The impacts of increasing drought on forest dynamics, structure, and biodiversity in the United States
Duke University · Northern Research Station · +16 more institutions
Abstract
We synthesize insights from current understanding of drought impacts at stand-to-biogeographic scales, including management options, and we identify challenges to be addressed with new research. Large stand-level shifts underway in western forests already are showing the importance of interactions involving drought, insects, and fire. Diebacks, changes in composition and structure, and shifting range limits are widely observed. In the eastern US, the effects of increasing drought are becoming better understood at the level of individual trees, but this knowledge cannot yet be confidently translated to predictions of changing structure and diversity of forest stands. While eastern forests have not experienced…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 68.97
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 295
Authors
17Topics & keywords
- Biodiversity
- Climate change
- Ecology
- Habitat
- Temporal scales
- Forest management
- Forest dynamics
- Geography
- Climate action