Forest resilience and vulnerability to extreme climates: from theory to experimental evidence

Introduction:

Forests naturally experience interannual fluctuation of climate conditions and multiple climate-induced growth constraints because of their long timespan. Most of forest tree species have evolved with inherent functional traits and growth strategies to survive adverse climate impacts. However, in recent decades we have witnessed intensified and more frequent disturbances of forests by climate extremes unseen over thousands of years due to the influences of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, with consequences of severe drought and heat-wave stresses, tree growth damage by out-of-season heavy snows and frosts, windthrow-induced tree mortality and disintegration of stand structure, and compounding effects of repeated stresses and multi-factor influences, etc.

We are launching a special issue (virtual) that explores the impacts of climate extremes and the mechanisms of forest responses/adaptions. Our goal is to support dissemination of scholarly knowledge on this theme and increase public awareness. We welcome proposals from potential guest editors for specific themed issues within the series.

Topics covered in the special issue:

The special issue will cover a variety of forest-related topics concerning, but not be limited to: 

• Tree reproduction and regeneration,
• Forest stand structural dynamics
• Tree species range shift and genetic modifications
• Ecosystem multifunctionality
• Studies based on observational approaches, manipulated field experiments, and theoretic analysis and modelling are all acceptable.

Submission deadline: 31 December 2022

Submission instructions:

For manuscripts: Please read the Guide for Authors before submitting. All articles should be submitted online; please select the special issue title.

The article publishing charge (APC) for this special issue is covered by the sponsoring Institution of Forest Ecosystems, so there will be no fee payable by the author.

For special issue proposal: To be successful, a special issue proposal will need to have a team of international guest editors with well-established research credentials, a selection of manuscripts with balanced regional representation and global perspectives, and a plan for handling manuscript reviews.

For further information on special issue proposal, please contact the Managing Editor Dr. Li Hui (bjfulihui@gmail.com or lihui@bjfu.edu.cn).