[MCN] Status report on aspen, a "widespread tree species."

[Lance Olsen]

"Here, we examine the physiological basis of a recent multiyear 
widespread die-off of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) across 
much of western North America. Using observations from both native 
trees while they are dying and a rainfall exclusion experiment on 
mature trees, we measure hydraulic performance over multiple seasons 
and years and assess pathways of accumulated hydraulic damage."

"Contrary to the expectation that surviving trees have weathered 
severe drought, the hydraulic deterioration demonstrated here reveals 
that surviving regions of these forests are actually more vulnerable 
to future droughts due to accumulated xylem damage. As the most 
widespread tree species in North America, increasing vulnerability to 
drought in these forests has important ramifications  ....  "

William L. R. Anderegg et al. Drought's legacy: multiyear hydraulic 
deterioration underlies widespread aspen forest die-off and portends 
increased future risk. 
Global Change Biology (2013) 19, 1188-1196, doi: 10.1111/gcb.12100
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