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Feeling the cold in a warming climate: differential effects of low temperatures on co-occurring eucalypts
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Feeling the cold in a warming climate: differential effects of low temperatures on co-occurring eucalypts

G. Matusick, K.X. Ruthrof, J. Pitman and G.E.St.J. Hardy
Australian Journal of Botany, Vol.64(5), pp.456-466
2016
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Abstract

Climate change is altering extreme temperature events, and is expected to drive changes in species composition as a result. To assess the potential for compositional shifts from low-temperature events, the effects of repeated events in 2010 and 2012 on three co-occurring eucalypts were determined in south-Western Australia. To examine the climatic conditions that led to tree damage, and the long-term pattern of low-temperature events, temperatures were monitored on affected sites, and modelled from climate-station data. The three species varied considerably in their susceptibility to low temperatures. Corymbia calophylla K.D.Hill & L.A.S.Johnson was most affected (crown-damage index (CDI)≤47), followed by Eucalyptus marginata Sm. (CDI≤17) and E. wandoo Blakely (CDI≤3), which was comparatively tolerant. The temperatures leading to damage in 2010 and 2012 were -3.4°C and -2.1°C respectively. The frequency of low-temperature events (days below 0°C) have been steadily increasing in the study area since the mid-1990s. Because minimal tree mortality was observed, species composition is unlikely to change as a result of low temperatures in the short term. However, continued dieback from repeated events may disrupt regenerative processes, and cause long-term compositional shifts.

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#13 Climate Action
#15 Life on Land

Source: InCites

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
International collaboration
Citation topics
3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
3.40 Forestry
3.40.55 Forest Dynamics
Web Of Science research areas
Plant Sciences
ESI research areas
Plant & Animal Science
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