Recovery and resilience of European temperate forests after large and severe disturbances

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 30(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2024

Abstract Recent observations of tree regeneration failures following large and severe disturbances, particularly under warm dry conditions, have raised concerns about the resilience forest ecosystems their recovery dynamics in face climate change. We investigated temperate forests Europe after disturbance events (i.e., resulting more than 70% canopy loss patches larger 1 ha), with a range one to five decades since occurred. The study included 143 sites different types management practices that had experienced 28 events, including windthrow (132 sites), fire (six bark beetle outbreaks (five sites). focused on assessing post‐disturbance density, structure, composition as key indicators resilience. compared height‐weighted densities site‐specific pre‐disturbance qualitatively assess potential for structural compositional recovery, overall dominant species, respectively. Additionally, we analyzed ecological drivers post‐windthrow such management, topography, aridity, using series generalized additive models. descriptive results show European been resilient past disturbances concurrent albeit lower high‐severity other agents. Across agents, was greater proportion plots becoming dominated by early‐successional species disturbance. models showed increasing elevation salvage logging negatively affect regeneration, late‐successional while pioneer are affected summer aridity. These findings provide baseline future recent occurrence widespread region anticipation conditions characterized heat drought stress.

Language: Английский

---

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

---

‘Chimes of resilience’: what makes forest trees genetically resilient?

New Phytologist, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 7, 2025

Summary Forest trees are foundation species of many ecosystems and challenged by global environmental changes. We assemble genetic facts arguments supporting or undermining resilient responses forest to those Genetic resilience is understood here as the capacity a restore its adaptive potential following changes disturbances. Importantly, data come primarily from European temperate tree with large distributions consider only marginally small distributions. first examine historical trajectories during repeated climatic Species that survived Pliocene–Pleistocene transition underwent oscillations glacial interglacial periods were equipped life history traits enhancing persistence resilience. Evidence their also comes maintenance effective population sizes across time rapid microevolutionary recent events. then review mechanisms attributes shaping responses. Usually, invoked constraints resilience, such load generation overlap, have limited consequences offset positive impacts. Conversely, plasticity, gene flow, introgression, architecture fitness‐related demographic dynamics strengthen accelerating Finally, we address limitations this highlight critical research gaps.

Language: Английский

---

Exploring climate-smart forestry in Mediterranean forests through an innovative composite climate-smart index

Journal of Environmental Management, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 368, P. 122002 - 122002

Published: Aug. 12, 2024

Language: Английский

---

Increase in disturbance-induced canopy gaps leads to reorganization of Central European bird communities

Basic and Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

---

Topographic conditions dominate tree species recovery over 15 years post-fire in a temperate Pinus sylvestris forest

Fire Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 21(1)

Published: May 11, 2025

Language: Английский

---

Salvage logging and subsequent post‐windthrow management diminish forest bird communities for two decades

Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 61(9), P. 2157 - 2168

Published: July 23, 2024

Abstract Post‐disturbance forest management is known to impair biodiversity, including bird communities, but most studies focus on short‐term effects of salvage logging, without recognition the cumulative, lasting impact collective post‐disturbance silvicultural practices. We tracked community succession in a temperate pine from 5 19 years after wind disturbance managed and unmanaged windthrow areas, covering period gap creation early canopy regeneration comparing it nearby production unaffected by disturbance. Bird communities were consistently richest terms abundance richness. They hosted comparable diversity stands throughout study period, as well substantial farmland birds. Managed windthrows followed two distinct successional pathways did not converge. Despite both gradually resembling those found undisturbed forests regenerated, each type maintained until end study. Synthesis applications . Restraining any active post‐windthrow sets pathway, leading unique diverse communities. advocate viewing natural disturbances cost‐effective ecosystem restoration tools, provided no implemented. Furthermore, we advise against using term ‘salvage logging’ refer practices, its varying interpretation may lead growing confusion number long‐term increase.

Language: Английский

---

Spatiotemporal characteristics of tree mortality from bark beetle outbreaks vary within and among bark beetle-host tree associations in the western United States

Forest Ecology and Management, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 576, P. 122382 - 122382

Published: Nov. 15, 2024

Language: Английский

---

Pre-drought effects on northern temperate trees and vine invasion in forest gaps hindering regeneration

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 951, P. 175707 - 175707

Published: Aug. 22, 2024

Northern temperate coniferous forests serve as crucial connectors between boreal and forests, yet they are vulnerable to various stressors such climate change human activities. Severe drought poses a significant threat plant species within these prompting recent research into its impacts. However, many studies lack explicit definitions of post-disturbance vegetation processes fail identify potential interactions with disturbance factors, necessitating comprehensive discussions. This study examines the effects on tree growth patterns main dominant in northern regions: Abies nephrolepis Picea jezoensis, along two commonly associated Betula ermanii, Quercus mongolica. Additionally, new factors inhabited by (A. P. jezoensis) were evaluated based community classification. The sites located Mt. Baekdu (Changbai) South Korea regions, which positioned at southern limit phytogeographical target species. Results indicate that A. jezoensis exhibit high levels recovery resilience, while B. ermanii Q. mongolica demonstrate resistance. Species-specific responses align intensity, resistance, recovery, resilience decreasing notably increasing pre-drought radial growth. Korean invasion vine Tripterygium regelii after death overstory threatens regeneration trees. certain environmental rock exposure dense canopy, invasion. Based results, emerges key determinant how trees respond drought. results suggest for disturbances emerge forest gaps due mortality induced global warming. These findings contribute deeper understanding stress, aid identifying refugia, inform conservation priorities habitat characteristics.

Language: Английский

---

Patterns of early post-disturbance reorganization in Central European forests

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 291(2031)

Published: Sept. 1, 2024

Disturbances catalyse change in forest ecosystems, and a climate-driven increase disturbance activity could accelerate reorganization. Here, we studied post-disturbance forests after the biggest pulse of tree mortality Central Europe at least 170 years, caused by drought bark beetle (Scolytinae) outbreaks 2018–2020. Our objectives were to characterize early state regeneration mortality, quantify patterns reorganization relative undisturbed reference conditions assess how management patch size affect disturbance. We surveyed 1244 plots 120 patches under managed (salvage-logged, often planted) unmanaged (deadwood remaining on site, no planting) Germany. found that density disturbed sites was high (median 11 897 stems ha −1 ), resulting from cohort advance regeneration. strong drivers change, with indications for resilience only 36.3% patches. Reassembly (i.e. species composition) dominant pattern (61.5%), Picea abies changed most strongly. Post-disturbance facilitated particularly promoting composition. The strength increased size. conclude recent wave will likely Europe.

Language: Английский

---