Geographical patterns and drivers of growth dynamics of Quercus variabilis

Radial growth response of two oaks to climate at their disparate distribution limits in semiarid areas, Beijing, China

“…According to species distribution models and field investigations, our previous work (Gao et al. , ), as well as that of Li and Zhang (), revealed that the distribution range of the Chinese cork oak may shrink and retreat under the expected climate warming. However, the growth response at their range limit is not yet understood.…”

“…Previous studies demonstrated that temperate and boreal tree species presented a growth increase toward the northern parts of the species range limits in the Northern Hemisphere (Jump , Sánchez‐Salguero et al , Gao et al. , ). However, there are still research gaps on how rising temperatures will affect tree growth under projected climatic conditions, especially the southern range limit in semiarid area.…”

“…Previous studies demonstrated that the growth of tree species at the northern edge of their range was mainly affected by low temperature (Babst , Sánchez‐Salguero et al , Gao et al. ), but was restricted by the high temperatures and warming‐induced water shortage at the southern limit (Sánchez‐Salguero et al , Gao et al. ).…”

“…), but was restricted by the high temperatures and warming‐induced water shortage at the southern limit (Sánchez‐Salguero et al , Gao et al. ). Most of these studies were based on the northern range limits in alpine timberline/high‐latitude areas (Gao et al.…”

“…Most of these studies were based on the northern range limits in alpine timberline/high‐latitude areas (Gao et al. ) or southern limits in Mediterranean areas (Camarero , Arzac , Sánchez‐Salguero et al ). However, in continental climatic regions (such as semiarid area of temperate), whether the growth of tree species was also limited by water shortage at their southern edges has been less investigated.…”