Plastic growth response of european beech provenances to dry site conditions

IAWA Journal ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 475-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Srdjan Stojnic ◽  
Ute Sass-Klaassen ◽  
Sasa Orlovic ◽  
Bratislav Matovic ◽  
Britta Eilmann
Keyword(s):  
Ring Width ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Temperate Climate ◽  
Radial Increment ◽  
Site Conditions ◽  
Provenance Trial ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Provenance Trials ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica L ◽  
Place Of Origin

Due to projected global warming, there is a great concern about the ability of European beech to adapt to future climate conditions. Provenance trials provide an excellent basis to assess the potential of various provenances to adjust to given climate conditions. In this study we compared the performance of four European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) provenances growing in a provenance trial at the Fruška Gora Mountain, Serbia. Three of the investigated provenances (Höllerbach and Hasbruch from Germany and Vrani Kamen from Croatia) originate from moist sites, with annual precipitation sums being twice as high as at the provenance trial in Serbia. The performance of these provenances are compared to the growth of the local provenance Fruška Gora which is well adapted to dry site conditions. We analysed tree-ring width, mean vessel area, vessel density and water-conductive area for the period from 2006 to 2012. In spite of differences in climate conditions at their place of origin all beech provenances showed a similar pattern in radial increment. Also the wood- anatomical variables showed similar inter-annual patterns for all provenances and no significant differences between the provenances. This indicates that beech provenances from moist environments can adjust to the relatively dry temperate climate in Serbia.

scholarly journals Phenotypic plasticity of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) stomatal features under water deficit assessed in provenance trial

Dendrobiology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 73 ◽  
pp. 163-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Srđan Stojnić ◽  
Saša Orlović ◽  
Branislav Trudić ◽  
Uroš Živković ◽  
Georg von Wuehlisch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Water Deficit ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Provenance Trial ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica L

scholarly journals Floristic Change at the Drought Limit of European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) to Downy Oak (Quercus pubescens) Forest in the Temperate Climate of Central Europe

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 646-654 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert REIF ◽  
Fotios XYSTRAKIS ◽  
Stefanie GÄRTNER ◽  
Uwe SAYER
Keyword(s):  
Fagus Sylvatica ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Temperate Climate ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Quercus Pubescens ◽  
Drought Tolerant ◽  
Tolerant Species ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica L ◽  
Shallow Soils

An increase in drought could cause shifts in species composition and vegetation structure. In forests it limits the occurrence of drought sensitive tree species which become replaced by drought tolerant tree species and forest communities. Under temperate macroclimatic conditions, European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) naturally dominates the forested landscape, except on extremely shallow soil in combination with high irradiation. On these sites beech reaches its drought limit, and is replaced by forests dominated by species like downy Oak (Quercus pubescens s.l.) and English Oak (Quercus petraea L). Phytosociological and ecological data were collected in the transition (ecotone) between European beach stands and stands of more drought tolerant species in order to quantify the drought intensity threshold, above which beech is replaced by drought tolerant species. It was shown that favourable topographic and soil conditions partially compensated the unsuitable climatic conditions for beech. The ecotone between these forest types was found to be characterized by shallow soils with an available soil water storage capacity of 73 l/m² or less, and an irradiation intensity of 6000 MJ/m2 or more during the growing season. This indicates that under conditions of climate change beech would naturally still remain the dominant tree species on the majority of central European forest sites.

scholarly journals The Impact of Adverse Weather and Climate on the Width of European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) Tree Rings in Southeastern Europe

Atmosphere ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Stjepanović ◽  
Bratislav Matović ◽  
Dejan Stojanović ◽  
Branislava Lalić ◽  
Tom Levanič ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fagus Sylvatica ◽  
Tree Rings ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Deciduous Tree ◽  
Beech Forests ◽  
Adverse Weather ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica L ◽  
The Impact

European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is the most important deciduous tree species in Europe. According to different climate scenarios, there is a relatively high probability of a massive decline in and loss of beech forests in southern Europe and in the southern part of central Europe. Thus, the authors of this study explored the dynamics of tree diameter increments and the influence of extremely dry years on the width of tree rings. This study used dendroecological methods to analyze the growth and diameter increments of European beech trees at locations in Serbia and the Republic of Srpska. The sampling was conducted along the vertical distribution of beech forests, at five sites at the lower limit of the distribution, at five optimal sites of the distribution, and at five sites at the upper limit of the distribution. Long-term analyses indicate that dry conditions during a growing season can reduce tree-ring width, but a reduction in tree growth can be expected as a result of more than one season of unfavorable conditions. Low temperatures in autumn and winter and prolonged winters can strongly affect upcoming vegetation and reduce tree development even under normal thermal conditions during a growing season.

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

Forests ◽  
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.

scholarly journals Variation in leaf physiology among three provenances of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in provenance trial in Serbia

Genetika ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 341-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Srdjan Stojnic ◽  
Sasa Orlovic ◽  
Andrej Pilipovic ◽  
Dragica Vilotic ◽  
Mirjana Sijacic-Nikolic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stomatal Conductance ◽  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica ◽  
Net Photosynthesis ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Genetic Constitution ◽  
Provenance Trial ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica L ◽  
Use Efficiency

The paper presents the results of investigation of variability of net photosynthesis (A), transpiration (E), stomatal conductance (gs) and water use efficiency (WUE) of three European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) provenances in the provenance trial established on Fruska Gora Mt. Provenances originate from three localities along a gradient from the north to the south of Europe: Pfalzgrafenweiler (Germany), Grenchen (Swiss) and Valkonya (Hungary). Results indicate that observed parameters were influenced both by environmental conditions of sites and genetic constitution of provenances. On the basis of ANOVA procedure it was observed significant differences among provenances in terms of rate of transpiration (p_0.037) and water use efficiency (p_0.011), while differences regarding net photosynthesis and stomatal conductance were not statistically significant. Canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) was performed in order to estimate multivariate relations among analyzed physiological parameters. Provenances were separated by the first canonical axis (CD1), which described 96.4% of variability. Provenance from the driest site (Valkonya) showed the highest water use efficiency, indicating on high potential for afforestation programmes in more arid areas.

scholarly journals Health Condition of European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) According to Provenances in International Provenance Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nevenka Ćelepirović ◽  
Aikaterini Dounavi ◽  
Mladen Ivanković ◽  
Heinz Rennenberg ◽  
Anamarija Jazbec ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fagus Sylvatica ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Good Health ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
Provenance Trial ◽  
Southeast Europe ◽  
Biotic Stresses ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica L ◽  
Damage Types

The performance of European beech ( Fagus sylvatica L.) is severely threatened by abiotic and biotic stresses, but the resilience of its provenances from distinct geographic areas has not been sufficiently studied. Therefore, the performance of European beech was investigated in an international provenance trial consisting of twenty-one natural populations originating from Central Europe and Southeast Europe located on Medvednica Mountain (Croatia). The performance of European beech was investigated by characterizing I) damage types, II) crown damage intensity, III) damage frequency, and IV) clustering of provenances based on damage types. Anthracnose, galls, chewing damages, and aphids were recorded on leaves, and canker on the trunk and branches. The crown damage intensity was minute (less than 10%) for all types of disease. Anthracnose was the most common damage, followed in descending order by galls, canker, chewing damages and aphids. When the types of damage were analysed using descriptive statistics (frequency analysis and clustering), significant differences were recorded between provenances (χ2=322.19, p<0.0001). European beech provenances were classified into four clusters. Aphids and galls caused the least and the highest damage, respectively, in each cluster, except for Cluster 4, where anthracnose caused the highest damage. The results of this study showed generally good health condition of European beech provenances originating from Central and Southeast Europe in the period of the investigation.

scholarly journals How Does Radial Growth of Water-Stressed Populations of European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) Trees Vary under Multiple Drought Events?

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 129
Author(s):  
Tamalika Chakraborty ◽  
Albert Reif ◽  
Andreas Matzarakis ◽  
Somidh Saha
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica ◽  
Tree Growth ◽  
Radial Growth ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Canopy Openness ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica L ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Neighborhood Competition

European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) trees are becoming vulnerable to drought, with a warming climate. Existing studies disagree on how radial growth varies in European beech in response to droughts. We aimed to find the impact of multiple droughts on beech trees’ annual radial growth at their ecological drought limit created by soil water availability in the forest. Besides, we quantified the influence of competition and canopy openness on the mean basal area growth of beech trees. We carried out this study in five near-natural temperate forests in three localities of Germany and Switzerland. We quantified available soil water storage capacity (AWC) in plots laid in the transition zone from oak to beech dominated forests. The plots were classified as ‘dry’ (AWC < 60 mL) and ‘less-dry’ (AWC > 60 mL). We performed dendroecological analyses starting from 1951 in continuous and discontinuous series to study the influence of climatic drought (i.e., precipitation-potential evapotranspiration) on the radial growth of beech trees in dry and less-dry plots. We used observed values for this analysis and did not use interpolated values from interpolated historical records in this study. We selected six drought events to study the resistance, recovery, and resilience of beech trees to drought at a discontinuous level. The radial growth was significantly higher in less-dry plots than dry plots. The increase in drought had reduced tree growth. Frequent climatic drought events resulted in more significant correlations, hence, increased the dependency of tree growth on AWC. We showed that the recovery and resilience to climatic drought were higher in trees in less-dry plots than dry plots, but it was the opposite for resistance. The resistance, recovery, and resilience of the trees were heterogeneous between the events of drought. Mean growth of beech trees (basal area increment) were negatively impacted by neighborhood competition and positively influenced by canopy openness. We emphasized that beech trees growing on soil with low AWC are at higher risk of growth decline. We concluded that changes in soil water conditions even at the microsite level could influence beech trees’ growth in their drought limit under the changing climate. Along with drought, neighborhood competition and lack of light can also reduce beech trees’ growth. This study will enrich the state of knowledge about the ongoing debate on the vulnerability of beech trees to drought in Europe.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document