Topography alters tree growth–climate relationships in a semi‐arid forested catchment

Adams, H.; Barnard, H. R.; Loomis, Alexander

doi:10.1890/es14-00296.1

Cited by 100 publications

(88 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…We did not assess conifer stemwood response to interannual climate variability. However, our findings generally concur with the conclusions of Bunn et al (), Anning et al (), and Adams et al (), who observed differential conifer response to temperature and precipitation dynamics based on site moisture conditions. Bunn et al () found that P. balfouriana growing in divergent and high radiation settings were more sensitive to interannual patterns of precipitation than those in convergent, low radiation settings.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…Further, Anning et al () found that conifers in mesic sites had substantially less significant correlations with climatic variables than those in intermediate and xeric sites. Similarly, Adams et al () observed variability of conifer response to interannual precipitation and temperature regimes when stems were positioned in low versus high TWI locations, suggesting that topography altered conifer growth response to climate. For example, P. ponderosa and P. contorta were less responsive to warm temperatures and P. ponderosa was less responsive to precipitation patterns when located in wet landscape positions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

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Hillslope Topography Mediates Spatial Patterns of Ecosystem Sensitivity to Climate

Hoylman

Jencso

et al. 2018

JGR Biogeosciences

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Understanding how hillslope topography modulates ecosystem dynamics across topoclimatic gradients is critical for predicting future climate change impacts on vegetation function. We examined the influence of hillslope topography on ecosystem productivity, structure, and photosynthetic activity across a range of water and energy availability using three independent methods in a forested watershed (Montana, USA): 308 tree cores; light detection and ranging quantification of stem density, basal area, foliar biomass, and total biomass; and the enhanced vegetation index (EVI; 1984–2012). Multiple linear regression analysis across three conifer species revealed significant increases in measured basal area increment growth rates (from 56 to 2,058 mm2/yr) with increasing values of the topographic wetness index and decreases in the climatic water deficit. At the watershed scale, we observed strong gradients in total biomass (e.g., 52 to 75 Mg/ha), which increased from ridgelines to convergent hollows. The most predominant topographic organization of forest biomass occurred along locations of climatically driven water limitations. Similarly, an analysis of growing season EVI indicated enhanced photosynthetic activity and a prolonged growing season in convergent hillslope positions. Collectively, these analyses confirm that within water‐limited landscapes, meter‐scale differences in topographic position can mediate the effects of the local energy balance and contribute to large differences in local hydrometeorological processes that are a necessary consideration for quantifying spatial patterns of ecosystem productivity. Further, they suggest that local topography and its topology with regional climate may become increasingly important for understanding spatial patterns of ecosystem productivity, mortality, and resilience as regional climates become more arid.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Hillslope Topography Mediates Spatial Patterns of Ecosystem Sensitivity to Climate

Hoylman

Jencso

et al. 2018

JGR Biogeosciences

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“…It is well known that due to their influence on water runoff and wind exposition, topographic factors such as slope and aspect can critically affect tree growth and forest productivity (Adams, Barnard, & Loomis, ; Fekedulegn, Hicks, & Colbert, ). To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating that topographic characteristics can also induce changes in complementarity effects, although a general trend across species and mixture types could not be identified.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiple factors modulate tree growth complementarity in Central European mixed forests

et al. 2017

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Mixed species forests can often be more productive and deliver higher levels of ecosystem services and functions than monocultures. However, complementarity effects for any given tree species are difficult to generalize because they can vary greatly along gradients of climatic conditions and resource availability. Identifying the conditions where species diversity can positively influence productivity is crucial. To date, few studies have examined how growth complementarity across species and mixture types is modulated by stand and environmental factors, and fewer have considered more than one or two factors. We investigated how complementarity effects for several major Central European tree species change with climatic and edaphic conditions, and with stand structural characteristics, including species composition. We used data from the Swiss National Forest Inventory, which is based on 3,231 plots of pure and mixed stands (19 mixture types) across a broad environmental gradient, to test (i) how mixing effects change depending on the identity of the admixed species and (ii) if complementarity consistently increases when environmental conditions become harsher. The magnitude, whether positive or negative, of complementarity increased with increasing stand density and stand developmental stage, but no general pattern could be identified across mixture types. Complementarity for many species increased as drought intensity and temperature increased, but not for all species and mixture types. While soil conditions, nitrogen and site topography influenced complementarity for many species, there was no general pattern (increases and decreases were observed). Synthesis. Our study indicates that complementarity varies strongly with stand density and stand development as well as with topographic, climatic and soil conditions. This emphasizes the need to account for site‐dependent conditions when exploring mixture effects in relation to forest productivity. We found that under certain conditions (i.e. increasing drought, higher temperature), mixed forests can promote individual tree growth in Central European temperate forests. However, careful assessments depending on the species composing the stands are required under changing resource availability as well as under different levels of stand density and development.

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“…Particularly, the topographic effects on water redistribution could enhance or inhibit hydrological and biogeochemical processes, creating biogeochemical hot-spots in the wettest locations (McClain et al 2003). Therefore, taking topography into account could both improve our understanding of hydrological and biogeochemical linkages and provide an explanation for emerging spatial patterns (e.g., Adams et al 2014). Moreover, topographic features and their spatial distribution are key to scale-up plot-based knowledge to the landscape level (e.g., Riveros-Iregui and McGlynn 2009, Vico and Porporato 2009, Riveros-Iregui et al 2011.…”

Section: Cross-scale Connectivitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamic interactions of ecohydrological and biogeochemical processes in water‐limited systems

et al. 2015

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Abstract. Water is the essential reactant, catalyst, or medium for many biogeochemical reactions, thus playing an important role in the activation and deactivation of biogeochemical processes. The coupling between hydrological and biogeochemical processes is particularly evident in water-limited arid and semiarid environments, but also in areas with strong seasonal precipitation patterns (e.g., Mediterranean) or in mesic systems during droughts. Moreover, this coupling is apparent at all levels in the ecosystems-from soil microbial cells to whole plants to landscapes. Identifying and quantifying the biogeochemical ''hot spots'' and ''hot moments'', the underlying hydrological drivers, and how disturbance-induced vegetation transitions affect the hydrological-biogeochemical interactions are challenging because of the inherent complexity of these interactions, thus requiring interdisciplinary approaches. At the same time, a holistic approach is essential to fully understand function and processes in water-limited ecosystems and to predict their responses to environmental change. This article examines some of the mechanisms responsible for microbial and vegetation responses to moisture inputs in water-limited ecosystems through a synthesis of existing literature. We begin with the initial observation of Birch effect in 1950s and examine our current understanding of the interactions among vegetation dynamics, hydrology, and biochemistry over the past 60 years. We also summarize the modeling advances in addressing these interactions. This paper focuses on three opportunities to advance coupled hydrological and biogeochemical research: (1) improved quantitative understanding of mechanisms linking hydrological and biogeochemical variations in drylands, (2) experimental and theoretical approaches that describe linkages between hydrology and biogeochemistry (particularly across scales), and (3) the use of these tools and insights to address critical dryland issues of societal relevance.

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Topography alters tree growth–climate relationships in a semi‐arid forested catchment

Cited by 100 publications

References 50 publications

Hillslope Topography Mediates Spatial Patterns of Ecosystem Sensitivity to Climate

Hillslope Topography Mediates Spatial Patterns of Ecosystem Sensitivity to Climate

Multiple factors modulate tree growth complementarity in Central European mixed forests

Dynamic interactions of ecohydrological and biogeochemical processes in water‐limited systems

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