Influence of tree density on climate-growth relationships in a Pinus pinaster Ait. forest in the northern mountains of Sardinia (Italy)

THE INFLUENCE OF COMPETITION IN THE GROWTH-CLIMATE RELATIONSHIP OF Pinus taeda: A CASE STUDY IN SOUTHERN BRAZIL

“…Furthermore, inter-tree competition for water can make trees growing under higher densities ( Figure 3b) more vulnerable to drought conditions than trees growing in lower densities (Figure 3a) (MAZZA et al, 2014). This may be associated to the net under-canopy precipitation, which is always found to be greater in an open stand than in a high-density stand, because of the greater interception by the tree canopy (MAZZA et al, 2011).…”

“…Oliveira et al (2010) also identified a relationship between high temperatures and water stress in southern Brazilian highlands for Araucaria angustifolia. A higher stomatal conductance in open growth stands (MORENO-GUTIÉRREZ et al, 2012), possibly influenced by the distinct structure of the crown (Table 1) (higher crown volume and light access of open growth trees), may also suggest a better performance of these stands, making them less susceptible to temperature increasing and changes in water availability.…”

“…Competition among trees for resources also affects the growth rate of woody species, due to limited access to water, light, and nutrients SMITH, 2009), and so does the growth-climate relationship (MAZZA et al, 2014). Trees in more competitive environments appear to respond to climate differently than trees in less competitive environments (MORENO-GUTIÉRRES et al, 2012).…”

“…Trees in more competitive environments appear to respond to climate differently than trees in less competitive environments (MORENO-GUTIÉRRES et al, 2012). Depending on stand structural attributes, a same type of forest community might exhibit different responses in the face of changing climatic conditions by increasing a tree's sensitivity to climate or modulating the adaptation capacity of forests to climatic stress (LINARES et al, 2010;MAZZA et al, 2014). These interactions between climate and competition are complex and their effects may vary by species, region, tree age, and tree size (JOHNSON et al, 2017), requiring further investigations.…”

Contrasting Response to Drought and Climate of Planted and Natural Pinus pinaster Aiton Forests in Southern Spain

“…Its great plasticity allows it a wide distribution over different climatic conditions, but it grows naturally in warm temperate climates with an oceanic influence [25]. Several research groups have analyzed how climatic, structural, and environmental variables affect the response of maritime pine to drought in its southernmost distribution [20,[26][27][28], as well as the differing responses of natural and planted stands [29]. Dendroecology has been effectively used in the study of the decline of P. pinaster forests [30] and to assess how defoliation affects tree radial growth [31].…”