Forest composition : more altered by future climate change than by Euro-American settlement in western New York and Pennsylvania ?

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

LARSEN, C.P.S.

Dep. of Geography, State Univ. of New York, Buffalo, Etats-Unis

KRONENFELD, B.J.

Dep. of Geology/Geography, Eastern Illinois Univ., Charleston, Etats-Unis

WANG, Y.-C.

Dep. of geography, National Univ., Singapore, Singapour

Description :
The amount of forest compositional change that occurred due to Euro-American settlement over the past two centuries is compared with changes simulated to occur in the future under 2X and 3.5X atmospheric CO2 scenarios. The comparison employs data from presettlement land survey records, modern forest inventory data, and future predictions from niche-based species distribution models. Comparisons are made in 4 independent study areas in western Pennsylvania and New York. The similar results across the 4 study areas disagree with previous pollen-based estimates that suggested a greater relative influence of a 2X CO2 climate change, but do indicate that a 3.5X CO2 climate change may cause greater changes in forest composition than has already occurred due to anthropogenic impacts.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Physical geography, issn : 0272-3646, 2012, vol. 33, n°. 1, p. 3-20, nombre de pages : 18, Références bibliographiques : 45 ref.

Date :
2012

Editeur :
Pays édition : Royaume-Uni, Abingdon, Taylor and Francis

Langue :
Anglais