Avian frugivory rates at an abundant tree species are constant throughout the day and slightly influenced by weather conditions

Latest drought events and their already visible damage to trees highlight the crucial need to assess the current state and resilience of forest ecosystems in southern Germany. However, commonly applied dendroclimatic approaches rarely take into account, how weather patterns affecting trees are modified by topographic conditions. For this purpose, three main tree species were studied at three low mountain ranges and three corresponding basins in the topographically complex province of Bavaria (southeast Germany). A response analysis between climate proxies and tree-ring widths was used to investigate climate-growth relationships over the past 50 years of both coniferous and deciduous tree species at each forest site. Temporal stability of tree responses to climate was compared for two 25-year periods to detect possible modifications in climate-growth correlations. A pointer year analysis was also conducted to analyze tree response to climatic extreme events. The results showed that Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) was the most vulnerable and least drought-resistant of the investigated tree species. Although Norway spruce (Picea abies) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica) benefited from an extended growing season at high elevation sites, they showed higher drought sensitivity over the past 25 years. Beech responses were rather inhomogeneous and even differed in the optimal precipitation period. However, lower correlation coefficients for summer precipitation at the driest site may indicate the ability of beech to adapt to less summer precipitation. Nevertheless, increasing drought frequency, as predicted, poses a serious threat to all studied tree species, including even the colder and more humid sites. Hence, to more accurately estimate risk potentials under future weather conditions, we will combine dendroclimatological results with climate modelling scenarios, particularly expected future frequencies of critical weather types on the local scale.

Download Full-text

Stomatal Index of a few common tree species in the Kishangarh Marble Slurry Dump-yard area, Ajmer (Rajasthan): A case study

Journal of Applied and Natural Science ◽

10.31018/jans.v11i1.1977 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 193-198 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lata Gahlot ◽

Vibha Khanna

Keyword(s):

Particulate Matter ◽

Tree Species ◽

Fine Powder ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Stomatal Index ◽

Unpolluted Site ◽

Marble Dust ◽

Polluted Sites ◽

Dump Yard ◽

Index Value

The size and number of the stomata present on the foliar epidermis of Tree species is directly influenced by the Suspended Particulate Matter. Marble dust is a very fine powder having approximately 40% particles below 75?m diameter of which approximately 30% are having a size less than 25?m present in the atmosphere. A comparative micro-morphological study of stomatal index of the dominant tree speciesAlbizialebbeck, Azadirachta indica, Callistemon lanceolatus growing in the vicinity of Marble slurry dump-yard, Kishangarh (Ajmer) was done from the month of April 2014 to March 2015.The stomatal index of the lower epidermis of A. indica and A. lebbeck leaves from polluted sites was found to have greater value as compared to that with those of unpolluted site during the months of May to October while in case of the rough, leathery leaves of Callistemon lanceolatus, the stomatal index value in leaves from polluted site was less during these months. This may be attributed to the prevailing winds and weather conditions in the area of study which play a crucial role in the accumulated particulate matter on the phylloplane of the selected tree species viz.A. lebbeck, A. indica,C. lanceolatus.

Download Full-text

Interpreting common garden studies to understand cueing mechanisms of spring leafing phenology in temperate and boreal tree species

Silva Fennica ◽

10.14214/sf.10381 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 54 (5) ◽

Author(s):

Carl Salk

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Tree Species ◽

Climate Change Impacts ◽

Common Garden ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

High Elevation ◽

Long Distance ◽

Climate Change Responses ◽

Critical Photoperiod ◽

Leafing Phenology

Trees are particularly susceptible to climate change due to their long lives and slow dispersal. However, trees can adjust the timing of their growing season in response to weather conditions without evolutionary change or long-distance migration. This makes understanding phenological cueing mechanisms a critical task to forecast climate change impacts on forests. Because of slow data accumulation, unconventional and repurposed information is valuable in the study of phenology. Here, I develop and use a framework to interpret what phenological patterns among provenances of a species in a common garden reveal about their leafing cues, and potential climate change responses. Species whose high elevation/latitude provenances leaf first likely have little chilling requirement, or for latitude gradients only, a critical photoperiod cue met relatively early in the season. Species with low latitude/elevation origins leafing first have stronger controls against premature leafing; I argue that these species are likely less phenologically flexible in responding to climate change. Among published studies, the low to high order is predominant among frost-sensitive ring-porous species. Narrow-xylemed species show nearly all possible patterns, sometimes with strong contrasts even within genera for both conifers and angiosperms. Some also show complex patterns, indicating multiple mechanisms at work, and a few are largely undifferentiated across broad latitude gradients, suggesting phenotypic plasticity to a warmer climate. These results provide valuable evidence on which temperate and boreal tree species are most likely to adjust in place to climate change, and provide a framework for interpreting historic or newly-planted common garden studies of phenology.

Download Full-text

Dynamic analysis of retention PM2.5 by plant leaves in rainfall weather conditions of six tree species

Energy Sources Part A Recovery Utilization and Environmental Effects ◽

10.1080/15567036.2019.1602212 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 42 (8) ◽

pp. 1014-1025 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jia Luo ◽

Yandong Niu ◽

Yi Zhang ◽

Min Zhang ◽

Yuxin Tian ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dynamic Analysis ◽

Tree Species ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Plant Leaves

Download Full-text

Effects of light pollution on tree phenology in the urban environment

Moravian Geographical Reports ◽

10.1515/mgr-2017-0024 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 25 (4) ◽

pp. 282-290 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Jana Škvareninová ◽

Mária Tuhárska ◽

Jaroslav Škvarenina ◽

Darina Babálová ◽

Lenka Slobodníková ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Urban Environment ◽

Tree Species ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Threshold Value ◽

Light Pollution ◽

Light Sources ◽

Acer Pseudoplatanus ◽

Pollution Effects ◽

Cloudy Weather ◽

The Town

Abstract Research on urban climates has been an important topic in recent years, given the growing number of city inhabitants and significant influences of climate on health. Nevertheless, far less research has focused on the impacts of light pollution, not only on humans, but also on plants and animals in the landscape. This paper reports a study measuring the intensity of light pollution and its impact on the autumn phenological phases of tree species in the town of Zvolen (Slovakia). The research was carried out at two housing estates and in the central part of the town in the period 2013–2016. The intensity of ambient nocturnal light at 18 measurement points was greater under cloudy weather than in clear weather conditions. Comparison with the ecological standard for Slovakia showed that average night light values in the town centre and in the housing estate with an older type of public lighting, exceeded the threshold value by 5 lux. Two tree species, sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) and staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina L.), demonstrated sensitivity to light pollution. The average onset of the autumn phenophases in the crown parts situated next to the light sources was delayed by 13 to 22 days, and their duration was prolonged by 6 to 9 days. There are three major results: (i) the effects of light pollution on organisms in the urban environment are documented; (ii) the results provide support for a theoretical and practical basis for better urban planning policies to mitigate light pollution effects on organisms; and (iii) some limits of the use of plant phenology as a bioindicator of climate change are presented.

Download Full-text

On the Use of Sap Flow Measurements to Assess the Water Requirements of Three Australian Native Tree Species

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy12010052 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 52

Author(s):

Xi Sun ◽

Jie Li ◽

Donald Cameron ◽

Gregory Moore

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Tree Species ◽

Sap Flow ◽

Potential Evapotranspiration ◽

Vapour Pressure Deficit ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Pulse Velocity ◽

Ratio Method ◽

Flow Volume ◽

Flow Measurements

The measurement of sap movement in xylem sapwood tissue using heat pulse velocity sap flow instruments has been commonly used to estimate plant transpiration. In this study, sap flow sensors (SFM1) based on the heat ratio method (HRM) were used to assess the sap flow performance of three different tree species located in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia over a 12-month period. A soil moisture budget profile featuring potential evapotranspiration and precipitation was developed to indicate soil moisture balance while the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum was established at the study site using data obtained from different monitoring instruments. The comparison of sap flow volume for the three species clearly showed that the water demand of Corymbia maculata was the highest when compared to Melaleuca styphelioides and Lophostemon confertus and the daily sap flow volume on the north side of the tree on average was 63% greater than that of the south side. By analysing the optimal temperature and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) for transpiration for all sampled trees, it was concluded that the Melaleuca styphelioides could better cope with hotter and drier weather conditions.

Download Full-text

Flowering phenology of selected wind pollinated allergenic deciduous tree species

Acta Agrobotanica ◽

10.5586/aa.2006.032 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 59 (1) ◽

pp. 309-316 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Magdalena Kluza-Wieloch ◽

Joanna Szewczak

Keyword(s):

Tree Species ◽

Betula Pendula ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Flowering Phenology ◽

Corylus Avellana ◽

Early Spring ◽

Deciduous Tree ◽

Allergic Reactions ◽

Flowering Process ◽

Phenological Phases

Systematic phenological observations have been carried out in the Dendrological Garden of August Cieszkowski Agricultural University, Park Sołacki, Lasek Golęciński, Przybyszewskiego Street, for two years (2003, 2004). The selected species of deciduous trees, as Betula pendula, Corylus avellana, Platanus x hispanica. There was interdependence between the course of flowering process and weather conditions. Long and frosty winter at the turn of 2002/2003 and subzero mean temperatures in the first quarter of 2003 delayed vegetation. Rapid coming of early spring in the year 2004 accelerate the development of generative organs. Each year spring ground frost during flowering did not inhibit this process. All the investigated tree species are anemophilous and produce large amounts of allergenic pollen grain. They cause allergic reactions throughout the whole period of pollen discharge. Male inflorescences in Corylus avellana, blooming very early, are one of the first plants causing allergic reactions. Betula pendula is the next to bloom, followed by Platanus x hispanica. Observations of phenological phases may provide useful information forecasting the beginning of the period of increased pollen concentration in air.

Download Full-text

Climate Signals for Growth Variations of F. sylvatica, P. abies, and P. sylvestris in Southeast Germany over the Past 50 Years

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12111433 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (11) ◽

pp. 1433

Author(s):

Annette Debel ◽

Wolfgang Jens-Henrik Meier ◽

Achim Bräuning

Keyword(s):

Tree Species ◽

Ring Width ◽

European Beech ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

High Elevation ◽

Response Analysis ◽

Climate Variables ◽

Climate Conditions ◽

Superposed Epoch Analysis ◽

The Past

Since recent drought events have already caused severe damage to trees and droughts in the near future are expected to occur even more frequently, this study investigated the response of forest ecosystems to changing climate conditions in the topographically complex region of Bavaria, southeast Germany. For this purpose, climate–growth relationships of important European deciduous and coniferous tree species were investigated over the past 50 years at three middle mountain ranges and corresponding basins. A response analysis between tree-ring width and climate variables was applied to detect modifications in tree responses comparing two 25-year periods at individual forest sites. Furthermore, tree responses to climatic extreme years and seasons were analyzed using a superposed epoch analysis. The results showed that Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) proved to be the most vulnerable and least drought-resistant of all investigated tree species. Likewise, Norway spruce (Picea abies) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica) revealed a higher drought sensitivity over the past 25 years, even though an extended growing season partially improved tree growth at high-elevation sites. In conclusion, all studied tree species were affected by drought events, even at humid high-elevation sites. Correlations with daily climate variables confirmed that even short-term weather conditions could strongly influence trees’ radial growth. Tree responses to climate conditions have shifted significantly between past and present periods but vary considerably among sites and are generally stronger in humid regions than in already dry areas.

Download Full-text