Faster drought recovery in anisohydric beech compared with isohydric spruce

Abstract

With drought and heat events increasing in frequency and intensity worldwide, global drought-induced tree decline (Allen et al. 2010, Hammond et al. 2022) has resulted in widespread interest in understanding the physiological mechanisms that underlie tree death. Unprecedented mortality rates threaten forest function and ecosystem services, including carbon (C) sequestration, clean air and water, and recreational and emotional value. Researchers have aimed to understand the mechanisms of tree mortality to better predict which trees will die or survive, inform future forest dynamics and improve forest management practices (McDowell et al. 2008, 2011, Raffa et al. 2008, Sevanto et al. 2014, Gaylord et al. 2015, Adams et al. 2017).