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Climate–Growth Sensitivity Reveals Species-Specific Adaptation Strategies of Montane Conifers to Warming in the Wuyi Mountains

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Subtropical high-elevation mountain ecosystems are crucial for regional climate regulation and biodiversity conservation. However, the patterns of conifer radial growth in response to climate change in these regions remain unclear, significantly hindering the development of effective adaptive forest management strategies. This study examined Pinus taiwanensis and Cryptomeria fortunei, two dominant species in the Wuyi Mountains, using dendroclimatological methods to systematically analyze their long-term climate–growth relationships. The main findings include the following: (1) P. taiwanensis radial growth was significantly and positively associated with summer mean and maximum temperatures (in both the current and previous year), with no significant correlation to precipitation or minimum temperatures. In contrast, C. fortunei growth showed a positive relationship with previous autumn precipitation and a negative correlation with previous winter precipitation; (2) moving-window analysis revealed that P. taiwanensis maintained consistent temperature sensitivity, with an increasing response to summer warming in recent decades. Meanwhile, C. fortunei displayed phase-specific responses driven by precipitation and minimum temperatures. These results demonstrate divergent climate-response strategies among subtropical conifers in a warming climate: P. taiwanensis exhibits temperature-sensitive growth, whereas C. fortunei is primarily regulated by moisture availability. The findings provide critical insights for the adaptive management of subtropical montane forests, highlighting the need for species-specific strategies to maintain ecosystem services under future climate change.

Source: Forests

DOI: 10.3390/f16081299

Authors: Xiao Zheng, Jian Yu, Yaping Hu, Xu Zhou, Hui Ding, Xiaomin Ge

Institutions: Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jiangsu Vocational College of Agriculture and Forestry

Language: English

Topic: Tree-ring climate responses

Subfield: Atmospheric Science

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Climate action, Life on land

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137