| Summary: | To understand the impact of climate change on the tree radial growth in Southeast China’s subtropical evergreen broadleaved forest, comparative research on the radial growth–climate associations of <i>Schima superba</i> was conducted. This dominant evergreen broadleaved tree species was examined at both its southern and northern distribution margins through dendroclimatology. The results showed that the radial growth of <i>S. superba</i> stands at a high elevation in the southern margin and stands in the northern margin were positively correlated with springtime temperatures, mostly in April (e.g., mean temperature: <i>r</i> = 0.630, <i>p</i> < 0.05) and May (e.g., maximum temperature: <i>r</i> = 0.335, <i>p</i> < 0.05), respectively. Meanwhile, the temperature in the late rainy season had a significant negative effect on the radial growth of <i>S. superba</i> stands in the southern margin, including high-elevation stands (e.g., the mean temperature in previous and current September: <i>r</i> = −0.437 and −0.383, <i>p</i> < 0.05) and low-elevation stands (e.g., the mean temperature in previous August and October: <i>r</i> = −0.577 and −0.348, <i>p</i> < 0.05). It was shown that temperature was the key climatic factor affecting the radial growth of <i>S. superba</i>, and the response of radial growth to temperature had obvious spatial differences. The findings indicate that the radial growth of <i>S. superba</i> stands in warm growth environments will be negatively impacted by future climate warming. On the contrary, the radial growth of <i>S. superba</i> stands growing in relatively cold growth environments may benefit from warmer spring. The results enhance the understanding of tree growth responses to climate change in the subtropical forests of China.
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