Dear all, The International Tree Mortality Network, an initiative of the IUFRO task force on monitoring trends and patterns in global tree mortality, continues the online seminar series join on *December 9, 2 pm CET / 4 pm MSK*, with: *Dr. Viacheslav Kharuk* *Title: Conifer decline and mortality in Siberia*** _Abstract:_ Conifer decline and mortality in the 21st century has been observed all over the boreal forests zone (e.g., Boyd et al., 2019), Europe (e.g., Hasenauer, & Seidl, 2017), and Russia (e.g., Kharuk et al., 2020). This report focused mostly on the causes of Siberian pine (/Pinus sibirica/ Du Tour.) and fir (/Abies sibirica/ Ledeb) decline and mortality in Siberia. In addition, recent insect (/Zeiraphera griseana/) and fungi (/Melampsora/ sp.) attacks on the /Larix sibirica/ stands are considered. Results 1. Warming caused northward and uphill migration of the Siberian moth (/Dendrolimus sibiricus/ Tschetv.) outbreaks range into the former pristine taiga. 2. Siberian fir mortality caused by the synergy of bark-beetles (/Polygraphus proximus/ Blandford.) attacks and water stress. 3. Siberian pine and fir forest mortality preceded by trees growth index (GI) reduction caused by elevated air temperatures, acute droughts and following on insect attacks. 4. In mountains forest mortality observed mostly at low elevations, whereas within the areas with sufficient moisture availability (i.e., at elevations above ~1000 m) trees GI and forest area are increasing. 5. Consecutive years with elevated air temperature provoked immense insect (/Zeiraphera griseana/) outbreak within relatively dry larch habitat and fungi (/Melampsora/ sp.) outbreak within moisture larch habitat. 6. With the projected drought increase, precipitation-sensitive Siberian pine and fir would retreat from its southern low elevation ranges and substitute by tolerant species (e.g., /Betula/ spp, /Larix sibirica/, /Pinus sylvestris/). _Bio:_ Dr. Viacheslav Kharuk is the Head of the Forest Monitoring Lab at the Sukachev Institute of Forests. His main research areas are forest ecology and dynamics, remote sensing, climate and biotic impacts, and wildfires. *Please register for the Zoom Webinar: * https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IcCN3wccSGibiphrEsnoBA Note that the talks might be recorded. * * *Previous seminars:* Seminar # 1: Matt Hansen - Global forest monitoring using satellite data https://youtu.be/snUSGNb9bAQ Seminar # 2: Flavia Costa - Tree mortality in the Amazon https://youtu.be/5wmzX9ldn4Q Seminar #3: Belinda Medlyn https://youtu.be/T6S9VKklbyc Seminar #4: Nate McDowell https://youtu.be/vdAXQ8CibKA Seminar #5: Lisa Hülsmann https://youtu.be/Yzsa0p7lq7c Seminar #6: Craig D Allen https://youtu.be/5NlkIQOzl2Y <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NlkIQOzl2Y> Seminar #7: Yude Pan https://youtu.be/mhHxGPVZXXE <https://youtu.be/mhHxGPVZXXE> *Visit us at:* https://www.tree-mortality.net/ https://www.iufro.org/science/task-forces/tree-mortality-patterns/ -- https://www.tree-mortality.net/ --- Dr. (habil.) Henrik Hartmann Group leader Plant Allocation MPI for Biogeochemistry Hans Knöll Str. 10 07745 Jena, Germany Contact:hhart@bgc-jena.mpg.de <mailto:hhart@bgc-jena.mpg.de> Phone:+49.3641.576294 Mobile:+49.171.8188273 Website: https://www.bgc-jena.mpg.de/bgp/index.php/HenrikHartmann/HenrikHartmann *Initiatives*: International Tree Mortality Network https://www.tree-mortality.net/ IUFRO Task Force on monitoring of global tree mortality patterns and trends https://www.iufro.org/science/task-forces/tree-mortality-patterns/