Missouri is home to an array of natural resources, with forests among the state’s most valuable ecosystems.
Missouri is home to an array of natural resources, with forests among the state’s most valuable ecosystems. As warmer temperatures fueled by climate change affect ecosystems globally, forests are under stress to adapt to these changes and ensure their survival in a warmer world.
In a new study, University of Missouri researcher Jeffrey Wood introduces the “ecosystem wilting point” concept, which explains how whole forests respond to drought. Wood and his research team found that when forests reach their ecosystem wilting point, they are less able to function properly, which includes their ability to absorb carbon dioxide. To learn how the forest behaved during periods of drought, Wood combined measurements of evapotranspiration (the loss of water to the air) and ecosystem water status, which indicates how hydrated the forest is.
“The motivating reason for being able to understand the drought response of forests is that, globally, drought is important now, and it's not expected to get better,” said Wood, an assistant professor in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. “We wanted to develop a better way to understand and characterize these ecosystems, so we can use that information to help with modeling the dynamics of vegetation over time and better understand the future impact on these ecosystems.”
Read more at University of Missouri-Columbia
Image: In a new study, University of Missouri researchers discovered the point at which forests struggle to breathe during seasons of drought. (Photo courtesy of Jeffrey Wood)
