Tree mortality has been a focus of ecological research in the recent past, supported by a wide range of approaches such as permanent plot inventories, remote sensing, and dynamic vegetation models. These approaches have substantially improved our understanding of where and when trees die off, and of how mortality varies across environmental gradients. Although our understanding of the processes leading to tree mortality has increased significantly in recent years, we are still far from having a complete picture that would enable us to predict patterns in natural forest ecosystems, particularly across spatial and temporal scales. The International Tree Mortality Network (ITMN) aims to bridge these complementary data sources to gain new insights in the processes leading to tree mortality, ranging from empirical observations to process-based approaches. This session invites contributions investigating tree mortality resulting from both biotic and abiotic pathways, including extreme climate events such as the 2026 European drought. Contributions focusing specifically on identifying the ultimate processes and mechanisms leading to tree mortality are particularly welcome:
* Bridging observations across spatial and temporal scales to identify pathways leading from environmental stress to tree mortality.
* Linking mortality patterns to underlying physiological and ecological mechanisms, including hydraulic failure, pests and pathogens, growth reductions, and their interactions.
* Using long-term observations (tree rings, plot inventories, satellite time series, …) to identify pre-mortality trajectories and legacy effects.
* Improving the representation of tree mortality mechanisms in vegetation models.