Tree mortality in response to climate change induced drought across Beijing, China

Tree mortality in response to climate change induced drought has emerged as a global concern. Small changes of tree mortality rates can profoundly affect forest structure, composition, dynamics and ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration. Our analyses of longitudinal data from natural stands (82 plots) in Beijing showed that tree mortality rates have increased significantly over the two decades from 1986 to 2006. In contrast, recruitment rates decreased significantly over this period. The increase in overall mortality rates resulted from an increase in tree deaths dominantly attributed to changes in temperature and precipitation resulting in drier conditions across latitudes, elevations, tree species, and tree sizes. In addition, the results showed that mortality rates of Chinese pine (Pinus tabuliformis) (β1 = 0.0874) as a result of climate change induce drought were much smaller than oak (Quercus) (β1 = 0.1583).