Silver birch shows nonlinear responses to moisture availability and temperature in the eastern Baltic Sea region

Matisons, Roberts; Jansone, Diāna; Elferts, Didzis; Schneck, Volker; Kowalczyk, J.; Wojda, Tomasz; Jansons, Āris

doi:10.1016/j.dendro.2022.126003

Cited by 8 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 79 publications

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“…Climate change will also increase drought damage risk for birch throughout Sweden, especially in northern and central regions where higher temperature increases are projected. If summer drought becomes more severe in the south, this species may also suffer severely from water stress (Matisons et al., 2022; Oksanen, 2021). It is noteworthy that there were not larger differences between the three climate change scenarios for Norway spruce and birch (Figures 2 and 7).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Accordingly, Matisons et al. (2022) observed that a summer water shortage could heavily restrict birch growth in the hemi‐boreal zone.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We also occasionally Drought damage for birch was associated with mean annual temperature (Figure 6a), so severe growth reduction is more likely on sites with high evaporative demand during the vegetative period. Accordingly, Matisons et al (2022) observed that a summer water shortage could heavily restrict birch growth in the hemiboreal zone.…”

Section: Drought Damage Risk Predictors and Future Forecastingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Birch is the most common broadleaf tree genus in northern Europe and mostly occupies relatively wet soils. For this species, summer water shortage seems to be the main growth reduction driver while winter conditions have a secondary role (Matisons et al., 2022). Goude et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Current and future drought vulnerability for three dominant boreal tree species

Aldea,

Dahlgren,

Holmström

et al. 2023

Global Change Biology

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Climate change is projected to increase the frequency and severity of droughts, possibly causing sudden and elevated tree mortality. Better understanding and predictions of boreal forest responses to climate change are needed to efficiently adapt forest management. We used tree‐ring width chronologies from the Swedish National Forest Inventory, sampled between 2010 and 2018, and a random forest machine‐learning algorithm to identify the tree, stand, and site variables that determine drought damage risk, and to predict their future spatial–temporal evolution. The dataset consisted of 16,455 cores of Norway spruce, Scots pine, and birch trees from all over Sweden. The risk of drought damage was calculated as the probability of growth anomaly occurrence caused by past drought events during 1960–2010. We used the block cross‐validation method to compute model predictions for drought damage risk under current climate and climate predicted for 2040–2070 under the RCP.2.6, RCP.4.5, and RCP.8.5 emission scenarios. We found local climatic variables to be the most important predictors, although stand competition also affects drought damage risk. Norway spruce is currently the most susceptible species to drought in southern Sweden. This species currently faces high vulnerability in 28% of the country and future increases in spring temperatures would greatly increase this area to almost half of the total area of Sweden. Warmer annual temperatures will also increase the current forested area where birch suffers from drought, especially in northern and central Sweden. In contrast, for Scots pine, drought damage coincided with cold winter and early‐spring temperatures. Consequently, the current area with high drought damage risk would decrease in a future warmer climate for Scots pine. We suggest active selection of tree species, promoting the right species mixtures and thinning to reduce tree competition as promising strategies for adapting boreal forests to future droughts.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Accordingly, Matisons et al. (2022) observed that a summer water shortage could heavily restrict birch growth in the hemi‐boreal zone.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Drought Damage Risk Predictors and Future Forecastingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Current and future drought vulnerability for three dominant boreal tree species

Aldea,

Dahlgren,

Holmström

et al. 2023

Global Change Biology

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“…However, in many parts of Europe, they are sympatric and can naturally hybridize, generating plants with intermediate morphological traits [18]. Both species are sensitive to water shortage in summer and snow regime in winter [19][20][21][22], as well as vulnerable to low temperatures in spring [23]. Nonetheless, there are some differences in their ecological requirements as B. pubescens is more suitable for cooler climates and wetter soils, whereas B. pendula has been shown to be more tolerant to drought and warmer temperatures [24,25].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sensitivity of Eurasian Rear-Edge Birch Populations to Regional Climate and Local Hydrological Conditions

Andrés

Colangelo

Luelmo-Lautenschlaeger

et al. 2023

Forests

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South rear-edge populations of widely distributed temperate and boreal tree species such as birches (Betula pubescens and Betula pendula) are considered particularly vulnerable to climate warming, and at the same time, they constitute genetic reservoirs of drought-adapted ecotypes. Here, we compared radial growth patterns and responses to climate, river, or reservoir flows and a drought index of rear-edge (southernmost) populations (Toledo Mountains, central-southern Spain) with populations located in northern Spain of B. pubescens and B. pendula. Then, we performed a comparative analysis across Europe of B. pendula populations. The main climatic constraint of birch growth was a high summer water deficit, although the effect of local hydrological conditions was particularly important in rear-edge populations. We found declining growth trends in rear-edge stands dating from the early 21st century, related to decreasing water availability and increasing aridity. Our results also suggested distinct growth patterns and climate-growth associations of B. pendula across Europe that show how populations further south and in warmer locations were more sensitive to drought stress. Drought-induced growth decline can be exacerbated by local human land uses, leading to reduced river inflow, thus endangering birch populations at their southern distribution limit. Protection of threatened rear-edge birch populations requires adequate management of local water resources.

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