sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)
Model Reliability: High
| GCM SCENARIO | % Area Occ | Ave IV | Sum IV | Future/Current IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actual | 28.7 | 10.9 | 92164 | N/A |
| RFimp | 35.4 | 8.6 | 89906 | 0.98 |
| CCSM45 | 50.2 | 8.2 | 120422 | 1.34 |
| CCSM85 | 59.6 | 8 | 139825 | 1.56 |
| GFDL45 | 60.4 | 7.8 | 138115 | 1.54 |
| GFDL85 | 72.6 | 7.6 | 162851 | 1.81 |
| HAD45 | 57 | 8.2 | 137413 | 1.53 |
| HAD85 | 69 | 7.9 | 159992 | 1.78 |
| GCM45 | 60.9 | 7.4 | 131989 | 1.47 |
| GCM85 | 73.9 | 7.1 | 154239 | 1.72 |
Regional Summary Tree Tables
Summaries for tree species are available for a variety of geographies, in both PDF and Excel format. These summaries are based on Version 4 of the Climate Change Tree Atlas
Interpretation Guide
Sweetgum is distributed widely (22.5% of area), very abundant (FIAsum is third only to loblolly pine and red maple), densely occurring, and with high IV across the southern half of the eastern US. It occupies 23% of the eastern US territory and ranks highest in importance for some of the region (though loblolly pine beats it out much of the time). Its highly reliable model suggests an increase of habitat, including to the north all the way into Maine (under RCP 8.5), by 2100. However, the SHIFT model largely limits those northern locations from being naturally colonized within 100 years, though a fairly large northward expansion has some possibility. The species is also moderate in its adaptability, yielding a very good capacity to cope with a changing climate. The SHIFT model also indicates it a very good species for infilling.
Family: Hamamelidaceae
Guild: opportunistic, long-lived intolerant
Functional Lifeform: medium-size to large deciduous tree
| 4.1 | -0.41 |
| 0.18 |  |
MODFACs
What traits will impact sweetgum's ability to adapt to climate change, and in what way?:
Primary Positive Traits
Vegetative reproduction Environment habitat specificity
Primary Negative Traits
Fire topkill Shade tolerance Drought