Climate Vulnerability of Southern Appalachian Forests

The loss of species due to climate change and their replacement by expansion and immigration of others will depend on individual responses in terms of fecundity, growth, and survival. The approach involves longitudinal analysis of individuals subjected to variation in risk factors over time. Individual trees differ in how they respond to temperature and moisture, depending on their local competitive environment. For example, individuals with access to high light levels can often better exploit available moisture, an example of a positive interaction. By documenting changes in growth, fecundity, and survival between individuals subject to different conditions and within individuals, as their environments change through time we can develop a detailed understanding of how vulnerability differs among individuals and why.