Regional uniqueness of tree species composition and response to forest loss and climate change

Nina Tiel (), Fabian Fopp, Philipp Brun, Johan Hoogen, Dirk Nikolaus Karger, Cecilia M. Casadei, Lisha Lyu, Devis Tuia, Niklaus E. Zimmermann, Thomas W. Crowther and Loïc Pellissier
Additional contact information
Nina Tiel: ETH Zürich
Fabian Fopp: ETH Zürich
Philipp Brun: Snow and Landscape Research
Johan Hoogen: ETH Zürich
Dirk Nikolaus Karger: Snow and Landscape Research
Cecilia M. Casadei: Paul Scherrer Institute
Lisha Lyu: ETH Zürich
Devis Tuia: Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Niklaus E. Zimmermann: Snow and Landscape Research
Thomas W. Crowther: ETH Zürich
Loïc Pellissier: ETH Zürich

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract The conservation and restoration of forest ecosystems require detailed knowledge of the native plant compositions. Here, we map global forest tree composition and assess the impacts of historical forest cover loss and climate change on trees. The global occupancy of 10,590 tree species reveals complex taxonomic and phylogenetic gradients determining a local signature of tree lineage assembly. Species occupancy analyses indicate that historical forest loss has significantly restricted the potential suitable range of tree species in all forest biomes. Nevertheless, tropical moist and boreal forest biomes display the lowest level of range restriction and harbor extremely large ranged tree species, albeit with a stark contrast in richness and composition. Climate change simulations indicate that forest biomes are projected to differ in their response to climate change, with the highest predicted species loss in tropical dry and Mediterranean ecoregions. Our findings highlight the need for preserving the remaining large forest biomes while regenerating degraded forests in a way that provides resilience against climate change.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48276-3

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