Phenology of common beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) along the altitudinal gradient in Slovakia (Inner Western Carpathians)

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The onset and course of selected vegetative phenological phases of beech along the altitudinal gradient in Slovak Republic were studied. Observations were done in the Burda Mts. (200-300 m a.s.l.), Kremnické vrchy Mts. (500 m a.s.l.) and in the Poľana Mts. (900-1,000 m a.s.l., 1,200-1,400 m a.s.l.). Selected spring phenological phases (budburst and leaf unfolding) as well as autumn phenological phases (autumn colouring and leaf fall) were investigated over the period of 5 years (2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011). The earliest onset of spring phenological phases during the period of study was found at the lowest-lying sites in the Burda Mts. By contrast, the latest one was observed at the uppermost site in the Poľana Mts. The dynamics of autumn phenological phases had the opposite course compared to spring phenophases. The earliest onset, observed in the uppermost locality in the Poľana Mts., was gradually delayed with decreasing altitude. The phenological gradient, expressing a shift in the onset of spring phenophases along the gradient, reached the mean values of 2.83-3.00 days per 100 m of an increase in altitude. In the case of autumn phenological phases the gradient ranged from -1.00 to -1.78 days per 100 m. On average, the growing season of beech lasted from 128 to 181 days along the altitudinal gradient. Significant correlations (P < 0.001) were calculated between the date of the onset of phenophases and altitude.

Impact of climatic conditions on the reproductive phenological phases of European hazel (Corylus avellana L.) in Slovakia

“…The phenological elevation gradient of nut ripeness reached 2.9 days per 100 elevation meters, which confirms that differences between the sites are considerably smaller than in the case of the spring phenological phase. Similar results were also presented by Schieber et al (2013), who showed that the site differences in average onsets of autumn vegetative phenophases of common beech were significantly lower (1-1.78 day/100 m) than those of spring phenophases.…”

Caterpillar biomass depends on temperature and precipitation, but does not affect bird reproduction

“…During the period of leaf development the average temperature at high altitude was lower in comparison to the low altitude site. Moreover, even within the small altitudinal range of 311 m in our study site, leaf unfolding in beech was affected by 1.6e4.8 days per 100 m of an increase in altitude (see also Cufar et al, 2012;Schieber et al, 2013;Vitasse et al, 2009).…”

“…Long-time studies investigating the timing of plants' leaf phenology (Schaber and Badeck, 2005) and insects' (Van Asch et al, 2013) or birds' reproduction (Both et al, 2004) found markedly shifts into earlier season; but not all species seem to shift their phenology to the same extent (see review of Visser and Both, 2005). Shifts in timing also appear according to temperature changes along altitudinal gradients in plants' leaf phenology (Schieber et al, 2013), insects' activity patterns (Ill an et al, 2012) and birds' breeding behavior (Martin et al, 2009). Thus, these shifts lead to later seasons in colder, higher altitudes.…”

“…If avian timing of reproduction was either too early or too late, hatching of nestlings did not coincide with the caterpillar peak and a low amount of caterpillar biomass during nestling period negatively affected nestling body mass (Buse et al, 1999;Henrich-Gebhard, 1990;Naef-Daenzer and Keller, 1999;Vatka et al, 2011;Visser et al, 2006). Development and survival of caterpillars is ruled by temperature (Buse et al, 1999;Schieber et al, 2013), but is also indirectly affected by the development of tree foliage which they feed on (Buse et al, 1999;Buse and Good, 1996). Developmental growth of caterpillars (e.g.…”

Ecological, Typological Properties and Photosynthetic Activity (FAPAR) of Common Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) Ecosystems in Croatia

“…There is a common trait that altitude has an impact on the duration of the vegetation period as can be corroborated in the regional phenology studies of the common beech [42,43]. The earliest onset of the spring phenological phases is observed in the lowest-lying sites and the latest onset in the uppermost sites.…”