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The cold range limit of trees.

Christian Körner1

  • 1Department of Environmental Sciences, Botany, University of Basel, Schönbeinstrasse 6, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.

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Summary

Understanding treeline limits requires distinguishing species-specific freezing tolerance from general tree growth constraints. The treeline, a key bioclimatological line, defines the fundamental niche edge for trees, influenced by various factors.

Keywords:
climatefreezing tolerancefundamental nichelife-formlow temperaturephenologyspecies distributiontree speciestreeline

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Bioclimatology
  • Botany

Background:

  • Trees face low-temperature range limits at high elevations and latitudes.
  • Distinguishing species' freezing tolerance from general tree growth constraints is crucial for understanding these limits.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To differentiate between species-specific range limits and the general thermal constraints defining the tree life-form limit.
  • To clarify the definition and significance of the treeline as a bioclimatological reference.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual analysis differentiating fundamental and realized niches.
  • Review of factors influencing treeline formation and tree distribution.

Main Results:

  • The treeline represents the cold edge of the fundamental niche for trees, determined by thermal growth constraints.
  • Actual tree distribution (realized niche) can deviate due to disturbances, biotic interactions, and stochastic effects.

Conclusions:

  • Treeline theory and research must be grounded in the concept of the fundamental niche.
  • Understanding treelines involves considering both broad thermal limits and local ecological factors.