Ecosystem Processes Show Uniform Sensitivity to Winter Soil Temperature Change Across a Gradient from Central to Cold Marginal Stands of a Major Temperate Forest Tree

Abstract The magnitude and frequency of soil frost events might increase in northern temperate regions response to climate warming due reduced insulation caused by declining snow cover. In deciduous forests, increased severity can hamper tree growth the mortality fine roots, fauna microorganisms, thus altering carbon nutrient cycling. From single-site studies, however, it is unclear how sensitivities these responses change along continental gradients from with low high snowfall. We conducted a gradient design cover temperature manipulation experiment across range lowland beech forest sites assess site-specific sensitivity biogeochemical cycling cooling. Even mild inconsistent affected increment, germination, litter decomposition retention added 15 N. However, (treatment effect size per degree or cooling) was not related prevailing winter conditions. Our results support that may be valid scale simulated up local studies regional scales. This upscaling, needs account for fact cold historically snowfall experience increasingly harsh conditions, whereas warmer snowfall, diminish. Thus, despite uniform biotic response, there opposing directions effects on forests different trends temperature.