Effects of climate change on forest ecosystems: integrating inventories and models

Abstract

García-Valdés, R., Morales-Castilla, I. 2016. Effects of climate change on forest ecosystems: integrating inventories and models. Ecosistemas 25(3): 51-59. Doi.: 10.7818/ECOS.2016.25-3.06

Forests represent one of the most important terrestrial ecosystems, given the high biodiversity they harbour and the number of ecosystem services they provide. Thus, it is necessary to study and forecast the existing threats that endanger them. Climate change is one of the biggest threats over such ecosystems, and as such estimation of its future impacts is urged. The increased availability of data (e.g. national forest inventories), together with an increase of the analytical capacities (e.g. novel and sophisticated mathematical modelling tools and increased computational power), are allowing substantial improvement in our predictions of climate change effects on forests. Here we review examples of some modelling tools that have been used in combination with forest inventories to predict the effects of climate change on tree species distribution and functioning. With a particular focus on examples using the Spanish Forest Inventory. Further, we discuss the most relevant advancements and identify opportunities, and challenges, to be taken into account in upcoming attempts to model climate change impacts on forest ecosystems