scholarly journals A long-term tree-ring chronology over 796 years for silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) in Southern France

2017 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Shindo ◽  
Christelle Belingard ◽  
Jean-Louis Edouard ◽  
Mélanie Saulnier
2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (7) ◽  
pp. 689-703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans Pretzsch ◽  
Torben Hilmers ◽  
Peter Biber ◽  
Admir Avdagić ◽  
Franz Binder ◽  
...  

In Europe, mixed mountain forests, primarily comprised of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.), silver fir (Abies alba Mill.), and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), cover about 10 × 106 ha at elevations between ∼600 and 1600 m a.s.l. These forests provide invaluable ecosystem services. However, the growth of these forests and the competition among their main species are expected to be strongly affected by climate warming. In this study, we analyzed the growth development of spruce, fir, and beech in moist mixed mountain forests in Europe over the last 300 years. Based on tree-ring analyses on long-term observational plots, we found for all three species (i) a nondecelerating, linear diameter growth trend spanning more than 300 years; (ii) increased growth levels and trends, the latter being particularly pronounced for fir and beech; and (iii) an elevation-dependent change of fir and beech growth. Whereas in the past, the growth was highest at lower elevations, today’s growth is superior at higher elevations. This spatiotemporal pattern indicates significant changes in the growth and interspecific competition at the expense of spruce in mixed mountain forests. We discuss possible causes, consequences, and silvicultural implications of these distinct growth changes in mixed mountain forests.


2009 ◽  
Vol 39 (12) ◽  
pp. 2437-2449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus J. Puettmann ◽  
Anthony W. D’Amato ◽  
Ulrich Kohnle ◽  
Jürgen Bauhus

This study investigated the individual-tree diameter response of mature silver fir ( Abies alba Mill.) to reproduction harvests (Femelschlag: an irregular group shelterwood method) on six sites in the Black Forest, Germany. On each site, four different treatments were applied, including a control treatment and short-, medium, and long-term regeneration periods aimed at the complete removal of overstory trees within 20, 35, and 50 years, respectively. These treatments created a wide variety of growing conditions for individual trees. Relationships between relative diameter growth and stand-level and neighborhood interaction indices were evaluated. Growing conditions for individual trees in control conditions were best characterized using Lorimer’s index for a 16 m radius neighborhood. Equations predicting tree growth in control stands underpredicted initial growth of trees after harvesting operations, suggesting a release effect that is not captured by postharvest density. This effect was larger for smaller trees and influenced by removal intensity. Growth response to density reductions was also influenced by previous harvests. Our results suggest that the growth response of mature trees to reproduction harvests may become an important consideration when increased emphasis is placed on managing for long-term regeneration periods.


2016 ◽  
Vol 131 ◽  
pp. 118-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Edvardsson ◽  
Christophe Corona ◽  
Jonas Mažeika ◽  
Rutile Pukienė ◽  
Markus Stoffel

2008 ◽  
Vol 159 (10) ◽  
pp. 352-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Zingg ◽  
Anton Bürgi

Drought during the vegetation period has en effect on tree growth. Using daily precipitation data and growth records from long-term research plots, we investigated what can be defined as “drought” and how strong its effect is. Dry or humid periods are defined as the deviation from the long-term daily mean of precipitation. Such periods must last at least 60 days to be considered as being decisive for tree growth. The drought values are used together with other site and stand parameters as explaining variables in a model for the basal area increment for Norway spruce (Picea abies [L] H. Karst.), silver fir (Abies alba Mill.), European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and oak (Quercus L), based on data from long-term growth and yield plots which are located in the neighbourhood of precipitation measurement stations. These models explain 55 to 89% of the variance. In drought situations basal area increment drops clearly for spruce and beech, for fir only weakly and oak shows no reaction. Furthermore, we checked if there happened additional or compulsory felling after drought periods and if the basal area growth changed significantly compared to the growth in the period before. For both it is not the case, despite distinct drought periods in the last century, especially in the 40s with the extreme year of 1947. Therefore we do not expect dramatic changes for the investigated species in similar drought situations under the prerequisite that the other conditions do not change essentially.


2019 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 156-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasyl Mohytych ◽  
Małgorzata Sułkowska ◽  
Marcin Klisz

Abstract Existing knowledge of the Ukrainian foresters related to the historical changes and current state of silver fir forests, as well as on the various methods of restoration of such forests in the Ukrainian Carpathians were discussed. Forest cover of fir stands in this region has been diminishing in the last two centuries. Only in the period from 1947 to 1956, the area of fir stands in Ukrainian Carpathians decreased by 38.8%. Currently, the restoration of fir stands in these areas are crucial for Ukrainian forestry. Therefore, the natural as well as artificial regeneration using seeds obtained from seed orchards are currently used. Thus, improving the forest stands’ conditions mostly composed of single-spruce plantations need to be improved through changing the species compositions. However, the restoration of fir stands is time and labour-intensive, and require a long-term strategy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-27
Author(s):  
Jelena Subotić ◽  
Vojislav Dukić ◽  
Tatjana Popov ◽  
Goran Trbić ◽  
Zoran Maunaga ◽  
...  

Silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) is the most common conifer species in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The paper describes the development of a silver fir master tree-ring chronology from Kozara National Park and analyzes the influence of the climate conditions on tree-ring widths. The knowledge concerning the effect of climate on cambium activity and, as a result, on tree growth is of great importance for silviculture, which is particularly complex in terms of deterioration of health condition. Four sites were selected for sampling at Kozara National Park. At each sampling site, 15 dominant trees were drilled with Pressler’s increment borer at breast height. The development of chronology included three steps: i) cross-dating of a series of tree-ring width and checking of their quality using the COFECHA program, ii) data standardization in the ARSTAN program, and iii) master chronology development. Correlation analysis was performed in order to determine the links between tree-ring width and climate (primarily temperature and precipitation). In the 88-year-long master chronology, pointer years analysis identified five positive and nine negative years. Correlation analysis revealed that precipitation had stronger and more significant impact on silver fir radial growth, particularly at the beginning of the growing season, in April and May (r=0.175 and r=0.318, respectively), and in the crucial July−September period (r in the range of 0.143−0.222). The highest negative correlation coefficient with temperature was determined for September of the previous year (r=-0.282) and then for summer months (July and August) of the current year (r=-0.184 and r=-0.272, respectively). In addition, statistically significant correlation between radial growth and the Forestry Aridity Index was determined (r=-0.390). The results of tree-ring width climate analysis obtained in this study are in accordance with other studies carried out in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the surrounding area.


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