Climate Warming Research Articles

Does Central Asian forest growth benefit from a warming-wetting climate? Insights from tree-ring records

Climate warming has pronounced impacts on high-elevation regions, including arid Central Asia, and has multiple impacts on the environment. Forests in these mountainous areas provide essential services by regulating regional climate, sequestering carbon, and supporting soil and water conservation. However, trends in forest productivity and their response to climate change remain unclear. To address this knowledge gap, we collected tree cores from five sample plots in the western Tianshan region. We used tree-ring widths to reconstruct net primary productivity (NPP) and investigated the sensitivity of forest NPP to climate change by analysing weather station data and employing LASSO regression to identify climatic factors influencing forest growth. Our results demonstrate that the reconstructed forest NPP effectively captured significant carbon shifts and revealed a non-significant increase in forest productivity associated with climate warming and higher precipitation between 1970 and 2020 at low and middle elevations in the Tianshan mountains. Humidity is the primary limiting factor affecting forest growth in this region. Conversely, the relationship between temperature and forest growth is not consistent as precipitation increases. Our findings suggest that continued warming will exacerbate water stress in forests.

Estimating Evapotranspiration in the Qilian Mountains Using GRACE/GRACE-FO Satellite Data

Evapotranspiration (ET) is the most significant constituent of the response to climate warming. It serves as a crucial link in the soil–vegetation–atmospheric continuum. Analyzing the driving forces and response of ET to regional-scale climate warming holds scientific significance in improving global water resource assessment methods and drought monitoring techniques. The innovation presented in this article is the calculation of ET by using GRACE/GRACE-FO satellite data through the water balance equation. The inter-annual and seasonal changes in ET in different regions of the Qilian Mountains were analyzed, along with quantifying the contribution of environmental meteorological factors to ET. The ETGRACE and ETMonitor products have good consistency, with a monthly correlation coefficient of 0.92, an NSE coefficient of 0.80, and a root mean square error of 10.38 mm. The results indicate that the increasing trend of ET in the Qilian Mountains region exhibits a “medium–high–low” distribution pattern. The rate of increase in ET is 5.2 mm/year in the central segment. In spring and summer, the overall trend of ET is an increasing one. However, the central and western segments exhibit a slight decreasing trend of ET in autumn. During winter, the southern part of the Qilian Mountains experiences a notable reduction in ET. The correlation between the changes in ET and soil moisture exhibited a strong association, with soil moisture change contributing significantly to ET: 57.8% for the eastern section, 52.8% for the middle section, and 46.9% for the western section. The thermal effect primarily controls ET variations within eastern sections, where temperature change accounts for approximately 6.7% of the total variation in ET levels. Conversely, the moisture factor dominates western sections, where precipitation change accounts for about 6.5% of the total variation in ET levels. Due to the distinct gradient characteristics of environmental meteorological factors in the central segment, the fluctuation of these factors collaboratively drives ET changes. This article provides a new approach for obtaining continuous and reliable actual evapotranspiration in high-altitude areas.

Forest canopies as nature‐based solutions to mitigate global change effects on people and nature

Abstract Via sheltering, decoupling and buffering mechanisms, tree canopies have the capacity to mitigate impacts of multiple global‐change drivers on below‐canopy processes and organisms in forests. As a result, canopies have an important potential as nature‐based solution. The optimal combinations of forest canopy structural attributes to jointly mitigate the impacts of multiple global‐change drivers on below‐canopy organisms and processes have received little attention to date. To help solving this research gap, here we review how forest canopies modulate the effects of four important global‐change drivers—climate warming, drought, air pollution and biological invasions—on below‐canopy conditions. Particular attention is paid to mitigating canopy attributes that can be influenced by forest management, including canopy cover, tree species composition and vertical and horizontal structure. Synthesis. We show that the potential of forest canopies to mitigate global‐change effects is highly context‐dependent and that optimal canopy‐based solutions strongly depend on the environmental context and the targeted subcanopy organisms. Hence, holistic approaches, which maximize synergies and minimize trade‐offs, are needed to optimize the solution potential of forest canopies.

Extreme phenomena in the Lake Baikal basin: tropical nights and hot days as indicators of climate warming (Eastern Siberia, Russia)

Extreme phenomena in the Lake Baikal basin: tropical nights and hot days as indicators of climate warming (Eastern Siberia, Russia)

Changes in leaf area index by tropical forest transformation to plantations increase below-canopy surface temperatures

Climate change affects life in tropical landscapes by increasing temperatures, among other impacts. In addition, land transformation from forest to other land cover types typically increases temperatures of surfaces exposed to direct solar radiation. In rural areas, however, many organisms including humans live sheltered below canopies, but little is known about below-canopy surface temperatures. We assessed canopy leaf area index (LAI) and below-canopy surface temperatures in a landscape of rural lowland Sumatra, Indonesia. In this region, land-use trajectories in the past decades led from forest to monocultural plantations. We found that LAI varied more than 10-fold, with the highest values observed in forest and low values in rubber and oil palm plantations. Below-canopy surface temperatures increased significantly with decreasing LAI. A decrease in LAI by one unit (m2 leaf area per m2 ground area) increased ground surface temperature by 0.95 °C (confidence interval: 1.07–0.83 °C) around noon. Likewise, the temperatures measured on peoples’ cap or hijab surfaces under the canopy was strongly affected. For a light-brown hijab, the average noon surface temperature increased by 4.0 °C from forest to oil palm. Thus, in addition to climate warming, land transformation and associated declines in canopy LAI significantly increased below-canopy surface temperatures. Strategies for mitigating such potentially adverse temperature effects may include the integration of more and densely foliated trees into landscapes.

Hydrologic Connectivity Regulates Riverine N2O Sources and Dynamics.

Indirect nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from streams and rivers are a poorly constrained term in the global N2O budget. Current models of riverine N2O emissions place a strong focus on denitrification in groundwater and riverine environments as a dominant source of riverine N2O, but do not explicitly consider direct N2O input from terrestrial ecosystems. Here, we combine N2O isotope measurements and spatial stream network modeling to show that terrestrial-aquatic interactions, driven by changing hydrologic connectivity, control the sources and dynamics of riverine N2O in a mesoscale river network within the U.S. Corn Belt. We find that N2O produced from nitrification constituted a substantial fraction (i.e., >30%) of riverine N2O across the entire river network. The delivery of soil-produced N2O to streams was identified as a key mechanism for the high nitrification contribution and potentially accounted for more than 40% of the total riverine emission. This revealed large terrestrial N2O input implies an important climate-N2O feedback mechanism that may enhance riverine N2O emissions under a wetter and warmer climate. Inadequate representation of hydrologic connectivity in observations and modeling of riverine N2O emissions may result in significant underestimations.

Challenges for compound coastal flood risk management in a warming climate: a case study of the Gulf Coast of the United States

Compound flooding (CF) events, driven by coincident/concurrent and mutually reinforcing factors such as heavy rainfall, storm surges, and river discharge, pose severe threats to coastal communities around the Globe. Moreover, the exacerbating influence of climate change and sea-level rise further amplifies these risks. This study delves into the complex and multifaceted issue of compound coastal flooding in two freshwater-influenced systems on the Gulf Coast of the United States – Southeast Texas and South Alabama. We first conduct a robust statistical analysis to evaluate the significance of non-stationarity, multi-dimensionality, and non-linearity of interactions among various drivers of CF. Second, to assess the extent to which current flood resilience policies and guidelines account for these characteristics of CF events, we perform a critical review of existing policy documents. The results of the statistical analysis reveal significant compounding and shifts in the statistics of flood drivers that emphasize the pressing need for a multi-mechanism, non-stationary approach to flood hazard assessment. We also found an evident lack of appropriate language/recommendation in policy documents of solid tools that systematically take non-stationarity, multi-dimensionality, and non-linearity of CF into account. By identifying the gaps between current policy measures and the detected complexities of CF, we seek to provide insights that can inform more effective flood resilience policies and design guidelines. Through this robust analysis, we aspire to bridge the divide between research and policy.

Uncovering sea level patterns in Caspian Sea altimetry data

ABSTRACT This study introduces a technique to uncover concealed patterns in satellite altimetry data, reflecting sea level variations in inland water bodies. We applied the methodology to the Caspian Sea, using altimetry data from four satellite missions over 27 years (1993–2020): TOPEX/Poseidon, Jason1, Jason2, and Jason3. The approach involves two steps: estimating sea level trends and identifying breakpoints that indicate trend shifts; and leveraging time lags between breakpoints at various locations to classify water drainage areas according to their degree of influence on each period. By revealing concealed patterns in the altimetry data, this technique can provide insights to understand the impacts of global warming and local climate changes on sea level fluctuations in the Caspian Sea. We hope that our study can facilitate subsequent interdisciplinary research on the intricate interplay between climate change and hydrological processes in inland water bodies.

Permafrost melting enhances growth but leads to less intra-annual density fluctuations in boreal Larix gmelinii forests at its southernmost limit in northeast China

Permafrost melting due to climate warming in recent decades has produced significant effects on forest ecosystems, especially the boreal biome at its southernmost limit in Asia. How this warming affects wood formation of trees at intra-annual resolution is unclear, yet is crucial for assessing the impact of permafrost melting on boreal forest growth. In this study, we compared the radial growth and intra-annual wood density fluctuations (IADFs) of Dahurian larch (Larix gmelinii Rupr.) at a permafrost (PF) and a non-permafrost (NPF) site at the southernmost permafrost limit in northeast China and quantified their relationships with climate factors. Drought in early summer was the main factor limiting growth of Dahurian larch. The basal area increment (BAI) of trees at both sites increased initially and then decreased in the 1980s, probably in response to warm-dry climate conditions. Earlywood IADFs (IADF-E) occurred in 14.0% and 9.3% of dated rings at the NPF and PF sites, while the frequency of latewood IADFs (IADF-L) was 6.8% and 2.7% at these two sites. The frequency of IADF-E in trees at both sites was positively and negatively related to June temperatures (and vapor pressure deficit) and precipitation, respectively, suggesting drought stress in June triggered the formation of IADF-E. The IADF-Ls were probably formed in response to warm temperatures in the late growing season. A higher BAI and a lower frequency of IADF-Es of trees at the PF site than at the NPF site indicated that permafrost melting could alleviate drought stress in early summer and promote radial growth of Dahurian larch. This greatly improved forest carbon sequestration and wood quality of some northeastern Asian boreal forests may offset to some extent the adverse effects of warming-drying climates at some sites of northeast Asia. Larch IADF-Es recorded extreme droughts in early summer, giving us a new sight for reconstructing high-frequency extreme climate events. If climate warming continues, the benefits of permafrost melting will gradually disappear and even turn negative due to warmer-dryer climate conditions. Our findings provide valuable information for boreal forest management and conservation under future global warming.

We need to talk about the role of zooplankton in marine food webs.

Zooplankton are the key intermediary between primary production and the fish community and a cornerstone of marine food webs, but they are often poorly represented in models that tend to focus on fish, charismatic top predators, or ocean biogeochemistry. In this study, we use an intermediate complexity end-to-end food web model of the North Sea with explicit two-way coupling of zooplankton to phytoplankton and higher trophic levels to ask whether this matters. We vary the metabolic rate of omnivorous zooplankton (OZ) as a proxy for uncertainties in our understanding and modeling of zooplankton form and function, and moving beyond previous studies we look at the impacts on the food web in concert with climate warming and fishing. We consider impacts on food web state and time to recover the relevant unfished state after fishing ceases. We also consider potential impacts on pelagic and demersal fishing fleets if we assume that they are constrained by the requirement to allow recovery to an unfished state within a certain period of time as a way of ensuring consistency with Good Environmental Status as required by EU and UK legislation. We find that all three aspects considered are highly sensitive to changes in the treatment of zooplankton, with impacts being larger than for warming of 2 or 4°C across most food web functional groups, particularly for apex predators. We call for a programme of research aimed at improving our understanding of zooplankton ecology and its relationship to the wider food web, and we recommend that improved representations of zooplankton are incorporated in future modeling studies as a priority.

Central-Pacific El Niño-Southern Oscillation less predictable under greenhouse warming

El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is the dominant mode of interannual climate variability in the tropical Pacific, whose nature nevertheless may change significantly in a warming climate. Here, we show that the predictability of ENSO may decrease in the future. Across the models in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6), we find a robust decrease of the persistence and predictability for the Central Pacific (CP) ENSO under global warming, notably in passing through the boreal spring. The strength of spring predictability barrier will be increased by 25% in the future. The reduced predictability of CP ENSO is caused by the faster warming over surface ocean in tropical Pacific and, in turn, the enhanced thermodynamical damping rate on CP ENSO in response to global warming. In contrast, the predictability of Eastern Pacific ENSO will not change. Our results suggest that future greenhouse warming will make the prediction of CP ENSO more challenging, with far-reaching implications on future climate predictions.

Enhanced sequestration of carbon in ocean sediments as a means to reduce global emissions: A case study from a coastal wetland restoration project in the Liaohe Delta, Northeast China

Enhanced sequestration of carbon in ocean sediments is a promising approach to mitigate the adverse effects of climate warming. To assess the capacity of coastal regions to uptake and bury carbon, a wetland restoration project was carried out in the degraded coastal wetlands of the Liaohe Delta between 2011 and 2013. A 13.33-ha degraded salt marsh was selected to create two enhanced carbon sink experimental areas, one dominated by Phragmites australis and the other dominated by Suaeda salsa. Improvements to the wetland matrix, hydrological processes, and vegetation colonization were designed and constructed. Results revealed that after the three-year restoration effort, the biomass of vegetation in the demonstration area was 1.2–4.0 times that of a natural wetland, and the rate of organic carbon sequestration in the sediments was about 60–80% of the rate in a natural salt marsh. We show that restoring vegetation can significantly increase the rate of sedimentation and thus enhance the carbon sequestration capacity of a wetland dominated by S. salsa or P. australis. Carbon sequestration capacity can be restored more rapidly in salt marsh wetlands than in mangrove wetlands, and we argue that restoration of salt marsh wetlands is an urgent task suitable for the application of large-scale ocean carbon sequestration technologies.

Author Correction: Wasted efforts of elite Marathon runners under a warming climate primarily due to atmospheric oxygen reduction

Author Correction: Wasted efforts of elite Marathon runners under a warming climate primarily due to atmospheric oxygen reduction

Contrasting water-use strategies to climate warming in white birch and larch in a boreal permafrost region.

The effects of rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations (Ca) with climate warming on intrinsic water-use efficiency and radial growth in boreal forests are still poorly understood. We measured tree-ring cellulose δ13C, δ18O, and tree-ring width in Larix dahurica (larch) and Betula platyphylla (white birch), and analyzed their relationships with climate variables in a boreal permafrost region of northeast China over past 68years covering a pre-warming period (1951-1984; base period) and a warm period (1985-2018; warm period). We found that white birch but not larch significantly increased their radial growth over the warm period. The increased intrinsic water-use efficiency in both species was mainly driven by elevated Ca but not climate warming. White birch but not larch showed significantly positive correlations between tree-ring δ13C, δ18O and summer maximum temperature as well as vapor pressure deficit in the warm period, suggesting a strong stomatal response in the broad-leaved birch to temperature changes. The climate warming-induced radial growth enhancement in white birch is primarily associated with a conservative water-use strategy. In contrast, larch exhibits a profligate water-use strategy. It implies an advantage for white birch over larch in the warming permafrost regions.

Assessing the Impacts of Mulching-Induced Warming Effects on Machine-Picked Cotton Zones

The 20th century saw notable fluctuations in global temperatures, which significantly impacted agricultural climate zones across the Earth. Focusing on Xinjiang, China, a leading region in machine-picked cotton production, we identified several key thermal indicators influencing the yield, including the sum of active temperatures ≥ 10 °C, the mean temperature in July, the climatological growing season length, the April–May sum of active temperatures, the last frost day, and the defoliant spray time. Using meteorological data from 58 weather stations in Xinjiang, we examined the spatiotemporal trends of these indicators during the 1981–2020 period. Additionally, we attempted to determine the effects of plastic mulching on the sowing area and the zoning area of machine-picked cotton in different suitable zones based on these indicators. In conclusion, the overall thermal resources in Xinjiang are exhibiting an upward trend and show a distribution pattern of “more in the south of Xinjiang than in the north of Xinjiang, and more in the plains and basins than in the mountains”. Under the plastic-mulching mechanism, the zoning area of the suitable zone has increased by 15.7% (2.15 × 103 km2), suggesting that climate warming and the widespread application of mulching technology provide unexplored potential for the most suitable regions for machine-picked cotton in Xinjiang, while the 14.5% (0.26 × 103 km2) and 7.8% (0.17 × 103 km2) reductions in the unsuitable and less suitable zones, respectively, suggest that the planting areas of machine-picked cotton in both the less suitable and unsuitable zones, particularly with the existing regional planning, continue to demonstrate an irrational expansion. Therefore, to sustain Xinjiang’s cotton industry’s resilience and productivity, policymakers need to prioritize proactive land management and sustainable land allocation practices in response to changing climate patterns to optimize cotton production.

Nocturnal heat exposure and stroke risk.

In recent decades, nighttime temperatures have increased faster than daytime temperatures. The increasing prevalence of nocturnal heat exposure may pose a significant risk to cardiovascular health. This study investigated the association between nighttime heat exposure and stroke risk in the region of Augsburg, Germany, and examined its temporal variations over 15 years. Hourly meteorological parameters, including mean temperature, relative humidity, and barometric pressure, were acquired from a local meteorological station. A data set was obtained consisting of 11 037 clinical stroke cases diagnosed during warmer months (May to October) between the years 2006 and 2020. The average age of cases was 71.3 years. Among these cases, 642 were identified as haemorrhagic strokes, 7430 were classified as ischaemic strokes, and 2947 were transient ischaemic attacks. A time-stratified case-crossover analysis with a distributed lag non-linear model was used to estimate the stroke risk associated with extreme nighttime heat, as measured by the hot night excess (HNE) index after controlling for the potential confounding effects of daily maximum temperature and other climatic variables. Subgroup analyses by age group, sex, stroke subtype, and stroke severity were performed to identify variations in susceptibility to nighttime heat. Results suggested a significant increase in stroke risk on days with extreme nighttime heat (97.5% percentile of HNE) (odds ratio 1.07, 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.15) during the full study period. When comparing the results for 2013-20 with the results for 2006-12, there was a significant increase (P < .05) in HNE-related risk for all strokes and specifically for ischaemic strokes during the more recent period. Furthermore, older individuals, females, and patients with mild stroke symptoms exhibited a significantly increased vulnerability to nighttime heat. This study found nocturnal heat exposure to be related to elevated stroke risk after controlling for maximum daytime temperature, with increasing susceptibility between 2006 and 2020. These results underscore the importance of considering nocturnal heat as a critical trigger of stroke events in a warming climate.

Paleoclimate changes and ecosystem responses of the Bulgarian Black Sea zone during the last 26000 years

Multi-proxy analysis (spore-pollen, dinoflagellate cysts, other non-pollen palynomorphs (NPPs), radiocarbon dating and lithology) was performed on marine sediments from three new cores retrieved during the two cruise expeditions on board the Research Vessel “Akademik” in 2009 and 2011. The Varna transect comprises three cores extending from the outer shelf, continental slope and deep-water zone. The record spans the last 26000 years (all ages obtained in this study are given in calendar years BP (cal. yrs BP)). The pollen record reveals the spreading of steppe vegetation dominated by Artemisia and Chenopodiaceae, suggesting cold and dry environments during the Late Pleniglacial – Oldest Dryas (25903–15612 cal. yrs BP). Stands of Pinus and Quercus reflect warming/humidity increase during the melting pulses (19.2–14.5 cal. ka BP) and the Late Glacial interstadials Bølling and Allerød. The Younger Dryas (13257–11788 cal. yrs BP) coldest and driest environments are clearly demonstrated by the maximum relative abundance of Artemisia and Chenopodiaceae. During the Early Holocene (Preboreal and Boreal chronozones, 11788–8004 cal. yrs BP), Quercus appeared as a pioneer species and, along with other temperate deciduous arboreal taxa, formed open deciduous forests as a response to the increased temperature. The rapid expansion of these taxa indicates that they survived in Glacial refugia in the coastal mountains. During the Atlantic chronozone (8004–5483 cal. yrs BP), optimal climate conditions (high humidity and increased mean annual temperatures) stimulated the establishment of species-rich mixed temperate deciduous forests. During the Subboreal chronozone (5483–2837 cal. yrs BP), Carpinus betulus and Fagus expanded simultaneously and became more important components of mixed oak forests and probably also formed separate communities. During the Subatlantic chronozone (2837 cal. yrs BP to pre-industrial time), climate-driven changes (an increase of humidity and a cooling of the climate) appear to be the main drivers of the specific vegetation succession expressed by increased abundance of Alnus, Fraxinus excelsior and Salix along with lianas, suggesting formation of flooded riparian forests (so called ‘Longoz’) lining the river valleys along the Black Sea coast. The first indicators of farming and other human activities have been recorded since 7074 cal. yrs BP. The dinoflagellate cyst (dinocyst) assemblages have been analysed to assess the changes in the Black Sea environment over the last 26000 years in terms of fluctuation in paleoproduction and surface water conditions related to changes in climate, freshwater input and Mediterranean water intrusion. Two major dinocyst assemblages were distinguished: one dominated by stenohaline freshwater/brackish-water species and a successive one dominated by euryhaline marine species. The changes in the composition of the assemblages occurred at 7668 cal. yrs BP. The abrupt decrease of stenohaline freshwater/brackish-water species Pyxidinopsis psilata and Spiniferites cruciformis was followed upwards by a gradual increase in euryhaline marine species, such as Lingulodinium machaerophorum, Spiniferites belerius, S. bentorii and acritarch Cymatiosphaera globulosa. The first occurrence of euryhaline marine species took place synchronously with the onset of sapropel deposition. Modern marine conditions were established after 6417 cal yrs BP when an abundance of Mediterranean-related species, such as Operculodinium centrocarpum and Spiniferites mirabilis, along with other heterotrophic species, occurred. After the stable cold and dry environment during the Last Glacial Maximum, the phytoplankton record of core AKAD 11-17 shows that Pediastrum boryanum var. boryanum has a cyclical abundance associated with the deposition of four red-brown clay layers between 19.2 and 14.5 cal. ka BP. This event is associated with the major melting phase of European Ice drained by the Danube and Dnieper Rivers in response to climate warming observed after the end of the Last Glacial Maximum. During the Early Holocene, P. psilata, characterised by a preference to warmer temperatures, demonstrates its ecological optimum for growth concerning SST reaching maximum relative abundance of 94% between 11072 and 8638 cal. yrs BP. This maximum was interrupted by an abrupt significant short-term decrease in the relative abundance of P. psilata centred between 8500 and 8300 cal. yrs BP reflecting cold conditions similar to those of Younger Dryas. This finding, also confirmed by the rapid significant decrease of arboreal pollen, particularly of Quercus in the same studied core, is considered a regional expression of the well-known ‘8.2 ka cold event’ which is commonly linked to a meltwater-related perturbation of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and associated collapse of oceanic northward heat transport. Our fossil pollen and dinocyst data confirm that the high amplitude temperature anomaly associated with ‘the 8.2 ka cold event’ may have also occurred in south-eastern Europe, at lower latitudes of the western Black Sea coastal area, most probably due to atmospheric transition and/or river discharge.

Rapid conversion of carbon dioxide into titanium carbide by atmospheric microwave plasma

AbstractThe accelerating climate warming requires fast methods to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. Here, we converted carbon dioxide into titanium carbide using four magnetrons which were sequentially operated to emit microwave on titanium swarf. Carbon dioxide molecules dissociated in the plasma to react with ionized titanium atoms to form a stable titanium carbide product, using a microwave frequency is 2.3 gigahertz and 800 watts electrical power for each magnetron. Results show a reduction of carbon dioxide concentration from 2000 to 385 ppm within 30 s. Titanium carbide could be further functionalized as a three-dimensional printed gas sensor.

Soil fungal community has higher network stability than bacterial community in response to warming and nitrogen addition in a subtropical primary forest.

Soil microbes play a very important role in maintaining the function and health of forest ecosystems. Unfortunately, global change factors are profoundly affecting soil microbial structure and function. In this study, we found that climate warming promoted bacterial network stability and nitrogen deposition decreased bacterial network stability. Changes in bacterial network stability had strong effects on bacterial community functional potentials linked to metabolism, nitrogen cycling, and carbon cycling, which would change the biogeochemical cycle in primary forests.

Soil warming effects on the transpiration of trees and shrubs in a subtropical secondary forest: A manipulative experiment

The climate warming can increase the productivity of some species while decrease that of others, therefore, knowledge of species-specific responses to warming is helpful to understand the possible trajectory of forest ecosystems. Despite the importance of the subtropical secondary broadleaf forests developed from afforestation in South China, our understanding of how the transpiration of trees and shrubs co-growing in these forests responds to soil warming is limited. To explore the effects of soil warming on transpiration and associated ecophysiological traits of trees and shrubs in wet and dry seasons, as well as to clarify respective contributions of trees and shrubs transpiration to the stand total, we conducted a manipulative experiment of soil warming (+2 ℃, WA) and control (CK) in a subtropical secondary broadleaf forest in South China, and continuously monitored the transpiration (based on sap flow) of trees, Schima superba and Acacia auriculiformis, and that (derived from leaf temperature and microclimate) of shrubs, Psychotria asiatica and Castanopsis chinensis, from 2021 to 2022. We also measured leaf water potentials, leaf nutrient status, and δ13C-derived intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEi). Soil warming did not significantly alter the transpiration of trees, with the exception of A. auriculiformis in 2022, whereas it notably increased transpiration of both shrubs. We attributed the stimulation of shrubs’ transpiration mainly to the more favorable leaf water potentials under warming condition. Due to the increased transpiration, the contribution of shrubs to stand transpiration was consequently increased, highlighting the potential role of shrubs in the hydrological dynamics of forest ecosystems. Additionally, the WUEi, soil main macro-nutrients, and leaf nutritional status of all species were not significantly affected by soil warming. These findings indicated that the carbon-water exchange and nutrient status of the studied plants can be maintained even when exposed to moderate increases in soil temperature and relatively drier condition, reflecting the resilience of the subtropical secondary broadleaf forest to possible climate warming. Further research on the interaction and competition of co-existing trees and shrubs under soil warming will improve the prediction of forest dynamics under future climate change, which benefits the efforts to conserve such forests in order to address the environmental pressure in the region.