Stem growth of montane subtropical trees from dendrometer data in Ailao Mountain

We studied intra-annual stem growth and the main climatic drivers for 27 subtropical broadleaf trees with dendrometer measurements in Ailao Mountain in southwest China. Despite species varied in stem growth rate, but intra-annual growth patterns were consistent across 14 study species. Trees mainly grew between May and August due to high growth occurrence, which were driven by atmospheric conditions (temperature and VPD) but not by soil moisture. However, stem growth rates were mainly determined by temperature rather than water conditions in the atmosphere and soil. Temperature determined the timing of stem growth at the beginning of growing season and stimulated the rates of stem growth during the season in our study forest.