About this Research Topic

Background

Cross-scale changes in climate are among the most important factors affecting post-dispersal processes in plants. These changes can affect an individual’s reproductive success and may jeopardize the long-term viability of forest communities. Climate change can cause shifts in key environmental variables, potentially affecting seed survival, germination, and seedling establishment. These changes can limit colonization of new sites, turnover of cohorts (or successional groups), and forest persistence and expansion. Tree species with recalcitrant seeds are especially susceptible to such changes. These seeds are very sensitive to alterations in temperature and humidity that affect viability and germination rates, leading to reduced seedling establishment.

To gain a better understanding of the factors affecting regeneration processes under current climate change scenarios, this Research Topic seeks to compile different examples from a variety of ecosystems where climate change can have, or is having, an impact on the regeneration of tree species with recalcitrant seeds. Additionally, this Research Topic looks to collect conservation, restoration, and mitigation strategies that could help in reducing the negative impacts of climate change or secure the long-term viability of these species.

This Research Topic is looking for manuscripts that include information about pre-and post-dispersal processes affected by climate change in tree species with recalcitrant seeds. Since one of the main goals of this collection is to give as complete a picture as possible about what is happening across ecosystems, this call is not ecosystem specific. Contributions including conservation, restoration, and mitigation strategies are encouraged. Articles must include empirical data (observational or experimental) that can support and clearly show an impact of climate change on the viability of tree species, potentially including long-term data and modelling approaches.

Keywords: Climate Change, Viability, Trees Species, Recalcitrant Seeds, Recalcitrant, Seeds, Tree Seeds

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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