Growth dynamics, climate sensitivity and water use efficiency in pure vs. mixed pine and beech stands in Trentino (Italy)

Conte, Emanuele; Lombardi, Fabio; Battipaglia, Giovanna; Palombo, Caterina; Altieri, Simona; Porta, Nicola La; Marchetti, Marco; Tognetti, Roberto

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2017.12.011

Cited by 30 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 87 publications

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“…In light of this, admixture of European beech with Calabrian pine might, therefore, reduce competition or even increase facilitation processes in this Mediterranean mountain environment. Nevertheless, Conte et al [16] observed higher productivity in the pure than mixed-species stands of European beech and Scots pine, in Alpine environmental conditions. These discrepancies suggest caution in generalizing the positive effects on European beech productivity from growing admixed with pine species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Admixture of Calabrian pine and European beech might improve adaptation to rainy winters and dry summers of the Mediterranean climate, increasing both tree growth and wood quality, especially for European beech. Several studies showed that mixed-species forests might be more productive and resistant to disturbances, including drought, than corresponding pure stands [4,79], though contrasting evidence was also reported [14,16]. In particular, European beech populations from marginal ecological conditions were found more resistant to drought than those from the core of the distribution range [91][92][93], and their admixture with co-occurring drought-tolerant conifers might serve as benchmark for selecting resilient tree species combinations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mixed-species forests may show less temporal variation in growth and more stable productivity in comparison with pure stands, due to reduced tree species competition for resources [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. Nevertheless, contradictory mixed-species effects on tree growth have been found under conditions favouring drought stress or in dry years [14][15][16]. Gebauer et al [17] observed that stand-level canopy transpiration was not higher in mixed broad-leaved forests than in pure European beech stands and that the spatial complementarity in root water uptake of mixed-species stands could be masked by edaphic conditions preventing the vertical stratification of species-specific root systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tree Growth and Wood Quality in Pure Vs. Mixed-Species Stands of European Beech and Calabrian Pine in Mediterranean Mountain Forests

Russo

Marziliano

Macrì

et al. 2019

Forests

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Mixed-species forests may deliver more forest functions and services than monocultures, as being considered more resistant to disturbances than pure stands. However, information on wood quality in mixed-species vs. corresponding pure forests is poor. In this study, nine plots grouped into three triplets of pure and mixed-species stands of European beech and Calabrian pine (three dominated by European beech, three dominated by Calabrian pine, and three mixed-species plots) were analysed. We evaluated tree growth and wood quality through dendrochronological approaches and non-destructive technologies (acoustic detection), respectively, hypothesizing that the mixture might improve the fitness of each species and its wood quality. A linear mixed model was applied to test the effects of exogenous influences on the basal area index (BAI) and the dynamic modulus of elasticity (MOEd). The recruitment period (Rp) was studied to verify whether wood quality was independent from stem radial growth patterns. Results showed that the mixture effect influenced both wood quality and BAI. In the mixed-species plots, for each species, MOEd values were significantly higher than in the corresponding pure stands. The mixture effect aligned MOEd values, making wood quality uniform across the different diameter classes. In the mixed-species plots, a significant positive relationship between MOEd and Rp, but also significantly higher BAI values than in the pure plots, were found for European beech, but not for Calabrian pine. The results suggest the promotion of mixing of European beech and Calabrian pine in this harsh environment to potentially improve both tree growth and wood quality.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tree Growth and Wood Quality in Pure Vs. Mixed-Species Stands of European Beech and Calabrian Pine in Mediterranean Mountain Forests

Russo

Marziliano

Macrì

et al. 2019

Forests

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“…were selected (Conte et al 2018, Valor et al 2018. Early and late wood of each ring were separated in three individuals of J. virginiana and E. angustifolia with a scalpel under a stereomicroscope.…”

Section: Isotope Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Tree‐ring stable isotopes show different ecophysiological strategies in native and invasive woody species of a semiarid riparian ecosystem in the Great Plains of the United States

et al. 2019

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Persistent shifts in riparian vegetation associated with the invasion of introducedElaeagnus angustifolia and native nonriparian Juniperus virginiana have been reported in the U.S. Great Plains, with significant impacts on ecosystem services. In Nebraska, these species have been expanding into the native Populus deltoides riparian forests along the Republican River. Using dendrochronological data and stable isotope ratios, we examined the annual growth and acclimation strategies of these three species to climatic and streamflow variability. We hypothesized that the ability of invasive species to grow under a wide range of environmental conditions favour vegetation shifts at the expense of native species. Streamflow was the strongest predictor for performance. When accompanied with above-average annual precipitation, streamflow resulted in peak tree-ring widths in P. deltoides. J. virginiana showed less sensitivity, and E. angustifolia showed no response. δ 18 O values did not differ among species, which indicates that all species compete for the same water source. δ 13 C ratios and WUEi were higher in J. virginiana than in P. deltoides and E. angustifolia and increased in all species over time. E. angustifolia and P. deltoides exhibit a strong stomatal control and response to relative humidity relative to J. virginiana, which showed anisohydric stomatal behaviour. Our results show that once established, J. virginiana and E. angustifolia thrive in the understory of P. deltoides using different adaptive and acclimation strategies. Based on current water flow management, which prevents highflood pulses through the riparian zone, these species will continue to establish and spread throughout the Republican River watershed.

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“…For example, most natural/primary forest stands are mixtures of two or more tree species [17,18]. Mixed-species stands can increase stress resilience and productivity under disturbances and extreme events better than single tree-species forests [19,20] and can provide higher levels of many ecosystem services [21,22]. The main reason for this is niche complementarity, which can increase the utilization ratio of resources and reduce competition for resources [23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the Sensitivity of Subtropical Stand Aboveground Productivity to Local and Regional Climate Signals in South China

Zhang¹,

Luo²,

Zhou

et al. 2019

Forests

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Subtropical forest productivity is significantly affected by both natural disturbances (local and regional climate changes) and anthropogenic activities (harvesting and planting). Monthly measures of forest aboveground productivity from natural forests (primary and secondary forests) and plantations (mixed and single-species forests) were developed to explore the sensitivity of subtropical mountain productivity to the fluctuating characteristics of climate change in South China, spanning the 35-year period from 1981 to 2015. Statistical analysis showed that climate regulation differed across different forest types. The monthly average maximum temperature, precipitation, and streamflow were positively correlated with primary and mixed-forest aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) and its components: Wood productivity (WP) and canopy productivity (CP). However, the monthly average maximum temperature, precipitation, and streamflow were negatively correlated with secondary and single-species forest ANPP and its components. The number of dry days and minimum temperature were positively associated with secondary and single-species forest productivity, but inversely associated with primary and mixed forest productivity. The multivariate ENSO (EI Niño-Southern Oscillation) index (MEI), computed based on sea level pressure, surface temperature, surface air temperature, and cloudiness over the tropical Pacific Ocean, was significantly correlated with local monthly maximum and minimum temperatures (Tmax and Tmin), precipitation (PRE), streamflow (FLO), and the number of dry days (DD), as well as the monthly means of primary and mixed forest aboveground productivity. In particular, the mean maximum temperature increased by 2.5, 0.9, 6.5, and 0.9 °C, and the total forest aboveground productivity decreased by an average of 5.7%, 3.0%, 2.4%, and 7.8% in response to the increased extreme high temperatures and drought events during the 1986/1988, 1997/1998, 2006/2007, and 2009/2010 EI Niño periods, respectively. Subsequently, the total aboveground productivity values increased by an average of 1.1%, 3.0%, 0.3%, and 8.6% because of lagged effects after the wet La Niña periods. The main conclusions of this study demonstrated that the influence of local and regional climatic fluctuations on subtropical forest productivity significantly differed across different forests, and community position and plant diversity differences among different forest types may prevent the uniform response of subtropical mountain aboveground productivity to regional climate anomalies. Therefore, these findings may be useful for forecasting climate-induced variation in forest aboveground productivity as well as for selecting tree species for planting in reforestation practices.

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Growth dynamics, climate sensitivity and water use efficiency in pure vs. mixed pine and beech stands in Trentino (Italy)

Cited by 30 publications

References 87 publications

Tree Growth and Wood Quality in Pure Vs. Mixed-Species Stands of European Beech and Calabrian Pine in Mediterranean Mountain Forests

Tree Growth and Wood Quality in Pure Vs. Mixed-Species Stands of European Beech and Calabrian Pine in Mediterranean Mountain Forests

Tree‐ring stable isotopes show different ecophysiological strategies in native and invasive woody species of a semiarid riparian ecosystem in the Great Plains of the United States

Exploring the Sensitivity of Subtropical Stand Aboveground Productivity to Local and Regional Climate Signals in South China

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