Mass elevation effect and continentality have a stronger impact on global treelines than spatial isolation

作者：David Kienle, Severin D. H. Irl, Carl Beierkuhnlein · 发表于：Global Ecology and Biogeography · 年份：2023 · DOI：10.1111/geb.13689 · 被引用次数：13 · 研究领域：Tree-ring climate responses、Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics、Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies

Abstract Aim The global relationship between treeline elevation and temperature (or latitude as a proxy) is well established. However, additional large‐scale and regional abiotic influences such as mass elevation effect (MEE), continentality and isolation are superimposed onto the latitude‐treeline relationship. To quantify these effects, we apply globally applicable measures and test the effects of MEE, an aspect of continental climate and isolation on treeline elevation. Location Global treeline elevations ( n = 629). Methods We sampled treeline sites using earth observation. We calculated MEE as the distance to the nearest mountain chain limits. Continentality was assessed by the distance to the nearest coastline. Isolation was calculated by the nearest distance of a mountain chain to another mountain chain within a comparable elevational band. Results The global latitudinal pattern showed a distinct bimodal latitude‐treeline elevation relationship. Treeline elevations increased substantially with increased MEE and distance to coastlines while isolation even decreased treeline elevations. Main Conclusions Our study shows a globally consistent effect of MEE and distance to the coastline on treeline elevation, contributing to our basic understanding of large‐scale biogeographic processes governing treeline formation. MEE and continentality reduce cloudiness and increase solar radiation, resulting in higher treeline elevations. Isolation effects are not consistent and may be ...