A recent growth increase of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) at its Mediterranean distribution limit contradicts drought stress

Tegel, Willy; Seim, Andrea; Hakelberg, Dietrich; Hoffmann, Stephan; Panev, Metodi; Westphal, Thorsten; Büntgen, Ulf

doi:10.1007/s10342-013-0737-7

Cited by 127 publications

(97 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…The above-mentioned findings were similar in the Mediterranean and related regions [26]. During the growing season beech tree growth is consistently limited by high temperature and low precipitation at the southern edge of their European distribution [25,27]. Nevertheless, site-specific adaptation of the species can compensate for the unfavorable ecological or functional effects of decreasing precipitation [63], as it was also detected in the current investigation.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Functional Response Trait Analysis Improves Climate Sensitivity Estimation in Beech Forests at a Trailing Edge

Salamon-Albert

Abaligeti

Ortmann‐Ajkai

2017

Forests

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Functional response traits influence the ability of species to colonize and thrive in a habitat and to persist under environmental challenges. Functional traits can be used to evaluate environment-related processes and phenomena. They also help to interpret distribution patterns, especially under limiting ecological conditions. In this study, we investigate landscape-scale functional distribution responses of beech forests in a climatic transitional zone in Europe. We construct empirical density distribution responses for beech forests by applying coping-resilience-failure climatic traits based on 27 bioclimatic variables, resulting in prevalence-decay-exclusion distribution response patterns. We also perform multivariate exploratory cluster analysis to reveal significant sets of response patterns from the resilience and adaptation aspects. Temperature-related distribution responses presented a prevalence-dominated functional pattern, with Annual mean temperature indicating the most favorable adaptation function. Precipitation indices showed climate-limited response patterns with the dominance of extinction function. Considering regional site-specific climate change projections, these continental beech forests could regress moderately due to temperature increase in the near future. Our results also suggest that both summer and winter precipitation could play a pivotal role in successful resilience. Functions and variables that indicate climate sensitivity can serve as a useful starting point to develop adaptation measures for regional forest management.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Functional Response Trait Analysis Improves Climate Sensitivity Estimation in Beech Forests at a Trailing Edge

Salamon-Albert

Abaligeti

Ortmann‐Ajkai

2017

Forests

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“…Growth reductions as a consequence of increasing drought stress are reported from the southern distribution limits of beech in Spain (Jump et al 2006) and Italy (Piovesan et al 2008). In contrast, Tegel et al (2014) reported on a recent growth increase of beech at its southeastern distribution limit at the Balkan Peninsula. Sessile and pedunculate oaks seem to have rising growth rates in recent decades in Germany and in northern and northeastern France, presumably driven by changes in temperature regime, CO2 concentration and N deposition (Becker et al 1994, Pretzsch 1996, Bergès et al 2000.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of climate change on tree-ring growth of Scots pine, common beech and pedunculate oak in northeastern Germany

Bauwe¹,

Jurasinski²,

Scharnweber³

et al. 2016

iForest

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Tree growth depends, among other factors, largely on the prevailing climatic conditions. Therefore, changes to tree growth patterns are to be expected under climate change. Here, we analyze the tree-ring growth response of three major European tree species to projected future climate across a climatic (mostly precipitation) gradient in northeastern Germany. We used monthly data for temperature, precipitation, and the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) over multiple time scales (1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months) to construct models of tree-ring growth for Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) at three pure stands, and for common beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) at three mature mixed stands. The regression models were derived using a two-step approach based on partial least squares regression (PLSR) to extract potentially well explaining variables followed by ordinary least squares regression (OLSR) to consolidate the models to the least number of variables while retaining high explanatory power. The stability of the models was tested through a comprehensive calibration-verification scheme. All models were successfully verified with R²s ranging from 0.21 for the western pine stand to 0.62 for the beech stand in the east. For growth prediction, climate data forecasted until 2100 by the regional climate model WETTREG2010 based on the A1B Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) emission scenario was used. For beech and oak, growth rates will likely decrease until the end of the 21 st century. For pine, modeled growth trends vary and range from a slight growth increase to a weak decrease in growth rates. The climatic gradient across the study area will possibly affect the future growth of oak with larger growth reductions towards the drier east. For beech, site-specific adaptations seem to override the influence of the climatic gradient. We conclude that Scots pine has great potential to remain resilient to projected climate change without any greater impairment, whereas common beech and pedunculate oak will likely face lesser growth under the expected warmer and dryer climate conditions. The results call for an adaptation of forest management to mitigate the negative effects of climate change for beech and oak.

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“…PCA of the whole data set. The symbol form represents the forest type, its size indicates the coverage of the species 2007, Scharnweber et al, 2011, Cavin et al, 2013, Tegel et al, 2014, Zimmermann et al, 2015. An increase in temperature alone can be tolerated by beech as it is able to grow in regions with a mean annual temperature of 14 o C (Peters, 1997, Kölling et al, 2007 and may even grow faster when sufficiently supplied with water (Felbermeier, 1993, Pretzsch andĎurský, 2002)).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It has been shown, for example, that summer drought intensity in conjunction with late spring air temperature and precipitation are the determinant factors for beech distribution at low elevations in central Europe (Czúcz et al, 2011). Moreover, soil water availability seems to actively control beech growth at its southern distribution limit (Tegel et al, 2014).…”

Section: Vegetation Assessment In the Fieldmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The species is able to grow under the temperate climate of central Europe in relatively dry to moist soils, yet under the subMediterranean climate of southern Europe, the competitiveness of beech is increasingly limited by climatic drought. In southern Europe growth rates and competitiveness of beech are reduced and controlled by environmental variables that indicate drought intensity (Czúcz et al, 2011;Tegel et al, 2014) and beech forests become replaced by submeridional forests composed of more drought tolerant species, mainly pines and oaks (Horvat et al, 1974;Ellenberg and Leuschner, 2010). Therefore, beech is restricted to shady slopes and/or deep soils and/or higher elevations (Ozenda et al, 1988;Peters, 1997;Reif and Löblich-Ille, 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Floristic Change at the Drought Limit of European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) to Downy Oak (Quercus pubescens) Forest in the Temperate Climate of Central Europe

Reif

Xystrakis

Gärtner

et al. 2017

Not Bot Horti Agrobo

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An increase in drought could cause shifts in species composition and vegetation structure. In forests it limits the occurrence of drought sensitive tree species which become replaced by drought tolerant tree species and forest communities. Under temperate macroclimatic conditions, European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) naturally dominates the forested landscape, except on extremely shallow soil in combination with high irradiation. On these sites beech reaches its drought limit, and is replaced by forests dominated by species like downy oak (Quercus pubescens s.l.) and English oak (Quercus petraea L). Phytosociological and ecological data were collected in the transition (ecotone) between European beach stands and stands of more drought tolerant species in order to quantify the drought intensity threshold, above which beech is replaced by drought tolerant species. It was shown that favourable topographic and soil conditions partially compensated the unsuitable climatic conditions for beech. The ecotone between these forest types was found to be characterized by shallow soils with an available soil water storage capacity of 73 l/m² or less, and an irradiation intensity of 6000 MJ/m 2 or more during the growing season. This indicates that under conditions of climate change beech would naturally still remain the dominant tree species on the majority of central European forest sites.

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A recent growth increase of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) at its Mediterranean distribution limit contradicts drought stress

Cited by 127 publications

References 40 publications

Functional Response Trait Analysis Improves Climate Sensitivity Estimation in Beech Forests at a Trailing Edge

Functional Response Trait Analysis Improves Climate Sensitivity Estimation in Beech Forests at a Trailing Edge

Impact of climate change on tree-ring growth of Scots pine, common beech and pedunculate oak in northeastern Germany

Floristic Change at the Drought Limit of European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) to Downy Oak (Quercus pubescens) Forest in the Temperate Climate of Central Europe

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