Impact of climate change on growth of commercial forest species in Nova Scotia

Dendroecology is based on the premise that the response of trees to climate and their environment is stable over time. However, in the context of climate change, climate and edaphic conditions are not permanent characteristics of the site. Despite the increase in temperature caused by climate change, several studies show a decrease in tree growth (Huang et al., 2010; Babst et al., 2019). Thus, the biotic and abiotic factors that determine tree growth response still need to be further understood. Furthermore, most studies target a single species, without addressing the interaction between different species growing in mixed stands. The objective of this project is to assess the growth trend of commercial species in Nova Scotia to better understand the current response of trees to climate change. The project will involve dendrochronological analysis of over 2000 trees in 740 plots across Nova Scotia. We aim to identify conditions that favour a positive growth response to climate change so that these can be considered in silvicultural decisions.

Florence Leduc, M.Sc at Université Laval
Main Partner: Department of Natural Resources and Renewables, Nova Scotia
Professor: Alexis Achim