Maximum tree height in European Mountains decreases above a climate-related elevation threshold

Communications Earth & Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 5(1)

Published: Feb. 15, 2024

Abstract Mountain forests face important threats from global change and spatio-temporal variation in tree height can help to monitor these effects. In this study, we used the Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation space-borne laser sensor examine relationship between maximum elevation, role of climate, main European mountain ranges. We found a piecewise elevation all ranges, supporting existence common breakpoint that marks beginning development limitations. Temperature precipitation were identified as most drivers variation. Additionally, predicted significant upward displacement for period 2080-2100 under climate scenarios, potentially increasing area without growth limitations trees. These findings contribute understanding impacts warming on forest ecosystems provide insights their monitoring management.

Language: Английский

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Mountain protective forests under threat? an in-depth review of global change impacts on their protective effect against natural hazards

Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 6

Published: Sept. 22, 2023

Forests in mountain areas provide an indispensable ecosystem service by protecting people and infrastructure against natural hazards. As forests are increasingly affected global change, including climate more frequent severe disturbances, shifts land use, open questions remain regarding the long-term sustainable provision of this crucial protective service. To improve our understanding various effects change on forests, we summarized current knowledge based a systematic review. Focusing changes forests’ effect snow avalanches, landslides, rockfall, torrential floods debris flow, assessed 72 peer-reviewed, English publications. Overall, climate-induced expected to increase at higher elevations but reduce it lower mainly due increased drought. Natural disturbances usually decrease their impact is often further exacerbated salvage logging. Different forest management strategies studied using simulation models, impacts strongly depend local context interactions with change. While clearcuts consistently effect, other interventions such as thinning can have either positive or negative effects. Most reviewed studies were case process-based hazard models (but rarely combining two), while empirical evidence was scarce. Forests’ (diverse) indicators structure, evaluations resulting risks less common. More consistent modeling approaches linking structure risk, well across different studies, needed for better they under

Language: Английский

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Unmixing-based forest recovery indicators for predicting long-term recovery success

Remote Sensing of Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 308, P. 114194 - 114194

Published: May 9, 2024

Recovery from forest disturbances is a pivotal metric of resilience. Forests globally are facing unprecedented levels both natural and anthropogenic disturbances, yet our understanding their recovery these remains incomplete. Remote sensing an effective tool for post-disturbance recovery, but existing approaches largely rely on spectral indicators that difficult to interpret require long time series after disturbance, which limits applicability recent disturbance pulses. We here introduce novel, ecologically informed set based fractional cover maps derived unmixing analysis Landsat Sentinel-2 series. estimated annual pre- tree bare ground fractions over the eastern Alps (∼130,000 km2) period 1990 2021. From fraction series, we intervals defined as it takes reach pre-defined threshold referred canopy recovery. found mean between 5.5 13.4 years, depending severity. Comparing results traditional remote sensing-based mapping unmixing-based give considerably more realistic than indices because they effectively distinguish regeneration other vegetation (e.g., shrubs, grasses). Finally, were able accurately predict long-term success information available only three years underlines high importance short window reorganization post-disturbance, highlights utility inform management in identifying areas need planting). Our study thus provides important step ahead monitoring resilience, urgently needed rapid change.

Language: Английский

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Ecosystem Resilience Monitoring and Early Warning Using Earth Observation Data: Challenges and Outlook

Surveys in Geophysics, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 3, 2024

Abstract As the Earth system is exposed to large anthropogenic interferences, it becomes ever more important assess resilience of natural systems, i.e., their ability recover from and human-induced perturbations. Several, often related, measures have been proposed applied modeled observed data, by different scientific communities. Focusing on terrestrial ecosystems as a key component system, we review methods that can detect perturbations (temporary excursions reference state well abrupt shifts new state) in spatio-temporal datasets, estimate recovery rate after such perturbations, or changes indirectly stationary time series via indicators critical slowing down. We present here sequence ideal methodological steps field science, argue how obtain consistent multi-faceted view ecosystem climate observation (EO) data. While EO data offers unique potential study globally at high spatial temporal scale, emphasize some limitations, which are associated with theoretical assumptions behind diagnostic measurement process pre-processing The latter class limitations include gaps series, disparity scales, issues arising aggregating multiple sensors. Based this assessment, formulate specific recommendations community order improve observational basis for research.

Language: Английский

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Gap expansion is the dominant driver of canopy openings in a temperate mountain forest landscape

Journal of Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 112(7), P. 1501 - 1515

Published: May 4, 2024

Abstract Natural disturbances are important drivers of forest dynamics, and canopy gaps their fingerprints in ecosystems. Gaps form persist because the interplay tree mortality regeneration. They can have long‐lasting impacts on ecosystems, yet temporal dynamics gap formation closure remains poorly quantified. We analysed 11,331 changes through time across 3999 ha unmanaged temperate mountain forests at Berchtesgaden National Park (Germany). assessed using three repeat lidar acquisitions between 2009 2021, analysing height 1 m horizontal resolution. Our objective was to determine dominant mode formation, distinguishing creation new from expansion existing ones. Additionally, we studied rate closure, considering regeneration lateral crown expansion. Gap primarily driven by rather than initiation gaps. accounted for 81.3% although were average twice as large expansions. Only 1.4% did not expand over 12‐year study period, Norway spruce had highest Overall, (0.74 100 −1 year ) higher (0.58 our system. Ingrowth regenerating cohort primary with accounting 20% all area closed. Mixed‐species stands <0.1 closed faster larger Synthesis . While openings generally small European Alps, show that they keep growing multiple years, underlining is an driver dynamics. Canopy created, highlighting resilience natural disturbances. However, projected increase under climate change, this might be challenged future, requiring a continuous monitoring early warning indicator change.

Language: Английский

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Mapping spatial microclimate patterns in mountain forests from LiDAR

Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 341, P. 109662 - 109662

Published: Aug. 18, 2023

Language: Английский

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Modelling opportunities of potential European abandoned farmland to contribute to environmental policy targets

CATENA, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 232, P. 107460 - 107460

Published: Aug. 19, 2023

Farmland abandonment is a major proximate driver of landscape change in European rural areas and often followed by natural revegetation. In certain conditions, it might be preferable to prevent or reverse farmland manage these towards active restoration (i.e., guided rewilding with wild domesticated animals). These alternative responses lead context-dependent impacts, which can potentially contribute Green Deal objectives for environment areas. While previous studies analysed direct impacts abandonment, there little insight into how ways managing abandoned best environmental policy goals, what type management preferred where. To assess opportunities areas, we compared three trajectories: revegetation, rewilding, extensive re-farming. We the potential positive negative cultural developing strategies all locations that could across Europe. Mapping quantification benefits risks associated different indicate large spatial variation regions. revegetation support high carbon sequestration erosion reduction, also linked more frequent trade-offs than re-farming rewilding. However, very strong trade-offs. It worthwhile focus on largest gains fewest when targeting investments prevention Our maps help inform interventions maximise contributions lands targets.

Language: Английский

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Sustaining forest biodiversity: Exploring the effect of long-term natural disturbance dynamics on contemporary lichen communities in primary forest ecosystems

Forest Ecosystems, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 11, P. 100214 - 100214

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

In this era of biodiversity loss and climate change, quantifying the impacts natural disturbance on forest communities is imperative to improve conservation efforts. Epiphytic epixylic lichens are effective quality bioindicators, as they generally long-lived organisms supported by continuity specific structures their associated microclimatic features. However, how lichen respond effects fluctuating historical disturbances remains unclear. Using a dendrochronological approach, study investigates dynamics indirectly influence various community metrics in some Europe's best-preserved primary mixed-beech forests. Mixed modelling revealed that processes have decades-long structural attributes, which had both congruent divergent richness composition. Total species benefited from recent higher-severity via increased standing dead tree basal area canopy openness respectively - likely through presence pioneer late-successional with these conditions. Red-listed showed dependence habitat (old trees), disturbance-related (standing trees) whilst simultaneously benefiting periods without severe events trees reduced deadwood volume). if occurred over century past, no substantial effect structure was detected. Therefore, while disturbance-mediated can promote overall richness, threatened appear vulnerable more – concern, predicted intensify change. Additionally, high number found reinforce critical role attributes for maintenance. Hence, we recommend landscape-scale approach encompassing patches different successional stages support diverse communities, consideration long-term efforts, provide insights safeguarding our changing world.

Language: Английский

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Using airborne LiDAR and enhanced-geolocated GEDI metrics to map structural traits over a Mediterranean forest

Science of Remote Sensing, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 100195 - 100195

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Short-interval fires homogenise the structure of diverse temperate forests

Forest Ecology and Management, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 584, P. 122580 - 122580

Published: March 3, 2025

Language: Английский

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