang and LIU Yu from the Institute of Earth Environment of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has investigated the changes in Pinus tabulaeformis Carr. and Tsuga chinensis Pritz. on the southern slopes of the Qinling Mountains (SSQM) in the context of global warming. The Qinling Mountains mark the southernmost distribution boundary for natural P. tabulaeformis and the northernmost boundary for natural T. chinensis.

1 s2.0 S2351989424002038 gr1 lrg res
The study was conducted in Chenggu city (33.32°N, 107.15°E) on the southern slope of the QLM and northern edge of the Hanzhong Basin. Location of the sampling site (red star), meteorological stations (circles), and grid data (crosses). Source: DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e02999 | CC-BY-NC-ND

The researchers found that the climate response patterns of P. tabulaeformis and T. chinensis on the SSQM have undergone qualitative changes with global warming. The sensitivity of P. tabulaeformis to temperature and precipitation has decreased over time, while T. chinensis has become more dependent on hydrological conditions.

During extreme drought events, P. tabulaeformis shows a stronger drought resistance compared to T. chinensis. The stronger drought resistance of P. tabulaeformis implies a greater ability to adapt to the warming and drying climate trend, potentially giving it a greater advantage in the current forest ecological composition. In contrast, T. chinensis is less adaptable.

This study highlights that different tree species in the same habitat exhibit significant heterogeneity in growth-climate response, and forest management and conservation measures should be species-specific.

More information: Mei Xie, Qiufang Cai, Yu Liu, Meng Ren, Qiuyue Zhou, Hanyu Zhang, Kebayier Meng, ‘Assessing climatic response and drought resilience in growth of Pinus tabulaeformis Carr. and Tsuga chinensis Pritz. on the southern slope of the Qinling Mountains’, Global Ecology and Conservation (2024, Volume 53, e02999); DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e02999. CAS – Press Release. Featured image credit: Caitriana Nicholson | CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A shoal of Striped Mackerel fish filter feeding amongst loads of plastic waste
Microplastics found in seafood consumed in Oregon, study revealsScience

Microplastics found in seafood consumed in Oregon, study reveals

A study published in Frontiers in Toxicology has revealed that seafood commonly consumed in Oregon contains microplastics, shedding light on the prevalence of plastic particles…
SourceSourceJanuary 8, 2025 Full article
Scientists study how to bring you ‘climate-smart coffee’Science

Scientists study how to bring you ‘climate-smart coffee’

By Brad Buck | University of Florida Crave that cup of coffee in the morning? Globally, consumers drink more than 2.2 billion cups daily. Someone…
SourceSourceJuly 26, 2024 Full article
Image: a woman carrying a child on her back
Climate change deepens health risks for young adolescents in KenyaScience

Climate change deepens health risks for young adolescents in Kenya

Food, water, and sanitation insecurities linked to school dropout, gender-based violence, and early pregnancy Summary: Extreme weather and climate-related resource shortages are driving a hidden…
SourceSourceMay 26, 2025 Full article