Water Availability Determines Tree Growth and Physiological Response to Biotic and Abiotic Stress in a Temperate North American Urban Forest

Warmer temperatures and frequent drought directly affect urban tree health. Both abiotic conditions also health via increased density of some insect pests. Warming is predicted to benefit trees by increasing carbon sequestration allocation biomass. However, pests are rarely considered despite often co-occurring with heat. To determine the combined effects these biotic factors, we manipulated water availability for established red maple across a gradient warming pest measured leaf-level processes growth over two years. We find that major determinant growth, physiological processes, resilience stress factors. Maples performed better more water, which made them resistant temperature density. when became too severe, declined warming. Tree basal area was unaffected after years, but stem elongation temperature, discuss potential mechanisms driving responses implications in context forest management. Urban designs reduce align species adaptations local critical designing resilient productive forests.