Recent changes in the climate-growth response of European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) in the Polish Sudetes

Key message Recently observed temporal changes in the climate-growth relationship of larch in the Polish Sudetes suggest growth limitations in the future. Abstract Larches in the Sudetes are very sensitive to the currently changing climatic factors, and an extreme negative response to drought is observed. In this study, temporal changes in the climate-growth relationship of European larch were analyzed using moving-window correlation. Change-point detection analysis was performed to determine whether there is a temporal connection between tree-ring growth responses and changes in climatic factors trends. The Random Forest predictor importance determination method was used to establish the set of climatic factors that influence larch tree-ring growth the most and to show how this set changes over time. Additionally, cluster analysis was applied to find spatial growth patterns and to generalize the growth response of larch. The results indicate that the main clustering factor is altitude. Nevertheless, an increasing unification of the larch’s response to dominant climatic factors is observable throughout the whole study area. This unification is expressed in the increasingly positive and recently dominant effect of May temperature. A progressively negative influence of the temperature in the summer and late autumn of the year preceding growth was observed, as was an increasing influence of water availability in the summer months. The study indicates that there is a connection between the observed changes and the recent rapid rise in temperature, which has consequently had a negative influence on water availability. The growth of this tree species in the Sudetes is expected to be very limited in the future due to its sensitivity to drought, the predicted increase in temperatures and thermal extremes, and the decrease of the share of summer precipitation in the annual total.

Natural regeneration of European Larch outside natural area with minimum of seed trees

The study of dissemination and success of natural regeneration of European larch outside its growing area, with a minimum supply of seed plants, is presented. It was analyzed that the success of natural regeneration of larch is affected by the absence of air sacs in pollen grains, this limits their dispersion at close distances and reduces the quality of seeds of the species, due to unsatisfactory pollination, more than fifty percent are dissimilar. It was found that the distance of maximum dissemination of European larch reaches 112–114 m. The undergrowth and self-seeding of European larch was represented by different height gradations. Half (49 %) of the recorded plants represent a gradation from 2 m and more, 36,5 % up to 1 meter in height, which indicates that the process of formation of the young generation of European larch can last up to 10 years, subject to the necessary conditions (good mineralized soil). Biometric measurements show that the leading position in height is occupied by birch, and the leader among conifers in height in height is Scotch pine. The dynamics of the annual growth of European larch until 2017 has a positive trend, after which it gradually decreases, from 38,6 cm to 24,7 cm in 2020, which is caused by the lack of silvicultural care, as well as the process of the emergence of new individuals of self-seeding, which is 23,5 % of accounted plants. In general, the natural regeneration of European larch and Scots pine under conditions of simple fresh subores (B2) has a higher growth energy than that of forest crops and undergrowth of European spruce.

Colorful and facile in situ nanosilver coating on sisal/cotton interwoven fabrics mediated from European larch heartwood

This study reports on a novel coloration approach for sisal/cotton interwoven fabric via in situ synthesis of European larch (Larix decidua) heartwood-anchored sustainable nanosilver. The heartwood extracts functioned as the reducing and stabilizing agent in reaction systems. The deposited silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) over the fabric surfaces displayed brilliant coloration effects with improved fastness ratings and color strengths (K/S). The successful depositions of nanosilvers were quantified and increasing trends in K/S values with the increase in silver precursor loading were discovered. The concentrations of AgNPs deposited on fabric surfaces were found to be 16 mg/L, 323 mg/L, and 697 mg/L, which were measured through an iCP OES (atomic absorption spectroscopy) test. The K/S values obtained for different loadings of silver precursors (0.5, 1.5, and 2.5 mM (w/v)) are 2.74, 6.76, and 8.96. Morphological studies of the control and AgNP-treated fabrics also displayed a uniform and homogeneous distribution of AgNPs over the fabric surfaces. FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) studies of the sustainably developed materials further confirms the successful bonding between the fabrics and AgNPs. Furthermore, stability against temperature was also noticed as per TGA (thermogravimetric analysis) and DTG (derivative TG) analysis although there was a slight decline from the control sisal/cotton interwoven fabrics observed. Statistically, regression analysis and ANOVA tests were conducted to understand the significance of increased nanosilver loading on sisal/cotton interwoven fabrics. In summary, the perceived results demonstrated successful coloration and functionalization of sisal/cotton interwoven fabrics through green AgNPs, which could indicate a new milestone for industrial production units.

First Report of the Larch Longhorn (Tetropium gabrieli Weise, Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Spondylidinae) on Larix spp. in Lithuania

Tetropium gabrieli is a longhorn beetle that usually attacks weakened larch trees. During prolonged summer droughts, T. gabrieli can form outbreaks, causing damages to larch stands. Although it is known in several European countries, in Lithuania it was detected for the first time in 2019. The detection of T. gabrieli indicates potential secondary damages to European larch and other larch species growing in the area.Abstract: Tetropium gabrieli is known to be native to the Alps in Europe where it breeds in European larch (Larix decidua), but it has spread to other areas and was reported in Poland, Sweden, Denmark and Belorussia. Although T. gabrieli is considered an important secondary pest of Larix spp., it can be particularly harmful to trees subjected to abiotic stress. Here we report that in Lithuania, T. gabrieli was for the first time captured in 2019 using sticky traps attached to Larix spp. trees. Two adult beetles were trapped at two different sites in central Lithuania, and this was in the period between 10th of May and 5th of June. Regarding potential threats caused by this insect pest, this new finding requires special attention, particularly on its biology, ecology, and local distribution.

Delay of growth release after a windthrow event and climate response in a light-demanding species (European larch Larix decidua Mill.)

Key message Larch trees respond to stand opening with an approximately 4-year delay of growth, and low precipitation in July limits radial growth after a windthrow event. Abstract Precise cross-dating of disturbance events is crucial to understanding the functioning of forest stands, and may help explain ongoing ecological processes in a forest. Tree rings are very often used to reconstruct the history of disturbances and to study the response of trees to climatic factors. This study analyzed how quickly European larch can benefit from an abrupt change after catastrophic windthrow events and the extent of trees’ sensitivity to climate. The study is based on cores from 83 larch trees collected in a post-disturbance 100 ha plot established after a catastrophic windstorm in 2004 in the Slovakian High Tatras. Growth release was calculated from the percentage of growth change (PGC) measured in tree rings. The time lag between the disturbance event and release was related to tree diameter at breast height, tree age, and tree’s previous growth. The time lag between the year of the event and the year of growth reaction was 4.6 years on average (median 4 years) in a multi-aged group of trees. The climate analyses employed residual chronology. The new environmental conditions in the post-disturbance area have altered the trees’ growth reaction to climate; in particular, they show sensitivity to water deficit in July.

Comparison of mechanical properties of recent and 400-year-old European larch

Wood is considered the leading building material throughout the history of mankind. Wood has several advantages over other construction materials, which also makes it one of the most promising materials of the future. The environmental aspect also plays a major role today, as wood is a natural, renewable resource whose processing is very energy-intensive. Due to its repeated and widespread use in construction, the prediction of mechanical properties and their change over time is also very well known, as the overall safety of all buildings also depends on it. Therefore, we compared the mechanical properties of fresh European larch (Larix decidua) and 400-year-old larch found in the Ruard manor house on the Stara Sava in Jesenice, where the renovation of Upper Sava Museum is currently underway. In order to predict what will happen to the wood in the long term, it is necessary to expose the wood to the same conditions, i.e. to change it with dynamic loads or material fatigue. The effect of aging on flexural strength has not been confirmed. Fatigue results show that old wood withstood about 18 times fewer load cycles than recent larch wood.

The Kinematics of Scale Deflection in the Course of Multi-Step Seed Extraction from European Larch Cones (Larix decidua Mill.) Taking into Account Their Cellular Structure

The objective of the study was to elucidate the kinematics of cone opening in the European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) during a four-step seed extraction process and to determine optimum process time on that basis. Each step lasted 8 h with 10 min of water immersion between the steps. The study also described the microscopic cellular structure of scales in cones with a moisture content of 5% and 20%, as well as evaluated changes in cell wall thickness. The obtained results were compared with the structural investigations of scales conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of characteristic sites on the inner and outer sides of the scales. The greatest increment in the scale opening angle was noted on the first day of the process (34°) and in scales from the middle cone segment (39°). In scales with a moisture content of 5% and 20%, the greatest changes in cell wall thickness were recorded for large cells (57%). The inner and outer structure of scales differed in terms of the presence and size of cells depending on the moisture content of the cones (5%, 10%, or 20%). The study demonstrated that the moisture content of cones was the crucial determinant of the cellular structure and opening of scales in larch cones. The scale opening angle increased with decreasing moisture content but did not differ significantly for various segments of cones or various hours of the consecutive days of the process. This finding may lead to reducing the seed extraction time for larch cones. The internal and external structure of scales differed depending on moisture content, which also determined the size and wall thickness of cells.