Structure and Functioning of Alpine Treeline Ecosystems

Alpine treelines are the boundaries between more cold-tolerant, non-arboreal vegetation, and forested communities, influenced by temperature. The need to forecast land surface feedback to regional and global climate change, water resources, and the effects of environmental change on high-elevation ecosystems have all contributed to the rapid advancement of treeline research. Treeline is becoming a global focal point for regime shifts due to concerns about the loss of biodiversity in mountains due to global warming and anthropogenic disturbances. The intricate relationships between vegetation, soils, climate, snow, topography, and disturbance regimes shape treeline ecotones. They are assumed to be sensitive to climate change, but decadal to millennial responses are complex, with poorly understood lags and feedbacks. Classic and novel research from different perspectives is urgently needed to resolve these uncertainties and enhance our understanding of treeline ecosystems.

alpine treeline ecotones as a sensitive monitor of environmental change have drawn increasing attention in recent decades. However, our understanding of the patterns, processes, functioning, and ecosystem services of alpine treeline ecotones and their underlying drivers is still limited. This Special Issue encourages contributions to the structure and functioning of treeline ecosystems. This Research Topic aims to stimulate more and wider discussions about the manifold interactions in treeline ecosystems that influence the products and services on which people rely, the role of natural and human disturbances in affecting these sensitive ecosystems, and strategies to improve their functioning and management.

Potential topics include but are not limited to, the following:
- Treeline structure and functioning
- Degradation and drivers
- Treeline biodiversity in response to global change
- Vulnerability of treeline ecosystems to climate change
- Ecosystem services provided by treeline ecosystems
- Challenges to the functions of treeline ecosystems and restoration practices;