Intensifying neighbouring tree competition suppresses tree
growth at the eastern Tibetan tree line

J 2025

Intensifying neighbouring tree competition suppresses tree growth at the eastern Tibetan tree line

LYU, Lixin; Ulf BÜNTGEN; Mai-He LI; Kailiang YU; Audrey PALOSSE et. al.

Basic information

Original name

Intensifying neighbouring tree competition suppresses tree growth at the eastern Tibetan tree line

Authors

LYU, Lixin; Ulf BÜNTGEN (276 Germany, belonging to the institution); Mai-He LI; Kailiang YU; Audrey PALOSSE; Qi-Bin ZHANG and Paolo CHERUBINI

Edition

Functional Ecology, Wiley, 2025, 0269-8463

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Article in a journal

Field of Study

10500 1.5. Earth and related environmental sciences

Country of publisher

United States of America

Confidentiality degree

is not subject to a state or trade secret

References:

URL

Impact factor

Impact factor: 4.600 in 2023

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.70040

UT WoS

001460963400001

EID Scopus

2-s2.0-105002142132

Keywords in English

alpine tree line; basal area increment; biotic interaction; global warming; neighbourhood competition; tree growth

Abstract

V originále

Although neighbourhood interactions are important for the establishment and survival of tree line trees, it remains poorly understood how they affect growth rates under changing climatic conditions. Here, we combine census data and dendrochronological measurements from 18 tree line plots between 4300 and 4520 m asl on the eastern Tibetan Plateau to develop a retrospective Neighbourhood Index. We then investigate whether tree interaction is facilitative or competitive and whether it changes over time. Our results show that competition for water not only dominates neighbourhood interactions on the eastern Tibetan Plateau, but also increased significantly from 1960 to 2009 (p < 0.001). Contrary to the common belief of facilitative neighbourhood interactions at high elevation, we demonstrate that competition among mature trees is common in tree line ecotones of the eastern Tibetan Plateau, and likely to increase under projected global warming. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Cite

LYU, Lixin; Ulf BÜNTGEN; Mai-He LI; Kailiang YU; Audrey PALOSSE; Qi-Bin ZHANG and Paolo CHERUBINI. Intensifying neighbouring tree competition suppresses tree growth at the eastern Tibetan tree line. Functional Ecology. Wiley, 2025, vol. 39, No 5, p. 1234-1246. ISSN 0269-8463. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.70040.

@article{2495586,
   author = {Lyu, Lixin and Büntgen, Ulf and Li, MaiandHe and Yu, Kailiang and Palosse, Audrey and Zhang, QiandBin and Cherubini, Paolo},
   article_number = {5},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.70040},
   keywords = {alpine tree line; basal area increment; biotic interaction; global warming; neighbourhood competition; tree growth},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {0269-8463},
   journal = {Functional Ecology},
   title = {Intensifying neighbouring tree competition suppresses tree growth at the eastern Tibetan tree line},
   url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.70040},
   volume = {39},
   year = {2025}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 2495586
AU  - Lyu, Lixin - Büntgen, Ulf - Li, Mai-He - Yu, Kailiang - Palosse, Audrey - Zhang, Qi-Bin - Cherubini, Paolo
PY  - 2025
TI  - Intensifying neighbouring tree competition suppresses tree growth at the eastern Tibetan tree line
JF  - Functional Ecology
VL  - 39
IS  - 5
SP  - 1234-1246
EP  - 1234-1246
PB  - Wiley
SN  - 02698463
KW  - alpine tree line
KW  - basal area increment
KW  - biotic interaction
KW  - global warming
KW  - neighbourhood competition
KW  - tree growth
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.70040
N2  - Although neighbourhood interactions are important for the establishment and survival of tree line trees, it remains poorly understood how they affect growth rates under changing climatic conditions. Here, we combine census data and dendrochronological measurements from 18 tree line plots between 4300 and 4520 m asl on the eastern Tibetan Plateau to develop a retrospective Neighbourhood Index. We then investigate whether tree interaction is facilitative or competitive and whether it changes over time. Our results show that competition for water not only dominates neighbourhood interactions on the eastern Tibetan Plateau, but also increased significantly from 1960 to 2009 (p < 0.001). Contrary to the common belief of facilitative neighbourhood interactions at high elevation, we demonstrate that competition among mature trees is common in tree line ecotones of the eastern Tibetan Plateau, and likely to increase under projected global warming. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
ER  -

LYU, Lixin; Ulf BÜNTGEN; Mai-He LI; Kailiang YU; Audrey PALOSSE; Qi-Bin ZHANG and Paolo CHERUBINI. Intensifying neighbouring tree competition suppresses tree growth at the eastern Tibetan tree line. \textit{Functional Ecology}. Wiley, 2025, vol.~39, No~5, p.~1234-1246. ISSN~0269-8463. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.70040.

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