Phenology and growth responses of Fraser fir ( Abies fraseri ) Christmas trees along an elevational gradient, southern Appalachian Mountains, USA

Cory, Scott T.; Wood, Lauren K.; Neufeld, Howard S.

doi:10.1016/j.agrformet.2017.05.003

Cited by 11 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…To date, there is growing evidence that warming is amplified at high altitudes (Pepin et al., ), that is, high‐elevation regions experience faster warming than low‐elevation areas. Short‐term altitudinal variation in spring phenology has been studied in several regions (Cory, Wood, & Neufeld, ; Guyon et al., ). Based on long‐term phenological records at 128 sites, Vitasse, Signarbieux, and Fu () reported that global warming has led to a more uniform spring phenology across elevations in the European Alps since 1960.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spring phenology at different altitudes is becoming more uniform under global warming in Europe

Chen

Huang

et al. 2018

Global Change Biology

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Under current global warming, high-elevation regions are expected to experience faster warming than low-elevation regions. However, due to the lack of studies based on long-term large-scale data, the relationship between tree spring phenology and the elevation-dependent warming is unclear. Using 652k records of leaf unfolding of five temperate tree species monitored during 1951-2013 in situ in Europe, we discovered a nonlinear trend in the altitudinal sensitivity (S , shifted days per 100 m in altitude) in spring phenology. A delayed leaf unfolding (2.7 ± 0.6 days per decade) was observed at high elevations possibly due to decreased spring forcing between 1951 and 1980. The delayed leaf unfolding at high-elevation regions was companied by a simultaneous advancing of leaf unfolding at low elevations. These divergent trends contributed to a significant increase in the S (0.36 ± 0.07 days 100/m per decade) during 1951-1980. Since 1980, the S started to decline with a rate of -0.32 ± 0.07 days 100/m per decade, possibly due to reduced chilling at low elevations and improved efficiency of spring forcing in advancing the leaf unfolding at high elevations, the latter being caused by increased chilling. Our results suggest that due to both different temperature changes at the different altitudes, and the different tree responses to these changes, the tree phenology has shifted at different rates leading to a more uniform phenology at different altitudes during recent decades.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Short-term altitudinal variation in spring phenology has been studied in several regions (Cory, Wood, & Neufeld, 2017;Guyon et al, 2011). Based on long-term phenological records at 128 sites, Vitasse, Signarbieux, and Fu (2018) reported that global warming has led to a more uniform spring phenology across elevations in the European Alps since 1960.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Spring phenology at different altitudes is becoming more uniform under global warming in Europe

Chen

Huang

et al. 2018

Global Change Biology

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“…The work presented by Beverly Law suggested that timber harvests were the largest source of mortality for mature trees, beyond fire and bark beetles events (Berner et al ., ), and suggested that managing forestry activities to maintain and enhance forest carbon stocks would require accelerated integration of data collection and ecosystem modeling at timescales relevant to management activities. Similarly, although at a much different scale, Scott Cory demonstrated that downscaling climate projections to the microclimate of the soil surface could be critical for evaluating the survival of tree seedlings at the life phase that represents the most critical filter to establishment, which could have real implications for the Christmas tree forestry economy of Appalachia (Cory et al ., ).…”

Section: Tools For People On the Landmentioning

confidence: 99%

Science at the frontier: multimethod research to evaluate ecosystem change across multiple scales

et al. 2018

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“…Natural stands of Fraser fir are only found at high elevation sites in the southern Appalachian Mountains, where temperatures are cool and cloud-immersion is common [2]. Fraser fir trees grown in Christmas tree plantations experience warmer and less humid conditions in the Appalachians, and more so in the Midwest [3]. Climate models predict increasing temperatures and decreasing summer precipitation for both regions [4], raising questions about how growth and phenology will change in response, in addition to the effects this will have on the production and sale of this commercially important species [3,5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The performance of our model under extreme heat and drought conditions suggests a role for this and other phenology models in predicting the effects of climate change on tree growth and development. Although developed in the Midwest, this model may be of interest to plantation and forest managers in the southern Appalachian Mountains, where the ability of Fraser fir to adapt to climate change is of economic and ecological import [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Robust Model Predicts Shoot Phenology of Fraser Fir under Extreme Conditions

Crain

Nzokou

O’Donnell

et al. 2018

Forests

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Fraser fir (Abies fraseri [Pursh] Poir.) is an important Christmas tree species in the United States, and understanding its phenology is important for managing Fraser fir trees in plantations or forests. Many management decisions are informed by and dependent on shoot phenology, from late spring frost protection to shearing, and from timing pesticide sprays to managing cone production. The ability to predict important phenological stages will become increasingly important as the climate warms, as is predicted for the primary regions where Fraser fir is grown for Christmas trees. Here, we report on the development of a model of shoot phenology in Fraser fir, and present one example of how this model may be applied to the problem of managing cone production. We surveyed shoot phenology at nine Christmas tree plantations in Michigan over three years, and used the data obtained to develop a phenology model of shoot growth. Derived from the beta sigmoid function and based on growing degree days, this phenology model offers a high predictive power and is robust to extremes of temperature and precipitation. When applied to cone production, our model provides guidance for timing practices that influence cone bud formation, both for reducing nuisance cones in Christmas tree plantations and for enhancing cone production in seed orchards. In addition, the model may assist with timing other practices tied to shoot phenology. The performance of our model under extreme heat and drought conditions suggests a role for this and other phenology models in predicting and mitigating the effects of climate change on tree growth and development.

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Phenology and growth responses of Fraser fir ( Abies fraseri ) Christmas trees along an elevational gradient, southern Appalachian Mountains, USA

Cited by 11 publications

References 43 publications

Spring phenology at different altitudes is becoming more uniform under global warming in Europe

Spring phenology at different altitudes is becoming more uniform under global warming in Europe

Science at the frontier: multimethod research to evaluate ecosystem change across multiple scales

Robust Model Predicts Shoot Phenology of Fraser Fir under Extreme Conditions

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