Inter-provenance variability and phenotypic plasticity of wood and leaf traits related to hydraulic safety and efficiency in seven European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) provenances differing in yield

Annals of Forest Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 81(1)

Published: March 4, 2024

Abstract Key message Seven European beech provenances differing largely in growth performance were grown at two common garden sites Germany and Slovakia. The intra-specific variability of most traits was explained more by phenotypic plasticity than inter-provenance variability, efficiency-related showed a higher safety-related traits. Context To maintain climate-resilient future forests, replicated common-garden experiments are suited for developing assisted migration strategies key tree species. Aims We analysed the magnitude 12 functional ( Fagus sylvatica L.) whether climate place origin left an imprint. Moreover, we asked is unrelated to xylem safety what extent foliar, growth-related coordinated. Methods Terminal branches collected from 19-year-old 22-year-old trees seven planted Slovakia, respectively. Three hydraulic, three wood anatomical four foliar measured related variables. Results At sites, same pair highest lowest growth. Nevertheless, high degree observed, as all differed significantly between after accounting provenance effects, with hydraulic showing plasticity. There no evidence embolism resistance P 50 ) or carbon isotope signature (δ 13 C), proxy intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE), both positively correlated lumen-to-sapwood area ratio vessel density. Conclusions Because lacking trade-off growth, highly productive can be selected without reducing drought tolerance branch xylem. However, only one element trees’ response, it may beneficial select other conservative adaptations such smaller lumen areas increasing small supported total leaf reduction transpiration.

Language: Английский

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Beneficial effects of native broadleaved forests on canopy beetle diversity are not reduced by admixture of non‐native conifers

Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 61(5), P. 1000 - 1014

Published: March 14, 2024

Abstract Biodiversity loss and vast forest diebacks due to climate change‐induced disturbances require adapted management strategies that reconcile economic interests conservation. Tree species selection, including admixture of fast‐growing drought‐tolerant non‐native native forests, is an increasingly considered approach. However, we lack data on how such mixtures affect biodiversity, especially for the sparsely researched major above‐ground part trees, canopy. In 40 temperate plots in northwest Germany, investigated monocultures admixtures introduced conifers (native Norway spruce planted outside its natural range Douglas fir) broadleaved European beech forests abundance, biomass, taxonomic functional diversity community composition canopy beetles across trophic guilds. Diverse arthropod communities are vital contributors health resilience, therefore valuable indicators assess evaluate forestry measures. Monospecific stands fir reduced beetle abundance compared beech, exceeding negative effects spruce. These were more pronounced herbivorous beetles, while they less strong predators. Beetle monospecific had low richness. with high dissimilarity between local (turnover, i.e. beta diversity) total at landscape scale (gamma diversity). Mixtures generally mitigated conifers, shifts beech. Synthesis applications : occurrence showed undesirable as a shifted mixed specifically admixed did not reduce turnover landscape‐scale diversity. line recent studies other taxa, conclude but plantations, can potentially serve compromise conservational interests.

Language: Английский

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Xylem safety in relation to the stringency of plant water potential regulation of European beech, Norway spruce, and Douglas-fir trees during severe drought

Trees, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 38(3), P. 607 - 623

Published: March 23, 2024

Abstract Key message Norway spruce operates with larger hydraulic safety margins (HSM) than beech and Douglas-fir despite the known drought sensitivity of spruce, questioning a pivotal role HSM in tolerance. The exceptional 2018/2019 exposed Central Europe’s forests to severe stress, highlighting need better understand stomatal regulation strategies their relationship xylem under extreme drought. We studied diurnal, seasonal, inter-annual variation conductance ( g s ) leaf water potential Ψ Leaf co-occurring European F. sylvatica ), P. abies menziesii trees two summers related them traits characterizing resistance. In 2018, exhibited continuous decline from June September, as is characteristic for an anisohydric strategy, while closed stomata early reached least negative -values at end summer. showed low close P 12 (the pressure onset embolism) already July. Both conifers when approaching maintained -levels throughout summer, indicative isohydric regulation. 2019, all three species linear , but crossed contrast conifers. similar potentials turgor loss point (− 2.44 − 2.51 MPa) branch 50 (xylem 50% conductance; 3.3 3.8 MPa). Yet, operated smaller (HSM means: 0.79 0.77 (1.28 reduced size specific area 2019 increased Huber value. Our comparison during contradicts general assumption that operate HSMs angiosperm trees. Contrary expectation, appeared hydraulically less vulnerable Douglas-fir.

Language: Английский

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Water status dynamics and drought tolerance of juvenile European beech, Douglas fir and Norway spruce trees as dependent on neighborhood and nitrogen supply

Tree Physiology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 44(5)

Published: April 25, 2024

Abstract To increase the resilience of forests to drought and other hazards, foresters are increasingly planting mixed stands. This requires knowledge about response tree species in pure mixed-culture neighborhoods. In addition, frequently interacts with continued atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition. disentangle these factors for European beech, Norway spruce Douglas fir, we conducted a replicated 3-factorial sapling growth experiment three moisture levels, (high, medium, low), two N levels (high ambient), We measured biomass, stomatal conductance (GS), shoot water potential (at predawn: ΨPD, midday, turgor loss point: ΨTLP), branch xylem embolism resistance (Ψ50) minimum epidermal (Gmin). The differed most respect Gmin (10-fold higher beech than conifers), hydroscape area (larger beech), time elapsed reach closure (TΨGS90) ΨTLP (TTLP; shorter while Ψ50 were remarkably similar. Neighborhood (pure vs mixed-culture) influenced biomass production, status hydraulic traits, notably GS (higher but lower mixtures culture), safety margin (smaller mixtures), TΨGS90 TTLP (shorter mixture). High generally increased GS, no consistent effects on leaf traits detected, suggesting that neighbor identity had larger effect plant relations availability. conclude both neighborhood availability modulate spruce, fir. Species mixing can alleviate stress some species, often by disadvantaging species. Thus, our study suggests stabilizing building production against drier warmer climate may depend primarily right choice; support agenda.

Language: Английский

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Recent growth decline and shifts in climatic growth constraints suggest climate vulnerability of beech, Douglas fir, pine and oak in Northern Germany

Forest Ecology and Management, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 566, P. 122022 - 122022

Published: June 12, 2024

Language: Английский

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No Future Growth Enhancement Expected at the Northern Edge for European Beech due to Continued Water Limitation

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 30(10)

Published: Oct. 1, 2024

ABSTRACT With ongoing global warming, increasing water deficits promote physiological stress on forest ecosystems with negative impacts tree growth, vitality, and survival. How individual species will react to increased drought is therefore a key research question address for carbon accounting the development of climate change mitigation strategies. Recent tree‐ring studies have shown that trees at higher latitudes benefit from warmer temperatures, yet this likely highly species‐dependent less well‐known more temperate species. Using unique pan‐European network 26,430 European beech ( Fagus sylvatica L. ) 2118 sites, we applied linear mixed‐effects modeling framework (i) explain variation in climate‐dependent growth (ii) project near future (2021–2050) across entire distribution beech. We modeled spatial pattern radial responses annually varying as function mean conditions (mean annual temperature, climatic balance, continentality). Over calibration period (1952–2011), model yielded high regional explanatory power R 2 = 0.38–0.72). Considering moderate scenario (CMIP6 SSP2‐4.5), projected decrease most its range. In particular, decreases by 12%–18% (interquartile range) northwestern Central Europe 11%–21% Mediterranean region. contrast, climate‐driven increases are limited around 13% current occurrence, where historical temperature was below ~6°C. More specifically, predicts 3%–24% increase high‐elevation clusters Alps Carpathian Arc. Notably, find little potential (−10 +2%) poleward leading edge southern Scandinavia. Because region found be primarily water‐limited, northward shift distributional range constrained availability.

Language: Английский

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Identifying drivers of non-stationary climate-growth relationships of European beech

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 937, P. 173321 - 173321

Published: May 22, 2024

The future performance of the widely abundant European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) across its ecological amplitude is uncertain. Although considered drought-sensitive and thus negatively affected by drought events, scientific evidence indicating increasing vulnerability under climate change on a cross-regional scale remains elusive. While evaluating changes in sensitivity secondary growth offers promising avenue, studies from productive, closed-canopy forests suffer knowledge gaps, especially regarding natural variability how it relates to radial as an indicator tree vitality. Since sensitive drought, we this study use index variable account for combined effects temperature water availability explore varies temporally dependence variability, trends, climatic species' amplitude. Our results show that highly non-stationary, though consistently higher at dry sites compared moist sites. Increasing can largely be explained aridity, exacerbated trees' rank progression within forest communities, (co-)dominant trees are more extra-canopy conditions than embedded understories. However, during driest periods 20th century, showed clear signs being decoupled climate. This may indicate fundamental system behavior early-warning signals decreasing tolerance. multiple significant interaction terms our model elucidate complexity beech's sensitivity, which needs taken into consideration when assessing response change.

Language: Английский

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A warmer climate impairs the growth performance of Central Europe's major timber species in lowland regions

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 941, P. 173665 - 173665

Published: May 31, 2024

Recent hot droughts have caused tree vitality decline and increased mortality in many forest regions on earth. Most of Central Europe's important timber species suffered from the extreme 2018/2019 drought, confronting foresters with difficult questions about choice more drought- heat-resistant species. We compared growth dynamics European beech, sessile oak, Scots pine Douglas fir a warmer cooler lowland region Germany to explore adaptive potential four climate warming (24 stands). The basal area increment (BAI) two conifers has declined since 1990-2010 both regions, that beech region, while oak showed positive BAI trends. A 2 °C difference mean temperatures higher frequency days (temperature maximum >30 °C) resulted greater sensitivity negative climatic water balance elevated summer heat pine. This suggests include climate-growth analyses. Negative pointer years were closely related dry years. Nevertheless, all recovery within one three conclude are sensitive deteriorating temperatures, so far not been able successfully acclimate climate, especially but also pine, being vulnerable drying climate.

Language: Английский

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The effect of forest structure on drought stress in beech forests (Fagus sylvatica L.)

Forest Ecology and Management, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 554, P. 121667 - 121667

Published: Dec. 28, 2023

Language: Английский

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The Potential of European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in the Hemiboreal Baltic Region: A Review

Forests, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16(1), P. 109 - 109

Published: Jan. 9, 2025

As European forests face increasing threats from climate change and disturbances, diversifying tree species can be a crucial strategy to safeguard their ecological functions mitigation potential. beech is valuable with wide distribution across Central Western Europe. While the current natural of does not extend Baltic states, models indicate potential northward range expansion. This suggests possibility introducing as proactive measure enhance future resilience local variability. Beech’s ability adapt changing conditions, coupled its biodiversity provide high-quality timber, makes it an attractive option for forest managers. However, successful establishment growth in region will depend on various factors, including competition native species, soil microclimate. Beech stands southwestern Lithuania Latvia, originating diverse populations, demonstrate good adaptation. Despite fragmentation, they serve sources assisted migration may support regeneration ensure species’ long-term viability region. To fully assess benefits risks introduction, further research needed understand interactions response specific site conditions. By carefully considering these managers develop effective strategies promote beech’s growth, ultimately contributing sustainability change.

Language: Английский

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