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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.
- Source :
- Forest Ecology & Management; Aug2024, Vol. 566, pN.PAG-N.PAG, 1p
- Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Most of Central Europe's economically important tree species have suffered vitality losses, growth decline and locally increased mortality during recent hot droughts. Foresters thus require comparative assessments of the major timber species' climate vulnerability. This dendroecological study compares long-term radial growth trends (basal area increment; BAI) and climate-growth relationships of (co-)dominant trees of the major timbers European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) , sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) along a precipitation gradient (834 − 570 mm yr<superscript>−1</superscript>) in the lowlands of Northern Germany on deep sandy to sandy-loamy soils with the aim to explore the species' climate vulnerability and to assess the adaptive potential to reduced precipitation. The BAI of Douglas fir and beech has decreased in recent decades at most sites, while pine and oak growth was predominantly stable or has increased. Yet, the growth synchrony of all species has recently increased at some (or all) stands, hinting at the impact of increasing climatic stress. Increasing BAI at drier sites may indicate successful acclimation to reduced precipitation in oak and pine. The conifers profited primarily from sufficient moisture in late-summer and a warmer February and March, the broadleaf trees from a moister and cooler previous summer. Winter temperature emerged as a new driver of growth in pine, Douglas fir and oak, which may promote pine and oak growth at some sites through reduced winter cold stress. We conclude that all four species, but especially Douglas fir and beech, are vulnerable to climate warming in the Northern German lowlands. • Stem growth declined in all species, especially in Douglas fir and European beech. • Growth decline was accompanied by rising growth synchrony and crown vitality loss. • Water availability in summer and warm winters are main drivers of growth. • Acclimation to increasing aridity was often insufficient, especially at moist sites. • We recommend planting alternative timber species together with sessile oak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- CLIMATE change
DOUGLAS fir
BEECH
EUROPEAN beech
PINE
OAK
SCOTS pine
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 03781127
- Volume :
- 566
- Database :
- Supplemental Index
- Journal :
- Forest Ecology & Management
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 178209878
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2024.122022