Tree mortality across biomes is promoted by drought intensity, lower wood density and higher specific leaf area

Abstract Drought events are increasing globally, and reports of consequent forest mortality are widespread. However, due to a lack of a quantitative global synthesis, it is still not clear whether drought‐induced mortality rates differ among global biomes and whether functional traits influence the risk of drought‐induced mortality. To address these uncertainties, we performed a global meta‐analysis of 58 studies of drought‐induced forest mortality. Mortality rates were modelled as a function of drought, temperature, biomes, phylogenetic and functional groups and functional traits. We identified a consistent global‐scale response, where mortality increased with drought severity [log mortality (trees trees −1…

• LT
  Leverhulme Trust

  Award: IN‐2013‐004
• UO
  University of Stirling
• SF
  Seventh Framework Programme

  Award: PCOFUND‐GA‐2010‐267243