Climate change threatens species worldwide. Forest reproduction is critical not only for trees, but also for the entire ecosystems they support.

Future ecosystems will be shaped by forest capacity to recover from stress and adapt to accelerating change. Forests provide the structural foundation for much of the planet’s biodiversity, and they deliver the resources needed to maintain food webs and many of the services on which humans depend. This project initiated a global effort to understand the changes happening now and their implications for biodiversity. The initiative now engages over 100 collaborators from Europe, North America, South America, and Asia. Our initial focus on forest reproduction is expanding to effects on the consumers of forest productivity. Our early results have quantified the basic biogeography of fruit, seed, and nut production, how it is controlled by the condition of individual trees, and how those responses translate to landscape and continental shifts. Current focus on forest recovery and effects on wildlife extend the early results to biodiversity impacts.

You can contribute:

Funding

NSF–DEB–2211764, NSF DEB-1754443, NASA AIST16-0052, AIST18-0063, Programme d’Investissement d’Avenir under project FORBIC (18-MPGA-0004), and the Belmont Forum (1854976) to Jim Clark (Duke and INRAE), Benoit Courbaud (INRAE), Ines Ibanez (U Michigan), Roland Kays (NC Museum of Natural History, NCSU), Georges Kunstler (INRAE), Emily Moran (UC Merced), Miranda Redmond (UC Berkeley), Jen Swenson (Duke), and Wilfried Thuiller (LECA).

Make Our Planet Great Again (MOPGA)

New addition: Michał Bogdziewicz has obtained a 24-month Research Fellowship from the Bekker Program to join the INRAE group at Université Grenoble Alpes on MASTIF. He will work with Georges Kunstler, Benoit Courbaud, Valentin Journe, and Jim Clark on masting pattern and process. 

A summary

The impact of climate change on biological communities will depend on interactions involving the local habitat and the species that interact with one another—as each species responds directly to climate it indirectly affects all of the species with which it interacts. These species interactions complicate efforts to predict climate effects, because each species experiences habitat complexity at a different scale—from flightless insects to large vertebrates.

This study will determine how tree fecundity varies with tree size and habitat, including masting cycles and aging.  The effects of climate variation in space and between years helps us understand the role of environmental variation.

Our study aims to evaluate the contribution of mast supply to consumer abundances.  It will evaluate how diverse communities of species monitored in NEON respond together with food supply, in the form of masting shrubs and trees, and large mammal surveys.

Data sets we add to NEON include seed traps, to evaluate individual tree attributes (include cone production for conifers), and camera traps, to quantify activity of large vertebrates.  Remotely-sensed imagery and the NEON airborne observatory will be used to characterize habitat diversity.

Results of this analysis will be used to evaluate community change and reorganization, including prediction and attribution of tree population response to climate change, climate risk by species and habitat and how it is shared across species groups. New data on large mammals and seed production from NEON sites will be made available to the community. The study will engage the public through citizen assisted identification of animal images.

What makes MASTIF different?

A large number of important efforts report on statistical properties taken from published studies, focusing on metrics like mean mast production, mean mast intervals, and coefficient of variation.  Meta-analysis builds statistics from statistics that come from published studies.

A number of key questions on forest response to global change require estimates for individual trees, as part of a single integrated analysis.  How does the masting schedule for each individual tree depend on individuals nearby?  Are individuals of different species co-masting?  What is the space-time covariance structure faced by a mast consumer with limited capacity to forage widely and a restricted diet?

Rather than focus on statistics from statistics, MASTIF is integrating raw data from across the continent into a single posterior distribution of responses at the individual, population, and community scales.  This approach requires data fusion of seed-trap and crop-count data, collected by a range of methods, but each linked to the processes of tree maturation and fecundity.

Additional  specifics

Field sites are described here, together with those of collaborators on the synthesis of mast data.

Methods: Information regarding data types, including seed traps and crop counts count is here.  Camera trap design is discussed here.  Model fitting is here.

Results are being made available on a web site under development here.

MASTIF has a citizen science component as the MASTIF project on iNaturalist.

Presentations

Biodiversity confronts climate change in the big-data era: promise and pitfalls for understanding and anticipating change, Dean’s Lecture Series, 5 March, 2021

International Forum on Advanced Environmental Sciences and Technology (iFAST), Nov. 25, 2020

Publications

• Qiu, T. M.-C. Aravena Acuña, D. Ascoli, Y. Bergeron, M.Bogdziewicz, R. Bonal, T. Boivin, T. Caignard, M. Cailleret, R. Calama, J. J. Camarero, C.-H. Chang-Yang, J. Chave, F. Chianucci, B. Courbaud, A. Cutini, A. Das, N. Delpierre, S. Delzon, M. Dietze, S. Donoso Calderon, L. Dormont, J. M. Espelta, T. Fahey, W. Farfan-Rios, J. Franklin, C. Gehring, G. Gilbert, G. Gratzer, C. Greenberg, A. Guignabert, Q. Guo, A. Hacket-Pain, A. Hampe, Q. Han, J. Holík, K. Hoshizaki, I. Ibañez, J. Johnstone, V. Journé, T. Kitzberger, J. Knops, G. Kunstler, J. Lageard, J. LaMontagne, F. Lefevre, T. Leininger, J.-M. Limousin, J. Lutz, D. Macias, A. Marell, E. McIntire, C. Moore, E. Moran, R. Motta, J. Myers, T. Nagel, M. Noguchi, R. Parmenter, P. Samonil, I. Pearse, I. Perez-Ramos, L. Piechnik, T. Podgorski, J. Poulsen, M. Redmond, C. Reid, K. Rodman, F. Roiguez-Sanchez, J. Sanguinetti, C. L. Scher, B. Seget, S. Sharma, M. Silman, M. Steele, N. Stephenson, J. Straub, S. Sutton, J. Swenson, M. Swift, P. Thomas, M. Uriarte, G. Vacchiano, A. Whipple, T. Whitham, A. Wion, S. Wright, K. Zhu, J. Zimmerman, M. Żywiec, and J. S. Clark (2023). Mutualist dispersers and the global distribution of masting: mediation by climate and fertility. Nature Plants, in press.
• Bogdziewicz, M.,  Calama, R., Courbaud, B., Espelta, J., Hacket-Pain, A., Journé, V., Kunstler, G., Steele, M., Qiu, T., Zywiec, M., and J. S. Clark. 2023. How to measure mast seeding. New Phytologist, in press.
• Tang, B., R. Kamakura, D. Barnett and J. S. Clark. 2023. Learning from monitoring networks: Few-large versus many-small (FLvMS) plots and multi-scale analysis. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, in press.
• Qiu, T., A. J. Bell, J. J. Swenson, and J. S. Clark. 2023. Habitat-trait interactions that control response to climate change: North American ground beetles (Carabidae). Global Ecology and Biogeography, 00, 1– 15. https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.13670.
• Scher, C.L. and J.S. Clark. 2023. Protocol differences and species traits drive biases in reporting rates across monitoring datasets. Ecological Applications, in press.
• Bogdziewicz,, M, M.-C. Aravena Acuña, R. Andrus, D. Ascoli, Y. Bergeron, D. Brveiller, T. Boivin, R. Bonal, T. Caignard, M. Cailleret, R. Calama, S. Donoso Calderon, J. J. Camarero, C.-H. Chang-Yang, J. Chave, F. Chianucci, Natalie L. Cleavitt, B. Courbaud, A. Cutini, T. Curt, A. J. Das, H. Davi, N. Delpierre, S. Delzon, M. Dietze, L. Dormont , W. Farfan-Rios, C. A. Gehring, G. S. Gilbert, G. Gratzer, C. H. Greenberg, A. Guignabert, Q. Guo, A. Hacket-Pain, A. Hampe, Q. Han, K. Hoshizaki, I. Ibanez, J. F. Johnstone, V. Journé, T. Kitzberger, J. M.H. Knops , Georges Kunstler, R. Kobe, J. G.A. Lageard, J. M. LaMontagne, M. Ledwon, T. Leininger, J.-M. Limousin, J. A. Lutz, D. Macias, A. Marell, E. J.B. McIntire, E. Moran, R. Motta, J. A. Myers, T. A. Nagel, S. Naoe, K. Noguchi, M. Oguro, H. Kurokawa, J.-M. Ourcival, R. Parmenter, I. M. Perez-Ramos, L. Piechnik, Tomasz Podgórski, J. Poulsen, T. Qiu, M. D. Redmond, C. D. Reid, K. C. Rodman, P. Šamonil, J. Holik, C. L. Scher, H. Schmidt Van Marle, B. Seget, M. Shibata, S. Sharma, M. Silman, M. A. Steele, J. N. Straub, I-F. Sun, S. Sutton, J. J. Swenson, P. A. Thomas, M. Uriarte, G. Vacchiano, T. T. Veblen, B. Wright, S. J. Wright, T. G. Whitham, K. Zhu, J. K. Zimmerman, M. Zywiec, and J. S. Clark. 2023. Linking seed size and number to trait syndromes in trees. Global Ecology and Biogeography, in press.
• Tang, B., J.S. Clark, P.P. Marra, and A.E. Gelfand. 2022. Modeling community dynamics through environmental effects, species interactions and movement. Journal of Agricultural Biological and Environmental Statistics, https://doi:10.1007/s13253-022-00520-3.
• Qiu T., R. Andrus, M.-C. Aravena, D. Ascoli, Y. Bergeron, R. Berretti, D. Berveiller, M. Bogdziewicz, T. Boivin, R. Bonal, D. C. Bragg, T. Caignard, R. Calama, J. J. Camarero, C.-H. Chang-Yang, N. L. Cleavitt, B. Courbaud, F. Courbet, T. Curt, A. J. Das, E. Daskalakou, H. Davi, N. Delpierre , S. Delzon, M. Dietze, S. Donoso Calderon, L. Dormont, J. Espelta, T. J. Fahey, W. Farfan-Rios, C. A. Gehring, G. S. Gilbert, G. Gratzer, C. H. Greenberg, Q. Guo, A. Hacket-Pain, A. Hampe, Q. Han, J. Hille Ris Lambers, K. Hoshizaki, I. Ibanez, J. F. Johnstone, V. Journ ́e, D. Kabeya, C. L. Kilner, T. Kitzberger, J. M.H. Knops, R. K. Kobe, G. Kunstler, J. G.A. Lageard, J. M. LaMontagne, M. Ledwon, F. Lefevre, T. Leininger, J.-M. Limousin, J. A. Lutz, D. Macias, E. J.B. McIntire, C. M. Moore, E. Moran, R. Motta, J. A. Myers, T. A. Nagel, K. Noguchi, J.-M. Ourcival, R. Parmenter, I. S. Pearse, I. M. Perez-Ramos, L. Piechnik, J. Poulsen, R. Poulton-Kamakura, M. D. Redmond, C. D. Reid, K. C. Rodman, F. Rodriguez-Sanchez, J. D. Sanguinetti, C. L. Scher, W. H. Schlesinger, H. Schmidt Van Marle, B. Seget, S. Sharma, M. Silman, M. A. Steele, N. L. Stephenson, J. N. Straub, I-Fang Sun, S. Sutton, J. J. Swenson, M. Swift, P. A. Thomas, M. Uriarte, G. Vacchiano, T. T. Veblen, A. V. Whipple, T. G. Whitham, A. P. Wion, B. Wright, S. J. Wright, K. Zhu, J. K. Zimmerman, R. Zlotin, M. Zywiec, and J. S. Clark. 2022. Limits to reproduction and seed size-number tradeoffs that shape forest dominance and future recovery. Nature Communications, 13:2381 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-30037-9
• Journ ́e, V., R. Andrus, M.-C. Aravena, D. Ascoli, Y. Bergeron, R. Berretti, D. Berveiller, M. Bogdziewicz, T. Boivin, R. Bonal, D. C. Bragg, T. Caignard, R. Calama, J. J. Camarero, C.-H. Chang-Yang, N. L. Cleavitt, B. Courbaud, F. Courbet, T. Curt, A. J. Das, E. Daskalakou, H. Davi, N. Delpierre , S. Delzon, M. Dietze, S. Donoso Calderon, L. Dormont, J. Espelta, T. J. Fahey, W. Farfan-Rios, C. A. Gehring, G. S. Gilbert, G. Gratzer, C. H. Greenberg, Q. Guo, A. Hacket-Pain, A. Hampe, Q. Han, J. Hille Ris Lambers, K. Hoshizaki, I. Ibanez, J. F. Johnstone, D. Kabeya, C. L. Kilner, T. Kitzberger, J. M.H. Knops, R. K. Kobe, G. Kunstler, J. G.A. Lageard, J. M. LaMontagne, M. Ledwon, F. Lefevre, T. Leininger, J.-M. Limousin, J. A. Lutz, D. Macias, E. J.B. McIntire, C. M. Moore, E. Moran, R. Motta, J. A. Myers, T. A. Nagel, K. Noguchi, J.-M. Ourcival, R. Parmenter, I. S. Pearse, I. M. Perez-Ramos, L. Piechnik, J. Poulsen, R. Poulton-Kamakura, Qiu T., M. D. Redmond, C. D. Reid, K. C. Rodman, F. Rodriguez-Sanchez, J. D. Sanguinetti, C. L. Scher, W. H. Schlesinger, H. Schmidt Van Marle, B. Seget, S. Sharma, M. Silman, M. A. Steele, N. L. Stephenson, J. N. Straub, I-Fang Sun, S. Sutton, J. J. Swenson, M. Swift, P. A. Thomas, M. Uriarte, G. Vacchiano, T. T. Veblen, A. V. Whipple, T. G. Whitham, A. P. Wion, B. Wright, S. J. Wright, K. Zhu, J. K. Zimmerman, R. Zlotin, M. Zywiec, and J. S. Clark. 2022. Globally, tree fecundity exceeds productivity gradients. Ecology Letters, DOI: 10.1111/ele.14012, pdf: EcologyLetters2022.
• Tong Qiu, Marie-Claire Aravena, Robert Andrus, Davide Ascoli, Yves Bergeron, Roberta Berretti, Michal Bogdziewicz, Thomas Boivin, Raul Bonal, Thomas Caignard, Rafael Calama, J. Julio Camarero, Connie J. Clark, Benoit Courbaud, Sylvain Delzon, Sergio Donoso Calderon, William Farfan-Rios, Catherine A. Gehring, Gregory S. Gilbert, Cathryn H. Greenberg, Qinfeng Guo, Janneke Hille Ris Lambers, Kazuhiko Hoshizaki, Ines Ibanez, Valentin Journé, Christopher L. Kilner, Richard K. Kobe, Walter D. Koenig, Georges Kunstler, Jalene M. LaMontagne, Mateusz Ledwon, James A. Lutz, Renzo Motta, Jonathan A. Myers, Thomas A. Nagel, Chase L. Nuñez, Ian S. Pearse, Łukasz Piechnik, John R. Poulsen, Renata Poulton-Kamakura, Miranda D. Redmond, Chantal D. Reid, Kyle C. Rodman, C. Lane Scher, Harald Schmidt Van Marle, Barbara Seget, Shubhi Sharma, Miles Silman, Jennifer J. Swenson, Margaret Swift, Maria Uriarte, Giorgio Vacchiano, Thomas T. Veblen, Amy V. Whipple, Thomas G. Whitham, Andreas P. Wion, S. Joseph Wright, Kai Zhu, Jess K. Zimmerman, Magdalena Żywiec, and James S. Clark. 2021. Is there tree senescence? The fecundity evidence. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118, e2106130118; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2106130118. e2106130118.full, pdf: qiuPNAS2021
• Clark, J.S., R. Andrus, M. Aubry-Kientz, Y. Bergeron, M. Bogdziewicz, D.C. Bragg, D. Brockway, N.L. Cleavitt, S. Cohen, B. Courbaud, R. Daley, A.J. Das, M. Dietze, T.J. Fahey, I. Fer, J.F. Franklin, C.A. Gehring, G.S. Gilbert, C.H. Greenberg, Q. Guo, J. Hille Ris Lambers, I. Ibanez, J. Johnstone, C.L. Kilner, J. Knops, W.D. Koenig, G. Kunstler, J.M. Lamontagne, K.L. Legg, J. Luongo, J.A. Lutz, D. Macias, E.J. Mcintire, Y. Messaoud, C.M. Moore, E. Moran, J.A. Myers, O.B. Myers, C. Nunez, R. Parmenter, S. Pearson, R. Poulton-Kamakura, E. Ready, M.D. Redmond, C.D. Reid, K.C. Rodman, C.L. Scher, W.H. Schlesinger, A.M. Schwantes, E. Shanahan, S. Sharma, M. Steele, N.L. Stephenson, S. Sutton, J.J. Swenson, M. Swift, T.T. Veblen, A.V. Whipple, T.G. Whitham, A.P. Wion, K. Zhu, and R. Zlotin. 2020. Continent-wide tree fecundity driven by indirect climate effects.  Nature Communications DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20836-3. pdf: s41467-020-20836-3.
• Bystrova, D., G. Poggiato, B. Bektaş, J. Arbel, J. S. Clark, A. Guglielmi, and W. Thuiller. 2021. Clustering species with residual covariance matrix in joint species distribution models. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.601384.
• Poggiato, G., Münkemüller, T., Bystrova, D., Arbel, J., Clark, J.S. and Thuiller, W. 2021. On the interpretations of joint species distribution models. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2021.01.002.
• Clark, J. S., C. L. Scher, and M. Swift. 2020. The emergent interactions that govern biodiversity change. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 202003852, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2003852117. clarkPNAS2003852117.full
• Qiu, T., C. Song, J. S. Clark, B. Seyednasrollah, and N. Rathnayaka. 2020. Understanding the continuous phenological development at daily time step with a Bayesian hierarchical space-time model: impacts of climate change and extreme weather events. Remote Sensing of Environment, in press.
• Seyednasrollah, B., and Clark, J. S. 2020. Where resource‐acquisitive species are located: The role of habitat heterogeneity. Geophysical Research Letters, 47, e2020GL087626. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL087626, GeophysResLetters2020, grl2020Supplement
• McDowell, N. G., C. D. Allen, K. Anderson-Teixeira, B. H. Aukema, B. Bond-Lamberty, L. Chini, J. S. Clark, M. Dietze, C. Grossiord, A. Hanbury-Brown, G. C. Hurtt, R. B. Jackson, D. J. Johnson, L. Kueppers, J. W. Lichstein, K. Ogle, B. Poulter, T. A. M. Pugh, R. Seidl, M. G. Turner, M. Uriarte, A. P. Walker, C. Xu. 2020. Pervasive shifts in forest dynamics in a changing world. Science, 368, eaaz9463 DOI:10.1126/science.aaz9463.
• Clark, J.S., C.L. Nuñez, and B. Tomasek. 2019. Foodwebs based on unreliable foundations: spatio-temporal masting merged with consumer movement, storage, and diet. Ecological Monographs, 89:e01381. 10.1002/ecm.1381 Appendix

2021 Field Season Schedule