Radial stem growth of <i>Picea abies</i> in relation to spatial variation in soil moisture conditions

Alavi, Ghasem

doi:10.1080/02827589609382930

Cited by 19 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Correlation analyses and mixed modeling comparing climate and growth data allowed quantifying the relative contribution of short-(e.g., droughts) and longterm (e.g., rising temperatures) stressors on tree growth. However, the use of annual precipitation as an estimate of water availability is misleading (Alavi 1996), and this variable should be replaced by biologically meaningful drought indices taking into account local conditions such as the ability of soils to store water (Bigler et al 2006). A challenge of future mechanistic studies will be to disentangle the short-term effects of droughts, such as those observed in the study area during the 1990s and 2000s, and the long-term negative effects of increasing maximum temperatures on basal area increment, defoliation and tree vigor.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Most study sites were exposed to soil dryness, which was caused by a synergistic effect of low spring precipitation, low water holding capacity of coarse-textured and shallow soils, and warmer conditions. Stem growth is hampered on shallow and dry soils even in mesic localities (Alavi 1996). For all studied pine species, water availability in late spring and early summer during the year of tree-ring formation enhanced earlywood formation and tree-ring growth, since maximum cambial activity of the studied pines happens between April and June (Camarero et al 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Selective drought-induced decline of pine species in southeastern Spain

et al. 2012

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The negative impacts of severe drought on the growth and vigor of tree species and their relationship with forest decline have not been properly evaluated taking into account the differential responses to such stress of trees, sites and species. We evaluated these responses by quantifying the changes in radial growth of plantations of four pine species (Pinus sylvestris, Pinus nigra, Pinus pinaster, Pinus halepensis) which showed distinct decline and defoliation levels in southeastern Spain. We used dendrochronological methods, defoliation records, linear mixed models of basal area increment and dynamic factor analysis to quantify the responses of trees at the species and individual scales to site conditions and drought stress. In the region a temperature rise and a decrease in spring precipitation have led to drier conditions during the late twentieth century characterized by severe droughts in the 1990s and 2000s. As expected, the defoliation levels and the reductions in basal area increment were higher in those species more vulnerable to drought-induced xylem embolism (P. sylvestris) than in those more resistant (P. halepensis). Species adapted to xeric conditions but with high growth rates, such as P. pinaster, were also vulnerable to drought-induced decline. The reduction in basal area increment and the Climatic Change (2012) 113:767-785 defoliation events occurred after consecutive severe droughts. A decrease in spring precipitation, which is the main driver of radial growth, is the most plausible cause of recent forest decline. The sharp growth reduction and widespread defoliation of the most affected pine plantations of Scots pine make their future persistence in drought-prone sites unlikely under the forecasted warmer and drier conditions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Selective drought-induced decline of pine species in southeastern Spain

et al. 2012

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“…In these cases, the decline may be a natural process that involves environmental stresses such as water availability or exceptionally high or low Forest Ecology and Management 188 (2004) [25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38] temperatures. Especially extreme climatic events like drought are thought to be important in initiating changes in forest ecosystems (Innes, 1998(Innes, , 1992Oberhuber et al, 1998;Santamaria and Martin, 1998;Vacik and Lexer, 1998;Alavi, 1996;Webster et al, 1996). Environmental stresses such as drought are supposed to be a primary, predisposing mechanism of forest decline, making forest trees more vulnerable to decline damages such as fungal disease, or defoliating or wood-boring insects (Wellburn, 1994;Manion and Lachane, 1992;Freedman, 1989).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

A simulation study to analyse the relations between crown condition and drought in Switzerland

Zierl

2004

Forest Ecology and Management

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“…is one of the economically most important tree species in Central Europe. It has been shown for this species that seasonal drought leads to a marked reduction in stem growth (Blanck et al, 1995;Spiecker, 1995;Alavi, 1996). However, the number of studies focussing on the drought sensitivity of the fine root system of Norway spruce is much smaller and data on the response of the root system of Norway spruce or other temperate tree species to drought under precisely defined soil moisture conditions is not sufficient to draw firm conclusions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%