European beech dieback after premature leaf senescence during the 2018 drought in northern Switzerland

Plant Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 24(7), P. 1132 - 1145

Published: Sept. 14, 2022

During the particularly severe hot summer drought in 2018, widespread premature leaf senescence was observed several broadleaved tree species Central Europe, European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). For beech, it is yet unknown whether evoked a decline towards mortality or trees can recover longer term. In this study, we monitored crown dieback, and secondary damage symptoms 963 initially live that exhibited either normal 2018 three regions northern Switzerland from to 2021. We related multiple climate- stand-related parameters. Cumulative continuously increased up 7.2% 1.3% 2021 for with respectively. Mean dieback surviving peaked at 29.2% 2020 8.1% 2019 senescence, Thereafter, showed first signs of recovery. Crown more pronounced recovery slower growing on drier sites, larger trees. The presence bleeding cankers 24.6% 10.7% bark beetle holes 22.8% 14.8% Both occurred frequently had higher proportions and/or 2018. Our findings demonstrate context-specific differences reflecting importance regional local climate soil conditions. Adapting management increase forest resilience gaining importance, given expected further dry sites Switzerland.

Language: Английский

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Impacts on and damage to European forests from the 2018–2022 heat and drought events

Natural hazards and earth system sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 25(1), P. 77 - 117

Published: Jan. 6, 2025

Abstract. Drought and heat events in Europe are becoming increasingly frequent due to human-induced climate change, impacting both human well-being ecosystem functioning. The intensity effects of these vary across the continent, making it crucial for decision-makers understand spatial variability drought impacts. Data on drought-related damage currently dispersed scientific publications, government reports, media outlets. This study consolidates data European forests from 2018 2022, using Europe-wide datasets including those related crown defoliation, insect damage, burnt forest areas, tree cover loss. data, covering 16 countries, were analysed four regions, northern, central, Alpine, southern, compared with a reference period 2010 2014. Findings reveal that all zones experienced reduced vitality elevated temperatures, varying severity. Central showed highest vulnerability, coniferous deciduous trees. southern zone, while affected by loss, demonstrated greater resilience, likely historical exposure. northern zone is experiencing emerging impacts less severely, possibly site-adapted boreal species, Alpine minimal impact, suggesting protective effect altitude. Key trends include (1) significant loss zones; (2) high levels despite 2021 being an average year, indicating lasting previous years; (3) notable challenges central Sweden bark beetle infestations; (4) no increase wildfire severity ongoing challenges. Based this assessment, we conclude (i) highly vulnerable heat, even resilient ecosystems at risk severe damage; (ii) tailored strategies essential mitigate change forests, incorporating regional differences resilience; (iii) effective management requires harmonised collection enhanced monitoring address future comprehensively.

Language: Английский

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Rapid beech decline under recurrent drought stress: Individual neighborhood structure and soil properties matter

Forest Ecology and Management, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 545, P. 121305 - 121305

Published: July 29, 2023

During the summer of 2022, an acute drought once more afflicted central and southern Europe. This marked third episode (after 2015 2018) severe aridity in large parts Germany within last decade, leading to increased soil water depletion. Consequently, from July 2022 onward, European beech trees (Fagus sylvatica L.) exhibited early withering pronounced premature defoliation. Nevertheless, crown defoliation substantial variation among same forest stands, prompting questions regarding causal factors. In our study, we scrutinized twelve mature drought-impacted, beech-dominated stands northern Bavaria, arranged along a gradient different nutrient regime levels (base-rich, intermediate, base-poor), with co-occurring vital (≤40% defoliation) declining (≥60% trees. Within each stand, selected equal number trees, culminating total 332 target Dendrochronological patterns were analyzed identify potential timing growth separation between vitality classes. Moreover, used Bayesian modelling framework discern whether disparities tree hinged on competition, structure, small-scale differences plant-available capacity, spatial clustering competitors. We further explored factors influencing magnitude decline post-2018 how these modulated by site's regime. Our study unveiled that (i) low competition size diversity bolstered vitality; (ii) spatially aggregated; (iii) strikingly similar trajectories past, which underwent drastic shift following 2018, indicating for rapid under recurrent stress; (iv) capacity emerged as crucial determinant subsequent 2018; (v) was most at base-poor intermediate sites. findings underscore importance accommodating stand characteristics advocate silvicultural guidance towards reduced densities combination heterogenous structure mitigate dieback drought-prone stands.

Language: Английский

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Drought and heat reduce forest carbon uptake

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: Oct. 6, 2023

Climate extremes threaten the land carbon sink and it is important to understand their impact in a changing climate. A recent study provides new insights on reduced forest uptake during severe 2022 drought heatwave across Europe.

Language: Английский

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The Future of European Beech in Northern Germany—Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation Potential

Forests, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(7), P. 1448 - 1448

Published: July 14, 2023

Earth’s forests are increasingly exposed to climate risks through change-related drought and heat waves. Here, we review the vulnerability of European beech (Fagus sylvatica), most abundant tree species Central Europe’s temperate forests, its adaptation potential a hotter drier in northern Germany, close center species’ distribution range. About two-thirds studied show persistent negative growth trends their dominant trees since onset rapid warming early 1980s, driven primarily by long-term deterioration climatic water balance (CWB) summer and, locally, decrease June precipitation. Lower storage capacity soil increases sensitivity growth. Even though populations sub-regions reveal some acclimation (reduced stomatal conductance, turgor loss point reduction, higher C allocation roots), they more climate-vulnerable than at moister sites, visible larger decreases greater CWB mortality is still lower study region other parts Europe, our results identify forest regions with <350 mm growing-season precipitation as vulnerable recent conditions, which refers half region. With further aridification, Germany likely will become unfavorable for within next generation, suggests choosing many production alternative, drought- heat-resistant timber species.

Language: Английский

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Tree crown defoliation in forest monitoring: concepts, findings, and new perspectives for a physiological approach in the face of climate change

Forestry An International Journal of Forest Research, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 97(2), P. 194 - 212

Published: Jan. 5, 2024

Abstract Recurrent climate-driven disturbances impact on the health of European forests that reacted with increased tree dieback and mortality over course last four decades. There is therefore large interest in predicting understanding fate survival under climate change. Forest conditions are monitored within pan-European ICP Forests programme (UN-ECE International Co-operative Programme Assessment Monitoring Air Pollution Effects Forests) since 1980s, crown defoliation being most widely used parameter. Defoliation not a cause-specific indicator vitality, there need to connect levels physiological functioning trees. The responses connected species-specific concern, among others, water relations, photosynthesis carbon metabolism, growth, mineral nutrients leaves. indicators measure variables forest monitoring programs must be easy apply field current state-of-the-art technologies, replicable, inexpensive, time efficient regulated by ad hoc protocols. ultimate purpose provide data feed process-based models predict threats due This study reviews problems perspectives realization systematic assessment proposes set suitable for future application programs.

Language: Английский

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A multi-criteria drought resistance assessment of temperate Acer, Carpinus, Fraxinus, Quercus, and Tilia species

Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 62, P. 125777 - 125777

Published: Jan. 4, 2024

Language: Английский

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Reforestation policies around 2000 in southern China led to forest densification and expansion in the 2010s

Communications Earth & Environment, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 4(1)

Published: July 18, 2023

Abstract Forest expansion has been observed in China over the past decades, but typically applied coarse resolution satellite data does not reveal spatial details about China’s forest transition. By using three decades of observations at a 30-m resolution, we here complex spatiotemporal patterns individual stands forming return history southern China. We calculate age, densification rates, and annual fragmentation show that area surge around 2010 is result trees planted after 2000 formed dense forests decade later. document old 1980s were mostly fragmented into scattered patches located on mountain tops, rapidly expanded downhill by 729,540 km 2 alleviated clear-cut logging pressure from forests. Our study provides detailed documentation for country had largely deforested ago.

Language: Английский

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Impacts and damages of the European multi-year drought and heat event 2018–2022 on forests, a review

Published: July 26, 2023

Abstract. Drought and heat events are becoming more frequent in Europe due to human-induced climate change, affecting many aspects of human well-being ecosystem functioning. However, the intensity these drought is not spatially temporally uniform. Understanding spatial variability impacts important information for decision makers, supporting both planning preparations cope with changing climatic conditions. Currently, data relating damage caused by extended episodes scattered across languages sources such as scientific publications, governmental reports media. In this review paper, we compiled damages 2018 until 2022 forest ecosystems relate it large European sets, providing support making on regional levels. We partitioned from 16 countries following regions: Northern, Central, Alpine, South. focused forests, categorized them (1) physiological (2) pest, (3) fire damage. were able identify key trends: Relative defoliation rates broadleaves higher than conifers every country exception Czech Republic incidence wood destroyed insects extremely high Central Sweden Although fires can be related drought, they superimposed other anthropogenic influences (4) period (2018–2022), forests central particularly affected, while Northern Alpine zones less adaptations still observed Southern zone. (5) several regions 2021 was an average year levels indicating strong legacy effects 2018–2020. note that inventory should continuously updated new appear.

Language: Английский

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Climate change in progress: observations on the impacts of drought events on Tuscan forests

Forest - Rivista di Selvicoltura ed Ecologia Forestale, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 20(1), P. 1 - 9

Published: Jan. 3, 2023

Climate change in progress: observations on the impacts of drought events Tuscan forestsThe empirical observation and heat waves that occurred between 2017 2022 several forest areas Tuscany allowed to describe various processes effects trees shrubs.The most severe were observed evergreen Mediterranean tall woodlands aged coppices (on holm oak trees), causing defoliation even mortality.In cases, attempts resprouting from dormant buds (from base tree trunk or crown), following events, not successful.Deciduous broad-leaved (beech, downy oak) suffered a strong summer defoliation, especially steep slopes with shallow soils south-facing aspect.These species generally able replenish foliage year.In unfavorable conditions, however, we extensive attacks opportunistic parasites, such as fungi genus Biscogniauxia, which favored by ultimate cause mortality.Turkey showed mortality small groups individual trees.Heat also affected minor species, desiccation and, serious causes, death tree.Some mesohygrophilous are restricted relict populations specific microclimatic sites within sub-Mediterranean habitats impacted, consequences biodiversity, regeneration, production fruits for wildlife.Increasing will trigger regressive dynamic lead many transformation forests into bushy forms scrub, scrublands sparse garrigues steppes.A more intense natural thinning coppice stands Turkey is occurring, due combined effect intra-or inter-specific competition.The implementation regional monitoring system recommended, based integration past existing experiences new initiatives, quantify dynamics, extent severity impacts.A crucial point need adapt forestry, utilization woods, changed ecological conditions avoid increasing impact them.

Language: Английский

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