Growth–climate relationships for six subalpine tree species in a Mediterranean climate

2013 ◽  
Vol 43 (12) ◽  
pp. 1114-1126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher R. Dolanc ◽  
Robert D. Westfall ◽  
Hugh D. Safford ◽  
James H. Thorne ◽  
Mark W. Schwartz
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Radial Growth ◽  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Summer Drought ◽  
Pinus Monticola ◽  
Abies Magnifica ◽  
Temperature And Precipitation ◽  
Jeffrey Pine ◽  
Mediterranean Mountains

A better understanding of the growth–climate relationship for subalpine trees is key to improving predictions about their future distributions under climate change. In subalpine regions of Mediterranean mountains, drought is an annual event, yet many sites can have long-lasting snowpack. We analyzed the growth–climate relationship from 1896 to 2006 for the six most abundant subalpine tree species (red fir (Abies magnifica A. Murray bis), whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis Engelm.), Sierra/Cascade lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. murrayana (Balf.) Engelm.), Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi Balf.), western white pine (Pinus monticola Douglas ex D. Don), and mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana (Bong.) Carrière)) of the central Sierra Nevada, California, USA, a region with deep spring snowpack followed by strong summer drought. Chronologies for the six species exhibited a high degree of synchrony in their response to annual fluctuations in temperature and precipitation. For all six species, cool, wet conditions in the year prior to growth are conducive to good radial growth, as well as warm springs with sufficient moisture during the year of growth. For species more common on protected slopes, such as mountain hemlock, deep spring snowpack can limit growth. Although predictions of future precipitation trends in the region are uncertain, drought stress appears to already be increasing. If this trend continues, radial growth is likely to be inhibited for most or all species in our study. Trees growing where snowpack is deep may be least likely to suffer reduced growth.

Modeling Subalpine and Upper Montane Forest-Climate Interactions in Colorado

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 21-34
Author(s):  
Steven Jennings ◽  
Eric Billmeyer
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Plant Distribution ◽  
Temperature Fields ◽  
Climatic Data ◽  
Distribution Maps ◽  
National Climatic Data Center ◽  
Temperature And Precipitation ◽  
Pinus Aristata ◽  
Precipitation And Temperature

The correlation of the distribution of five subalpine and montane tree species with precipitation and temperature were modeled using GIS. The results were compared with data presented by Thompson et al. (2000). Distributions of subalpine fir (Abies concolor), Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii), lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), limber pine (Pinus flexilis) and bristlecone pine (Pinus aristata) were compared to estimated precipitation and temperature fields that had been constructed from the Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM), National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) station data, and Snowpack Telemetry (SNOTEL) system data. Plant distribution maps from Little (1971) and CoGAP (2001) were used to determine the temperature and precipitation associated with the selected tree species. The estimates from this study were compared to those of Thompson, Anderson & Bartlein (2000). In many cases precipitation and temperatures values were higher than those of Thompson, Anderson & Bartlein (2000). Suggestions are made to improve the predictive power of GIS analysis for mapping climate and plant variability.

scholarly journals Different Radial Growth Responses to Climate Change of Three Dominant Conifer Species in Temperate Forest, Northeastern China

2022 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Wang ◽  
Yangcui Ning ◽  
Chunlan Liu ◽  
Peng Xu ◽  
Wentao Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Radial Growth ◽  
Temperate Forest ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Future Climate Change ◽  
Rcp Scenarios ◽  
Temperature And Precipitation ◽  
The Future ◽  
Future Growth

We conducted dendroclimatological study on three dominant conifer tree species, Pinus koraiensis, Larix olgensis, and Picea jezoensis, in northeastern China for a better understanding of climate change impacts on temperate forest growth, by discussing the radial growth relationships of these tree species and projecting their radial growth trends under the future climate change scenarios. Based on the tree-ring samples collected from the upper altitude of Changbai Mountain, ring width chronologies were built to examine the growth relationships, and regression equations were established to project the future growth of the species under future climate change projected by the five general circulation models (GCMs) and four representative concentration pathway (RCP) scenarios. Although both temperature and precipitation showed varying degrees of relationships with growth of these three tree species, the limiting climate factors were species-specific. The tree-ring growth of P. koraiensis was limited by the summer temperature and precipitation at the end of growth, namely, significant positive correlations with the current July temperature and the previous September precipitation. Growth of L. olgensis was limited by the temperature before growing season, for its chronology was negatively correlated with the current February and previous December temperature (p < 0.05). The climatic conditions before and after growing season seemed to be the limiting factors of P. jezoensis growth, which was negatively correlated with the current February to April temperature and the current September temperature (p < 0.05), and positively correlated with the current August precipitation (p < 0.05). Under the gradual increasing of temperature predicted by the five GCMs and four RCP scenarios, the radial growth of P. Koraiensis will relatively increase, while that of L. olgensis and P. jezoensis will relatively decrease comparing to the base-line period (1981–2010). The specific growth–climate relationships and the future growth trends are species dependent. P. Koraiensis was the more suitable tree species for the forestation to maintain the sustainable forest in Changbai Mountain.

Fire history differences in adjacent Jeffrey pine and upper montane forests in the eastern Sierra Nevada

2001 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott L. Stephens
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Fire History ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Fire Regimes ◽  
Montane Forest ◽  
Pinus Monticola ◽  
Montane Forests ◽  
Jeffrey Pine ◽  
Eastern Sierra Nevada

Fire history and forest structural characteristics of adjacent Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi) and upper montane forests was investigated in the eastern Sierra Nevada at the University of California Valentine Natural Reserve. Jeffrey pine forests had lower canopy cover, higher amounts of fine fuels, and higher shrub cover when compared to upper montane forest that were dominated by red fir (Abies magnifica). Fire dates were determined using standard dendrochronolgy techniques from fire-scarred Jeffrey pine, lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. murrayana), red f ir, and western white pine (Pinus monticola) trees, snags, stumps, and downed logs. Fires were recorded from 1745 to 1889 and mean fire return intervals were 9 and 24.7 years for the Jeffrey pine and upper montane forest types, respectively. The median fire return interval was 9.0 years for Jeffrey pine and 24.0 years for upper montane forests. Significant differences were found in mean fire intervals and fire history distributions between the two similarly sized fire history plots even though they were only separated by approximately 100 m. This study suggests that fire regimes can vary over very fine spatial scales. Differences in fire regimes are likely due to differences in fuel beds and fire behavior.

Habitat preferences of an arboreal forage lichen in a Sierra Nevada old-growth mixed-conifer forest

2010 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 1034-1041 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas R. Rambo
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Forest Canopy ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Vertical Gradient ◽  
Conifer Forest ◽  
Mixed Conifer ◽  
Abies Magnifica ◽  
Jeffrey Pine ◽  
Mixed Conifer Forest ◽  
Sugar Pine

The arboreal forage lichen Bryoria fremontii (Tuck.) Brodo & D.Hawksw. appears sensitive to conditions of prolonged hydration in wet forests of British Columbia. I estimated the abundance of this lichen in mixed-conifer forest canopy in the contrasting Mediterranean climate of the southern Sierra Nevada in relationship to the vertical gradient of vapor pressure deficit. Abundance was estimated by biomass in 5 m strata from the ground to the tops of 50 trees. Transplants of Bryoria thalli were installed in 18 fir trees for 1 year to assess their growth relative to distance from perennial streams. VPD generally increased with height, being significantly greater at 45 m than 5 m. Bryoria biomass averaged across tree heights was estimated as 15.9, 0.60, 0.15, 0.25, and 0.19 g·m–1 in red fir (Abies magnifica A.Murray), white fir (Abies concolor (Gordon & Glend.) Hildebr. var. lowiana (Gordon) Lemmon), incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens (Torr.) Florin), Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi Balf.), and sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana Douglas), respectively. Transplant growth was significantly greater in trees <25 m from water (11.4%) than in trees >25 m from water (9.7%). Bryoria had strong positive associations with red fir, proximity to streams, and decreasing VPD. The sensitivity of Bryoria to prolonged hydration does not appear to be important in this climate characterized by extended summer dryness.

scholarly journals Radial Growth Response of European Larch Provenances to Interannual Climate Variation in Poland

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 334
Author(s):  
Norbert Szymański ◽  
Sławomir Wilczyński
Keyword(s):  
Radial Growth ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
European Larch ◽  
Temperature And Precipitation ◽  
Provenance Trials ◽  
High Precipitation ◽  
Climatic Elements

The present study identified the similarities and differences in the radial growth responses of 20 provenances of 51-year-old European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) trees from Poland to the climatic conditions at three provenance trials situated in the Polish lowlands (Siemianice), uplands (Bliżyn) and mountains (Krynica). A chronology of radial growth indices was developed for each of 60 European larch populations, which highlighted the interannual variations in the climate-mediated radial growth of their trees. With the aid of principal component, correlation and multiple regression analysis, supra-regional climatic elements were identified to which all the larch provenances reacted similarly at all three provenance trials. They increased the radial growth in years with a short, warm and precipitation-rich winter; a cool and humid summer and when high precipitation in late autumn of the previous year was noted. Moreover, other climatic elements were identified to which two groups of the larch provenances reacted differently at each provenance trial. In the lowland climate, the provenances reacted differently to temperature in November to December of the previous year and July and to precipitation in September. In the upland climate, the provenances differed in growth sensitivity to precipitation in October of the previous year and June–September. In the mountain climate, the provenances responded differently to temperature and precipitation in September of the previous year and to precipitation in February, June and September of the year of tree ring formation. The results imply that both climatic factors and origin (genotype), i.e., the genetic factor, mediate the climate–growth relationships of larch provenances.

scholarly journals Early anthropogenic change in western Mediterranean mountains (Sierra Nevada, SE Spain)

Anthropocene ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
pp. 100278
Author(s):  
Francisca Alba-Sánchez ◽  
Daniel Abel-Schaad ◽  
José Antonio López-Sáez ◽  
Silvia Sabariego-Ruiz ◽  
Sebastián Pérez-Díaz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Anthropogenic Change ◽  
Se Spain ◽  
Mediterranean Mountains

Post-fire survival and flushing in three Sierra Nevada conifers with high initial crown scorch

2009 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 857 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chad T. Hanson ◽  
Malcolm P. North
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Pinus Ponderosa ◽  
Fire Severity ◽  
Conifer Species ◽  
Mature Trees ◽  
Salvage Logging ◽  
Abies Magnifica ◽  
Crown Scorch ◽  
Tree Survival ◽  
Large Trees

With growing debate over the impacts of post-fire salvage logging in conifer forests of the western USA, managers need accurate assessments of tree survival when significant proportions of the crown have been scorched. The accuracy of fire severity measurements will be affected if trees that initially appear to be fire-killed prove to be viable after longer observation. Our goal was to quantify the extent to which three common Sierra Nevada conifer species may ‘flush’ (produce new foliage in the year following a fire from scorched portions of the crown) and survive after fire, and to identify tree or burn characteristics associated with survival. We found that, among ponderosa pines (Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex. Laws) and Jeffrey pines (Pinus jeffreyi Grev. & Balf) with 100% initial crown scorch (no green foliage following the fire), the majority of mature trees flushed, and survived. Red fir (Abies magnifica A. Murr.) with high crown scorch (mean = 90%) also flushed, and most large trees survived. Our results indicate that, if flushing is not taken into account, fire severity assessments will tend to overestimate mortality and post-fire salvage could remove many large trees that appear dead but are not.

scholarly journals Inferences on the Susceptibility of Wood of Different Tree Species to Heterobasidion annosum Sensu Lato (Fr.) Bref. Primary Infections and on the Range of Pathogen Spores Dispersal

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 854
Author(s):  
Lauma Brūna ◽  
Guglielmo Lione ◽  
Kristīne Kenigsvalde ◽  
Natālija Burņeviča ◽  
Astra Zaļuma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Sharp Decrease ◽  
Picea Sitchensis ◽  
Heterobasidion Annosum ◽  
Forest Pathogens ◽  
Airborne Inoculum ◽  
Controlled Conditions ◽  
Airborne Infections ◽  
Norway Spruce Forest

Stumps play a pivotal role in the epidemiology of the fungal forest pathogens Heterobasidion spp. because they are the main courts of primary airborne infections. The aims of this study were (i) to determine the susceptibility of seven tree species (i.e., Larix sibirica, Picea abies, Picea sitchensis, Pinus contorta, Pinus strobus, Pinus sylvestris and Pseudotsuga menziesii) to primary infection by H. annosum and H. parviporum through comparative inoculation experiments of conidia on wood discs in controlled conditions; (ii) to compare the susceptibility of wood discs of the same tree species to natural airborne infections in two Latvian Norway spruce forest stands infested either by H. annosum or H. parviporum; (iii) to explore the rates of infection of wood discs at increasing distances from spore sources in these two forests to make inferences on the range of spores dispersal. Results obtained by spraying wood discs with conidial suspensions in controlled conditions are in agreement with those obtained by exposing wood discs to the natural airborne inoculum in the forests, as clearly supported by the significant correlation (r = 0.79; p < 0.05) between the two sets of data. Susceptibility was highest in Pinus species, followed by P. abies and P. sitchensis. Susceptibility was lowest for L. sibirica and P. menziesii. The area colonized by Heterobasidion spp. in the sapwood of wood discs was much greater than that colonized in the heartwood. A sharp decrease in the rate of infection of wood discs with distance from spore sources (i.e., fruiting bodies) was observed, further confirming the importance of local spore sources in the epidemiology of Heterobasidion spp. Taken together, these findings could help designing tactics to manage these fungal forest pathogens.

Response of high-elevation limber pine (Pinus flexilis) to multiyear droughts and 20th-century warming, Sierra Nevada, California, USA

2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (12) ◽  
pp. 2508-2520 ◽  
Author(s):  
Constance I. Millar ◽  
Robert D. Westfall ◽  
Diane L. Delany
Keyword(s):  
20Th Century ◽  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Mountain Pine Beetle ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Dwarf Mistletoe ◽  
Lower Growth ◽  
Pinus Flexilis ◽  
Limber Pine ◽  
Temperature And Precipitation

Limber pine ( Pinus flexilis James) stands along the eastern escarpment of the Sierra Nevada, California, experienced significant mortality from 1985 to 1995 during a period of sustained low precipitation and high temperature. The stands differ from old-growth limber pine forests in being dense, young, more even-aged, and located in warmer, drier microclimates. Tree growth showed high interannual variability. Relative to live trees, dead trees over their lifetimes had higher series sensitivity, grew more variably, and had lower growth. Although droughts recurred during the 20th century, tree mortality occurred only in the late 1980s. Significant correlations and interactions of growth and mortality dates with temperature and precipitation indicate that conditions of warmth plus sustained drought increased the likelihood of mortality in the 1985–1995 interval. This resembles a global-change-type drought, where warming combined with drought was an initial stress, trees were further weakened by dwarf mistletoe ( Arceuthobium cyanocarpum (A. Nels. ex Rydb.) A. Nels.), and proximally killed by mountain pine beetle ( Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins). However, the thinning effect of the drought-related mortality appears to have promoted resilience and improved near-term health of these stands, which suffered no additional mortality in the subsequent 1999–2004 drought.

scholarly journals Summer drought in Switzerland 1981‒2020: Events, trends and drivers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon C. Scherrer ◽  
Christoph Spirig ◽  
Martin Hirschi ◽  
Felix Maurer ◽  
Sven Kotlarski
Keyword(s):  
Regional Climate Model ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Potential Evapotranspiration ◽  
Meteorological Data ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Reanalysis Data ◽  
Summer Drought ◽  
Temperature And Precipitation ◽  
Temperature Scaling

&lt;p&gt;The Alpine region has recently experienced several dry summers with negative impacts on the economy, society and ecology. Here, soil water, evapotranspiration and meteorological data from several observational and model-based data sources is used to assess events, trends and drivers of summer drought in Switzerland in the period 1981&amp;#8210;2020. 2003 and 2018 are identified as the driest summers followed by somewhat weaker drought conditions in 2020, 2015 and 2011. We find clear evidence for an increasing summer drying in Switzerland. The observed climatic water balance (-39.2&amp;#160;mm/decade) and 0-1 m soil water from reanalysis (ERA5-Land: -4.7&amp;#160;mm/decade; ERA5: -7.2&amp;#160;mm/decade) show a clear tendency towards summer drying with decreasing trends in most months. Increasing evapotranspiration (potential evapotranspiration: +21.0&amp;#160;mm/decade; ERA5-Land actual evapotranspiration: +15.1&amp;#160;mm/decade) is identified as important driver which scales excellently (+4 to +7%/K) with the observed strong warming of about 2&amp;#176;C. An insignificant decrease in precipitation further enhanced the tendency towards drier conditions. Most simulations of the EURO-CORDEX regional climate model ensemble underestimate the changes in summer drying. They underestimate both, the observed recent summer warming and the small decrease in precipitation. The changes in temperature and precipitation are negatively correlated, i.e. simulations with stronger warming tend to show (weak) decreases in precipitation. However, most simulations and the reanalysis overestimate the correlation between temperature and precipitation and the precipitation-temperature scaling on the interannual time scale. Our results emphasize that the analysis of the regional summer drought evolution and its drivers remains challenging especially with regional climate model data but considerable uncertainties also exist in reanalysis data sets.&lt;/p&gt;

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