image: Relict Abies pinsapo forest from Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park (southern Spain), within the Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve of the West Mediterranean region. view more
Credit: Image courtesy of Juan Carlos Linares.
Based on climate simulations using a business-as-usual emissions scenario, the Mediterranean climate during the late 21st century is predicted to be similar to the driest and hottest periods of the late 20th century that caused forest mortality, according to a study; tree growth estimates based on tree ring data indicate that in response to the changing climate, the growth of some Mediterranean fir species could decrease by 30%, whereas others in moist refugia may benefit from warmer and longer growing seasons, providing insights for the conservation of relict fir populations.
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Article #17-08109: "Climate extremes and predicted warming threaten Mediterranean Holocene firs forests refugia," by Raúl Sánchez-Salguero et al.
MEDIA CONTACT: Raúl Sánchez-Salguero, Pyrenean Institute of Ecology, Zaragoza, SPAIN; University Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, SPAIN; tel: 34-661075574; e-mail: rsanchez@upo.es
Journal
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences