THE EFFECTS OF DROUGHT ON WOOD FORMATION IN FAGUS SYLVATICA DURING TWO CONTRASTING YEARS

IAWA Journal ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 332-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyriaki Giagli ◽  
Jožica Gričar ◽  
Hanuš Vavrčík ◽  
Ladislav Menšík ◽  
Vladimír Gryc
Keyword(s):  
Fagus Sylvatica ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Standardized Precipitation Index ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Wood Formation ◽  
Lower Sensitivity ◽  
Cambial Cell ◽  
Vessel Size ◽  
Local Weather

We studied the effect of local weather conditions on intra-annual wood formation dynamics and wood structure of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) from a temperate location in the Czech Republic in two consecutive years, 2010 and 2011, characterized by different amounts of precipitation. Microcores were taken at weekly intervals and transverse sections of cambial and xylem tissue were prepared for light microscopic observation. Air temperature and soil moisture content were measured daily at the research plot. Tree-ring formation patterns and vessel features showed different responses to climatic factors in the two years. In 2010, the onset of cambial cell production occurred almost 10 days later than in 2011, when a considerably reduced amount of rainfall was already observed in the winter and spring months, as shown in Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) values. Lack of precipitation in 2011 caused premature cessation of cambial cell division and markedly narrower annual xylem increments. Vessel density and water conductive area were higher in 2011 than in 2010. Average vessel size in general did not change. In response to local weather conditions, beech controls its hydraulic conductivity mainly by changing the number of vessels and tree growth rate, followed by vessel size. The lower sensitivity of vessel diameter to hydrological alterations confirms previous studies by other authors.

scholarly journals Growth variability of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) natural forests: Dendroclimatic study from Krkonoše National Park

2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 92-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Václav Šimůnek ◽  
Zdeněk Vacek ◽  
Stanislav Vacek ◽  
Ivo Králíček ◽  
Karel Vančura
Keyword(s):  
Fagus Sylvatica ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Climate Extremes ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Forest Growth ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Radial Increment ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Growth Variability

Abstract Long-term temporal development of beech stands in relation to climatic conditions is well documented by dendrochronological analyses. The study aims to identify and describe growth factors affecting natural European beech stands (Fagus sylvatica L.) on permanent research plots in the eastern Krkonoše Mountains, the Czech Republic. The paper focus on radial growth dynamics, frequency and cyclicity, and the effect of climatic factors on diameter increment of beech stands since 1850. The growth development of beech stands was significantly affected by air pollution load in 1977–1989, and increasingly frequent climate extremes in recent years (since 2010). Periodic increment events recurred in approximately 10–18 years’ periods. Stands on research plots responded differently to climatic factors, the main limiting factor being low temperatures during the growing season, frost damages and extreme droughts. The positive influence of temperatures on beech increments was recorded in winter, early spring, and especially in July and August of the current year. Conversely, precipitation in the previous year had higher impact on radial increment, with prevailing negative correlation. The plots were negatively affected by the decrease in sum of precipitation in February and March, but it was the temperature that influenced the beech increment most significantly. Dendrochronological analysis of close-to-nature beech stands provides valuable information on radial forest growth in response to changing climatic conditions.

scholarly journals Axial changes in wood functional traits have limited net effects on stem biomass increment in European beech (Fagus sylvatica)

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 498-510
Author(s):  
Richard L Peters ◽  
Georg von Arx ◽  
Daniel Nievergelt ◽  
Andreas Ibrom ◽  
Jonas Stillhard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fagus Sylvatica ◽  
Carbon Fixation ◽  
Carbon Allocation ◽  
Volume Growth ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Wood Formation ◽  
Tree Level ◽  
Mature Trees ◽  
Anatomical Basis

Abstract During the growing season, trees allocate photoassimilates to increase their aboveground woody biomass in the stem (ABIstem). This ‘carbon allocation’ to structural growth is a dynamic process influenced by internal and external (e.g., climatic) drivers. While radial variability in wood formation and its resulting structure have been intensively studied, their variability along tree stems and subsequent impacts on ABIstem remain poorly understood. We collected wood cores from mature trees within a fixed plot in a well-studied temperate Fagus sylvatica L. forest. For a subset of trees, we performed regular interval sampling along the stem to elucidate axial variability in ring width (RW) and wood density (ρ), and the resulting effects on tree- and plot-level ABIstem. Moreover, we measured wood anatomical traits to understand the anatomical basis of ρ and the coupling between changes in RW and ρ during drought. We found no significant axial variability in ρ because an increase in the vessel-to-fiber ratio with smaller RW compensated for vessel tapering towards the apex. By contrast, temporal variability in RW varied significantly along the stem axis, depending on the growing conditions. Drought caused a more severe growth decrease, and wetter summers caused a disproportionate growth increase at the stem base compared with the top. Discarding this axial variability resulted in a significant overestimation of tree-level ABIstem in wetter and cooler summers, but this bias was reduced to ~2% when scaling ABIstem to the plot level. These results suggest that F. sylvatica prioritizes structural carbon sinks close to the canopy when conditions are unfavorable. The different axial variability in RW and ρ thereby indicates some independence of the processes that drive volume growth and wood structure along the stem. This refines our knowledge of carbon allocation dynamics in temperate diffuse-porous species and contributes to reducing uncertainties in determining forest carbon fixation.

scholarly journals Radial patterns of 13 elements in the tree rings of beech trees from Mavrovo National park, FYROM

2010 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 351-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Hristovski ◽  
L. Melovski
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica ◽  
Tree Rings ◽  
National Park ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Middle Part ◽  
Biogenic Elements ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica L ◽  
Individual Trees

The radial patterns of 13 elements (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Na, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd and Co) were analyzed in the tree rings of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). The study site was located in an 'unpolluted' beech ecosystem in Mavrovo National Park. Thus, the obtained radial patterns in the beech trees were considered to be physiologically driven without significant pollution influence. The influence of the main climatic factors (temperature and rainfall) was tested. The radial patterns of individual trees were compared in order to find individual responses to environmental impacts. For most of the elements, higher concentrations were recorded in the pith and outer-most rings and lower in the middle part of the wood. The concentration of heavy metals was low, and followed the physiological patterns of other biogenic elements.

scholarly journals Inter-tree variability of autumn leaf phenology of European beech (Fagus sylvatica) on a site in Ljubljana, Slovenia

Les/Wood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 5-20
Author(s):  
Nina Škrk ◽  
Angela Balzano ◽  
Zalika Črepinšek ◽  
Katarina Čufar
Keyword(s):  
Fagus Sylvatica ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
Individual Variability ◽  
Spring Phenology ◽  
Leaf Unfolding ◽  
Environment Agency ◽  
Leaf Colouring

Temporal variability of leaf senescence (autumn phenology) was observed in 2020 in 11 European beech (Fagus sylvatica) trees in Tivoli, Rožnik and Šišenski hrib Landscape Park in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and also observed for spring phenology in the same year. General leaf colouring, BBCH94, occurred between 19 and 24 October 2020, with lower inter-individual variability than that of leaf unfolding, BBCH11. The trees had active leaves (time between leaf unfolding and leaf colouring) between 177 and 199 days. In only three trees total leaf fall, BBCH97, occurred before 19 November 2020. Leaf colouring of the tree included in the long-term monitoring program of the Slovenian Environment Agency ARSO occurred on 24 October 2020. This is 7 days later than the 65-year average of the same tree/location and is ascribed to weather conditions. Investigation of tree tissues showed that the width of the last formed tree-ring in the wood varied between 0.39 and 9.61 mm and in the phloem between 0.09 and 0.26 mm, and that the tissues reflect the health condition of the trees.

scholarly journals Monitoring of Vegetative Phenological Stages in European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) Growing in a Mixed Stand

2014 ◽  
Vol 62 (5) ◽  
pp. 1109-1115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristýna Slovíková ◽  
Emilie Bednářová
Keyword(s):  
Fagus Sylvatica ◽  
Mixed Forest ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
The Other ◽  
Winter Period ◽  
Air Temperatures ◽  
Negative Effect

The paper presents results of monitoring of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) vegetative phenophases within the period of years 2005–2010 as related to results of evaluation involving data collected since 1991. This phenological study was performed in a young mixed forest stand situated in the Drahanská vrchovina uplands in the altitude of 625 m.a.s.l. Beginnings and duration of individual phenophases differed in dependence on the course of weather conditions in individual years of study. The highest variability was observed in the stage of budbreak. The obtained results indicate that the onset of spring phenophases was dependent on temperatures existing already in early spring and to the end of winter period. The statistical analysis proved a high correlation existing between the onset of spring phenophases on the one hand and soil and air temperatures on the other. Temperature requirements as defined for the beginnings of individual phenophases were evaluated on the base of cumulative sums of temperatures higher than 0 °C. The obtained results indicate that, as compared with results of long-term monitoring, the period of the duration of spring phenophases had been gradually shortened. On the other side, however, the duration of autumn phenophases was extended and they ended in the late autumn. Repeated extensions of the growing season to the detriment of winter dormancy might show a negative effect on the health condition of forest stands.

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.

scholarly journals Distribution of the timber quality attribute ‘knot surface’ in logs of Fagus sylvatica L. from pure and mixed forest stands

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsten Höwler ◽  
Torsten Vor ◽  
Peter Schall ◽  
Peter Annighöfer ◽  
Dominik Seidel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fagus Sylvatica ◽  
Mixed Forest ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Forest Stands ◽  
Species Identity ◽  
Mixed Stands ◽  
Mixed Forests ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Timber Quality ◽  
Positive Effects

AbstractResearch on mixed forests has mostly focused on tree growth and productivity, or resistance and resilience in changing climate conditions, but only rarely on the effects of tree species mixing on timber quality. In particular, it is still unclear whether the numerous positive effects of mixed forests on productivity and stability come at the expense of timber quality. In this study, we used photographs of sawn boards from 90 European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) trees of mixed and pure forest stands to analyze internal timber quality through the quality indicator knot surface that was quantitatively assessed using the software Datinf® Measure. We observed a decrease in knot surface with increasing distance from the pith as well as smaller values in the lower log sections. Regarding the influence of neighborhood species identity, we found only minor effects meaning that timber qualities in mixed stands of beech and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) tended to be slightly worse compared to pure beech stands.

scholarly journals An Assessment of Drought Stress in Tea Estates Using Optical and Thermal Remote Sensing

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 2730
Author(s):  
Animesh Chandra Das ◽  
Ryozo Noguchi ◽  
Tofael Ahamed
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Drought Stress ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Standardized Precipitation Index ◽  
Landsat 8 ◽  
Drought Frequency ◽  
Moisture Index ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Drought Period

Drought is one of the detrimental climatic factors that affects the productivity and quality of tea by limiting the growth and development of the plants. The aim of this research was to determine drought stress in tea estates using a remote sensing technique with the standardized precipitation index (SPI). Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS images were processed to measure the land surface temperature (LST) and soil moisture index (SMI). Maps for the normalized difference moisture index (NDMI), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and leaf area index (LAI), as well as yield maps, were developed from Sentinel-2 satellite images. The drought frequency was calculated from the classification of droughts utilizing the SPI. The results of this study show that the drought frequency for the Sylhet station was 38.46% for near-normal, 35.90% for normal, and 25.64% for moderately dry months. In contrast, the Sreemangal station demonstrated frequencies of 28.21%, 41.02%, and 30.77% for near-normal, normal, and moderately dry months, respectively. The correlation coefficients between the SMI and NDMI were 0.84, 0.77, and 0.79 for the drought periods of 2018–2019, 2019–2020 and 2020–2021, respectively, indicating a strong relationship between soil and plant canopy moisture. The results of yield prediction with respect to drought stress in tea estates demonstrate that 61%, 60%, and 60% of estates in the study area had lower yields than the actual yield during the drought period, which accounted for 7.72%, 11.92%, and 12.52% yield losses in 2018, 2019, and 2020, respectively. This research suggests that satellite remote sensing with the SPI could be a valuable tool for land use planners, policy makers, and scientists to measure drought stress in tea estates.

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