scholarly journals Xylem Phenology and Growth Response of European Beech, Silver Fir and Scots Pine along an Elevational Gradient during the Extreme Drought Year 2018

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 75
Author(s):  
Elena Larysch ◽  
Dominik Florian Stangler ◽  
Mona Nazari ◽  
Thomas Seifert ◽  
Hans-Peter Kahle
Keyword(s):  
Cell Differentiation ◽  
Scots Pine ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Growth Response ◽  
Heat Waves ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
Abies Alba ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Elevational Gradient ◽  
Silver Fir

Highlights: European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) displayed parabolic elevational trends of the cessation of xylem cell differentiation phases. Xylem phenology and growth rates of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) appeared to be less influenced by the 2018 drought, whereas beech reduced growth on the lowest elevation and fir seemed negatively affected in general. Background: The year 2018 was characterized by multiple drought periods and heat waves during the growing season. Our aim was to understand species-specific responses of xylem phenology and growth to drought and how this effect was modified along an elevational gradient. Materials and Methods: We sampled microcores and increment cores along an elevational gradient in the southwestern Black Forest (SW Germany) region and analyzed xylem phenology and growth response to drought. Results: Termination of cell enlargement and lignification occurred earliest in beech and latest in pine. Beech had the highest growth rates but shortest growth durations, fir achieved moderate rates and medium durations and pine had lowest growth rates despite long growth durations. In contrast to pine, onsets of cell differentiation phases of fir and beech did not show clear linear relationships with elevation. Cessation of cell production and lignification of beech and fir followed a parabolic elevational trend and occurred earliest on low elevations, whereas pine showed no changes with elevation. Tree-ring width, generally, depended 3–4 times more on the growth rate than on growth duration. Conclusions: The possibly drought-induced early cessation of cell differentiation and considerable growth reduction of beech appeared to be most severe on the lowest elevation. In comparison, growth reductions of fir were larger and seemed independent from elevation. We found evidence, that productivity might be severely affected at lower elevations, whereas at high elevations wood production might not equally benefit during global warming.

scholarly journals Beech and silver fir’s response along the Balkan’s latitudinal gradient

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matjaž Čater ◽  
Tom Levanič
Keyword(s):  
Growth Response ◽  
Abies Alba ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Permanent Plots ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Light Conditions ◽  
Morphological Response ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
The North ◽  
North Western

Abstract At the 1000 km geographical distance in Dinaric montane forests of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), the tree response from the north-western sites towards southern, warmer and dryer sites was performed during three consecutive growing seasons (2011, 2012 and 2013). On eleven permanent plots, positioned in uneven-aged beech and fir forests above 800 m along the geographical gradient, the physiological and morphological response to light intensity were measured in predefined light categories based on the analysis of hemispherical photos. Radial growth was analysed on all plots and compared to precipitation, temperature and two drought indexes. Analysis showed a decrease in the cumulative precipitation and no change in temperature between plots. Beech was most efficient in the open area light conditions, while fir proved most efficient under shelter. Physiological response for beech increased towards SE and reached its maximal values in the middle of transect, while fir’s response decreased from the NW towards SE. Tendency to plagiotropic growth decreased from NW to SE in both species. Growth response to climatic parameters is weak, stronger in fir than in beech and decreasing towards SE.

scholarly journals Dendroclimatic study of a mixed spruce-fir-beech forest in the Czech Republic

Les/Wood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-32
Author(s):  
Tomáš Kolář ◽  
Petr Čermák ◽  
Miroslav Trnka ◽  
Eva Koňasová ◽  
Irena Sochová ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Mixed Forest ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
Abies Alba ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Forest Growth ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Mixed Forests ◽  
Species Response

European forests are undergoing an important transition due to the current climate change, as monocultures are being gradually replaced by mixed forests. Understanding tree growth in mixed forests under a changing climate is challenging because of tree species’ adaptation and long-term forest planning. In this study, we evaluate the long-term behaviour of Norway spruce (Picea abies), silver fir (Abies alba) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica) from a low montane range at the Czech-Austrian border. Species-specific tree-ring width chronologies have revealed significantly decreasing growth trends since the 2000s. Temporally unstable climate–growth relationships showed an increasing negative effect of current growing season drought on spruce growth and a positive effect of dormant season temperature on fir and beech growth. Our results suggest that though species’ response to climate change differs in the mixed forest, growth reduction in the last years has been proved for all species, likely due to frequent climate extremes.

scholarly journals The influence of stand canopy openness on the growth of common yew (Taxus baccata L.)

2015 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marzena Niemczyk ◽  
Anna Żółciak ◽  
Wrzesiński Piotr
Keyword(s):  
Light Transmission ◽  
Abies Alba ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Canopy Openness ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Taxus Baccata ◽  
Height Increment ◽  
Transmission Index

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the development of common yew, Taxus baccata L., with respect to canopy openness. The plants were growing in ex-situ conservation plantations (established in 2008) in the understory of different tree species. Eleven forest plantations belonging to the following five forest districts were inventoried: Rokita, Baligród, Kołaczyce, Międzylesie and Henryków. In each plantation, the height and height increment of 200 yews were measured and gap light transmission indices were determined. The canopy species affecting yew growth most significantly were oak (Quercus sp.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), followed by Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst.), silver fir (Abies alba L.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). The most favorable development of yew occurred at 30% canopy openness. An increasing light transmission index correlated with a decrease in the proportion of treelike yews. An insufficient amount of light resulted in a low height increment of yews growing under the canopy and an extended period of direct competition of yews with herbaceous species.

scholarly journals The Dinaric Mountains versus the Western Carpathians: Is structural heterogeneity similar in close-to-primeval Abies–Picea–Fagus forests?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Paluch ◽  
S. Keren ◽  
Z. Govedar
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Scale ◽  
Structural Complexity ◽  
Abies Alba ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Biomass Accumulation ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Structural Heterogeneity ◽  
Western Carpathians ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Canopy Trees

Abstract In this study, we analysed patterns of spatial variation in the basal area of live and dead trees and structural complexity in close-to-primeval forests in the Dinaric Mts. The results were compared with an analogous study conducted in the Western Carpathians. The research was carried out in the Janj, Lom and Perucića forest reserves (Bosnia and Herzegovina) in mixed-species stands of silver fir Abies alba Mill., European beech Fagus sylvatica L. and Norway spruce Picea abies (L.) H. Karst. In the core zones of the reserves, concentric sample plots (154 and 708 m2) were set in a regular 20 × 20 m grid covering approximately 10 ha. The analyses revealed varying distribution patterns of live canopy trees, suggesting that these characteristics may fluctuate to some extent at the regional level. At the spatial scale of 708 m2, attractive associations between dead canopy trees were found, but this tendency disappeared with increasing area. Although stands in the Dinaric Mts. are characterized by an almost twofold greater biomass accumulation compared to those from the Western Carpathians, the study revealed analogous bell-shaped distributions of stand basal areas of live trees and a very similar trend of decreasing variation in stand basal area and structural heterogeneity with increasing spatial scale. Nonetheless, the higher growing stocks, lower ratios of dead to live tree basal area and lower proportion of homogeneous structure types found in the Dinaric Mts. may suggest a less severe disturbance history over recent decades in this region compared to the Western Carpathians.

scholarly journals Evidence of elevation-specific growth changes of spruce, fir, and beech in European mixed mountain forests during the last three centuries

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (7) ◽  
pp. 689-703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans Pretzsch ◽  
Torben Hilmers ◽  
Peter Biber ◽  
Admir Avdagić ◽  
Franz Binder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Abies Alba ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Spatiotemporal Pattern ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Mountain Forests ◽  
Growth Trend ◽  
Dependent Change ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica L ◽  
Growth Changes

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.

Photosynthetic performance of silver fir (Abies alba) of different origins under suboptimal growing conditions

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (11) ◽  
pp. 1007
Author(s):  
Alena Konôpková ◽  
Eva Pšidová ◽  
Daniel Kurjak ◽  
Srđan Stojnić ◽  
Peter Petrík ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Waves ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Abies Alba ◽  
Photosynthetic Performance ◽  
Population Variation ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Gas Exchange Parameters ◽  
Psii Photochemistry ◽  
Growing Conditions ◽  
The Impact

Understanding of the intraspecific variability in the physiological stress response of trees may enable to mitigate the impact of climate change on forest ecosystems in the future. We studied the photosynthetic performance of five silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) provenances originating from climatically distinct localities. The study was performed in the trial plot of the silver fir provenance experiment IUFRO 2005 on two dates: in the early summer and in the late summer. Heat waves and a decrease in water availability occurred between the two measurement dates, allowing us to study the response of the provenances to suboptimal growing conditions. The provenances were evaluated at the level of PSII photochemistry and CO2 assimilation by measuring photosynthesis-related pigment content, chlorophyll a fluorescence, and gas exchange parameters. Significant climatic clines were confirmed: the photosynthetic performance before and after the stress period increased with the increasing altitude and precipitation at the site of origin. In contrast, photosynthetic performance declined with the increasing temperature and Ellenberg’s quotient of the origin site. We concluded that provenances originating from high altitudes, corresponding well with more humid and colder conditions in Central Europe, showed the greatest photosynthetic performance and were less responsive to moderate heat and drought. This documents inter-population variation in physiological traits, which needs to be considered in setting rules and recommendations for the transfer of forest reproductive materials.

scholarly journals Situation of Armillaria spp. and Heterobasidion spp. in Slovenia

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-9
Author(s):  
Ana Brglez ◽  
Nikica Ogris
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Scots Pine ◽  
Bark Beetles ◽  
Abies Alba ◽  
Deciduous Trees ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Coniferous Trees ◽  
Current State ◽  
Common Causes ◽  
Pinus Spp

Species of the genus Armillaria and Heterobasidion are among the most common causes of stem and root rot in Slovenia. Armillaria spp. infects deciduous and coniferous trees, while Heterobasidion spp. mainly threatens Norway spruce (Picea abies), pines (Pinus spp.), and silver fir (Abies alba). On the basis of the data about the sanitary felling of infected trees, we estimated the current state and calculated the proportions represented in total felling, total sanitary felling, total sanitary felling due to diseases, in wood stock, and in increments from 2013 to 2017. Since 2014, there has been a constant increase in the sanitary felling of deciduous and coniferous trees due to infections with Armillaria spp. In 2017, 32,849 m3 of timber were harvested due to Armillaria spp. Given the present situation, we assume that the amount of sanitary felling will continue to increase, but it will not account for large shares in wood stock or increment (< 1 %). In 2017, sanitary felling of infected conifers represented 27.6 % of all sanitary felling due to diseases. In the case of deciduous trees, the share was lower, i.e. 7.1 %. Armillaria spp. was the main cause of sanitary felling due to disease (51.9 %) in the Postojna forest management unit (FMU), while elsewhere shares of up to 10 % were recorded. With Heterobasidion spp., the amount of felling is decreasing over the years. In 2017, 33,922 m3 of wood, accounting for 15.7 % of the total sanitary felling due to disease, were felled due to Heterobasidion spp. A comparison of the felling of Norway spruce, silver fir, and Scots pine due to Heterobasidion spp. shows the different proportions of felling within the total sanitary felling due to the diseases. In Norway spruce, it is on average 79.5 %, in silver fir 12.9 %, and in Scots pine 34.3 %. We assume that the volume of timber harvested due to Heterobasidion spp. will gradually decrease over the years due to the lower wood stocks of Norway spruce, which has recently been hit by numerous natural disasters and infestation of bark beetles. However, the incidence will be higher due to climate change affects.

scholarly journals Litterfall production and leaf area index in a virgin European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) – Silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) forest

Dendrobiology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 83 ◽  
pp. 75-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ion Catalin Petritan ◽  
Victor-Vasile Mihăilă ◽  
Cosmin Ion Bragă ◽  
Marlène Boura ◽  
Diana Vasile ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area Index ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica ◽  
Abies Alba ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Litterfall Production ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica L
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