全球气候变化直接影响地球陆地生态系统。喜马拉雅地区高度丰富的物种和生物多样性，正经历高于全球平均水平的气候变化影响。本项目拟以分布于东喜马拉雅地区的树形杜鹃为研究对象，从物候、树木年轮和空间分布模型等方面综合探讨该物种对过去、现在和未来气候变化的响应模式和规律。在高黎贡山、玉龙雪山和尼泊尔康城章加山建立长期监测点，通过横向（跨经度）、纵向（跨纬度）和垂直（海拔梯度）对比，研究树形杜鹃在不同环境梯度内的响应模式，特别是不同季风作用下的气候变化对树形杜鹃的影响。研究结果将提升对山地生态系统响应全球变化的认识，提高物种响应气候变化模型和预测的准确性，为在全球变化的大背景下进行山地生态系统和生物多样性保护与重建，以及应对全球变暖的国家战略提供不可或缺的科学指导和决策依据。

Global climate change affects the terrestrial ecosystem directly. Himalaya region is endowed with rich diversity, but at the same time presents high fragile in ecosystem stability and great impact from climate change. The proposed study will focus on Rhododendron arboreumof Eastern Himalaya with purpose to understand the climatic response of this highly important component of this area. Flowering phenology, tree ring ecology and spatial distribution of Rhododendron arboreum are the major area of focus. We will collect data of herbarium in this region and examine flowing pattern in the past decades. Long term observation sites will be established at Kanchengjung of Nepal, Tengchong and Gongshan of Hengduan Moutain, and Yulong Snow Moutain in order to compare the phenology patterns at different environment gradient. Tree ring data will be collected to analyses the growth trait in relation to climate variations. Current and future projection of the spatial distribution will be produced using Maxent model with climatic niche of this species been discovered. The results of this proposed study will bring comprehensive and insightful understanding to the plant response to climate change at highly sensitive Himalaya region, which will provide essential knowledge and facilitate the formulation of conservation strategies at this prominent region.