Orals

Higher temperature and altered precipitation regimes will affect the exchange of energy, carbon, water and nutrients between plants and the environment. Both, the gradual increase in temperature as well as the increased frequency of extreme events such as hot droughts will have strong impact on plants and terrestrial ecosystem functioning. To persist and thrive under projected climate conditions, plants will need to undergo rapid adjustments in their functions, including developmental, morphological and physiological shifts. Although clearly acknowledged, the hydrological and biogeochemical consequences of climate change impacts, plants acclimation responses and their potential role in increasing plants resistance to extreme climate events are not yet fully understood.

In this session, we would like to bring together speakers from different ecoregions that are currently conducting research on forest responses to drought and warming. We invite contributions in tree physiology, forest ecology, hydrological and biogeochemical processes that span a range of scales going from local to global studies. Cross-disciplinary approaches are particularly encouraged. Contributions may address any geographic area of the world from the cellular to the landscape level and use in-situ manipulative experiments, field observations, remote-sensing and modelling approaches. With this session, we want to encourage discussion between plant physiologists, forest ecologists, soil biogeochemists, ecosystem scientists and large-scale modelers in the context of how shifts in forest functions and structures under warming and drying conditions could inform us on the future of these ecosystems under projected climate.