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Singh N, Mittal A, Tewari A, Shah S, Malik S, Khan AA, Jaggi V. Exploring water relations and phenological traits of Betula utilis (D. Don) in western Himalayan treeline ecotone. Sci Rep 2024; 14:20853. [PMID: 39242651 PMCID: PMC11379951 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-66682-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Betula utilis exhibits intriguing characteristics and interactions with its environment and has specific adaptations that enable it to thrive in various water conditions. Drought has a prominent role in influencing the growth and development of vegetation, while temperature serves as a crucial determinant of species distribution in high-altitude environments. The investigation was centered on the eco-physiological dimension of B. utilis in areas near the treeline. Across different seasons, sites, and years, the most negative pre-dawn twig water potentials (ΨPD) and mid-day twig water potentials (ΨMD) were - 0.81 and - 1.24 MPa, respectively. The highest seasonal change (ΔΨ) in twig water potential (Ψtwig) was in the post-monsoon season. Osmotic potential at full turgor (Ψπ100) declined by - 0.66 MPa and osmotic potential at zero turgor (Ψπ0) declined by - 1.07 MPa. The highest leaf conductance (gw) of 380.26 mmol m-2 s-1 was measured in the afternoon. During the initiation of flowering, ΨPD of the twig was - 0.72 MPa and gradually rose to - 0.17 MPa by the end of the flowering period. This study provides key insight into the Ψ dynamics, leaf conductance, and phenology of B. utilis, highlighting its adaptation to changing environmental conditions and the need for effective management strategies to ensure the resilience and conservation of this Critically Endangered species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nandan Singh
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, Kumaun University, Nainital, Uttarakhand, 263001, India
| | - Amit Mittal
- School of Allied Sciences, Graphic Era Hill University, Bhimtal Campus, Nainital, Uttarakhand, 263126, India.
| | - Ashish Tewari
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, Kumaun University, Nainital, Uttarakhand, 263001, India
| | - Shruti Shah
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, Kumaun University, Nainital, Uttarakhand, 263001, India
| | - Sumira Malik
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Jharkhand, Ranchi, Jharkhand, 834001, India
- School of Applied and Life Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehra Dun, Uttarakhand, 248007, India
| | - Azmat Ali Khan
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Vandana Jaggi
- Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA
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2
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Peters RL, Steppe K, Pappas C, Zweifel R, Babst F, Dietrich L, von Arx G, Poyatos R, Fonti M, Fonti P, Grossiord C, Gharun M, Buchmann N, Steger DN, Kahmen A. Daytime stomatal regulation in mature temperate trees prioritizes stem rehydration at night. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023. [PMID: 37235688 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Trees remain sufficiently hydrated during drought by closing stomata and reducing canopy conductance (Gc ) in response to variations in atmospheric water demand and soil water availability. Thresholds that control the reduction of Gc are proposed to optimize hydraulic safety against carbon assimilation efficiency. However, the link between Gc and the ability of stem tissues to rehydrate at night remains unclear. We investigated whether species-specific Gc responses aim to prevent branch embolisms, or enable night-time stem rehydration, which is critical for turgor-dependent growth. For this, we used a unique combination of concurrent dendrometer, sap flow and leaf water potential measurements and collected branch-vulnerability curves of six common European tree species. Species-specific Gc reduction was weakly related to the water potentials at which 50% of branch xylem conductivity is lost (P50 ). Instead, we found a stronger relationship with stem rehydration. Species with a stronger Gc control were less effective at refilling stem-water storage as the soil dries, which appeared related to their xylem architecture. Our findings highlight the importance of stem rehydration for water-use regulation in mature trees, which likely relates to the maintenance of adequate stem turgor. We thus conclude that stem rehydration must complement the widely accepted safety-efficiency stomatal control paradigm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard L Peters
- Laboratory of Plant Ecology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Zürcherstrasse 111, CH-8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
- Forest is Life, TERRA Teaching and Research Centre, Gembloux Agro Bio-Tech, University of Liège, Passage des Déportés 2, 5030, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Kathy Steppe
- Laboratory of Plant Ecology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Christoforos Pappas
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Patras, Rio, Patras, 26504, Greece
| | - Roman Zweifel
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Zürcherstrasse 111, CH-8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Flurin Babst
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, East Lowell Street 1064, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
- Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, University of Arizona, East Lowell Street 1215, Tucson, AZ, 857121, USA
| | - Lars Dietrich
- Department of Environmental Sciences - Botany, University of Basel, Schönbeinstrasse 6, CH-4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Georg von Arx
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Zürcherstrasse 111, CH-8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
- Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Rafael Poyatos
- CREAF, E08193 Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Catalonia, Spain
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E08193 Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Catalonia, Spain
| | - Marina Fonti
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Zürcherstrasse 111, CH-8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Fonti
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Zürcherstrasse 111, CH-8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Charlotte Grossiord
- Plant Ecology Research Laboratory PERL, School for Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, EPFL, CH-1015, Lausanna, Switzerland
- Community Ecology Unit, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape WSL, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Mana Gharun
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, Universitatstrasse 2, CH-8092, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Geosciences, University of Münster, Heisenbergstrasse 2, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Nina Buchmann
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, Universitatstrasse 2, CH-8092, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - David N Steger
- Department of Environmental Sciences - Botany, University of Basel, Schönbeinstrasse 6, CH-4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ansgar Kahmen
- Department of Environmental Sciences - Botany, University of Basel, Schönbeinstrasse 6, CH-4056, Basel, Switzerland
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Oberleitner F, Hartmann H, Hasibeder R, Huang J, Losso A, Mayr S, Oberhuber W, Wieser G, Bahn M. Amplifying effects of recurrent drought on the dynamics of tree growth and water use in a subalpine forest. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2022; 45:2617-2635. [PMID: 35610775 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Despite recent advances in our understanding of drought impacts on tree functioning, we lack knowledge about the dynamic responses of mature trees to recurrent drought stress. At a subalpine forest site, we assessed the effects of three years of recurrent experimental summer drought on tree growth and water relations of Larix decidua Mill. and Picea abies (L. Karst.), two common European conifers representative for contrasting water-use strategies. We combined dendrometer and xylem sap flow measurements with analyses of xylem anatomy and non-structural carbohydrates and their carbon-isotope composition. Recurrent drought increased the effects of soil moisture limitation on growth and xylogenesis, and to a lesser extent on xylem sap flow. P. abies showed stronger growth responses to recurrent drought, reduced starch concentrations in branches and increased water-use efficiency when compared to L. decidua. Despite comparatively larger maximum tree water deficits than in P. abies, xylem formation of L. decidua was less affected by drought, suggesting a stronger capacity of rehydration or lower cambial turgor thresholds for growth. Our study shows that recurrent drought progressively increases impacts on mature trees of both species, which suggests that in a future climate increasing drought frequency could impose strong legacies on carbon and water dynamics of treeline species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Henrik Hartmann
- Department of Biogeochemical Processes, Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena, Germany
| | - Roland Hasibeder
- Department of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Jianbei Huang
- Department of Biogeochemical Processes, Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena, Germany
| | - Adriano Losso
- Department of Botany, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Stefan Mayr
- Department of Botany, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Walter Oberhuber
- Department of Botany, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Gerhard Wieser
- Department of Botany, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- Department of Alpine Timberline Ecophysiology, Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape (BFW), Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Michael Bahn
- Department of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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Sasani N, Pâques LE, Boulanger G, Singh AP, Gierlinger N, Rosner S, Brendel O. Physiological and anatomical responses to drought stress differ between two larch species and their hybrid. TREES (BERLIN, GERMANY : WEST) 2021; 35:1467-1484. [PMID: 34720435 PMCID: PMC8550302 DOI: 10.1007/s00468-021-02129-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE Hybrid saplings were more reactive to soil water deficit than Japanese and European larch. European larch had hydraulically safer wood and anisohydric behavior, Japanese and hybrid larch showed isohydric strategy. ABSTRACT Deciduous larch species could be an alternative to evergreen conifers in reforestation, but little is known about drought sensitivity of their saplings. The effect of an experimental drought on hydraulics and quantitative wood anatomy was tested on saplings of European larch (EL, Larix decidua), Japanese larch (JL, Larix kaempferi) and their hybrid (HL). Across species, biomass, transpiration rate and relative water content were higher in controls than in drought stressed trees, but transpiration efficiency was lower. JL had the highest transpiration efficiency under drought, and EL the lowest, coinciding with slower growth of EL. Wood of EL formed before drought was hydraulically safer as shown by higher wall/lumen ratio and lower pit cavity area. EL neither had a significant increase in transpiration efficiency nor a reduction in transpiration rate under drought, suggesting that the stomata remained open under soil water deficit. HL saplings were the most reactive to water shortage, indicated by intra-annual density fluctuations and a decrease in relative water content of the sapwood. Significant reduction in transpiration by HL suggested a higher stomatal sensitivity, while the same leaf surface area was maintained and radial growth was still similar to its best parent, the JL. The latter showed a significantly lower leaf surface area under drought than controls. EL, with its hydraulically safer wood, followed an anisohydric behavior, while JL and HL revealed an isohydric strategy. Altogether, our results suggest species dependent acclimations to drought stress, whereby HL followed the strategy of JL rather than that of EL. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00468-021-02129-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Sasani
- Institute of Biophysics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Guillaume Boulanger
- Université de Lorraine, AgroParisTech, INRAE, UMR Silva, 54000 Nancy, France
| | - Adya P. Singh
- Institute of Biophysics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Notburga Gierlinger
- Institute of Biophysics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sabine Rosner
- Institute of Botany, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Gregor Mendel Strasse 33, 1180 Vienna, Austria
| | - Oliver Brendel
- Université de Lorraine, AgroParisTech, INRAE, UMR Silva, 54000 Nancy, France
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5
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Peters RL, Steppe K, Cuny HE, De Pauw DJW, Frank DC, Schaub M, Rathgeber CBK, Cabon A, Fonti P. Turgor - a limiting factor for radial growth in mature conifers along an elevational gradient. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 229:213-229. [PMID: 32790914 DOI: 10.1111/nph.16872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
A valid representation of intra-annual wood formation processes in global vegetation models is vital for assessing climate change impacts on the forest carbon stock. Yet, wood formation is generally modelled with photosynthesis, despite mounting evidence that cambial activity is rather directly constrained by limiting environmental factors. Here, we apply a state-of-the-art turgor-driven growth model to simulate 4 yr of hourly stem radial increment from Picea abies (L.) Karst. and Larix decidua Mill. growing along an elevational gradient. For the first time, wood formation observations were used to validate weekly to annual stem radial increment simulations, while environmental measurements were used to assess the climatic constraints on turgor-driven growth. Model simulations matched the observed timing and dynamics of wood formation. Using the detailed model outputs, we identified a strict environmental regulation on stem growth (air temperature > 2°C and soil water potential > -0.6 MPa). Warmer and drier summers reduced the growth rate as a result of turgor limitation despite warmer temperatures being favourable for cambial activity. These findings suggest that turgor is a central driver of the forest carbon sink and should be considered in next-generation vegetation models, particularly in the context of global warming and increasing frequency of droughts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard L Peters
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Zürcherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf, CH-8903, Switzerland
- Department of Environmental Sciences - Botany, Basel University, Schönbeinstrasse 6, Basel, CH-4056, Switzerland
- Laboratory of Plant Ecology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, Ghent, B-9000, Belgium
| | - Kathy Steppe
- Laboratory of Plant Ecology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, Ghent, B-9000, Belgium
| | - Henri E Cuny
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Zürcherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf, CH-8903, Switzerland
- Institut National de l'Information Géographique et Forestière (IGN), 1 rue des blanches terres, Champigneulles, 54115, France
| | - Dirk J W De Pauw
- Laboratory of Plant Ecology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, Ghent, B-9000, Belgium
| | - David C Frank
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Zürcherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf, CH-8903, Switzerland
- Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, 1215 E. Lowell Street, Tucson, AZ, 8572, USA
| | - Marcus Schaub
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Zürcherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf, CH-8903, Switzerland
| | | | - Antoine Cabon
- Joint Research Unit CTFC - AGROTECNIO, Solsona, E-25280, Spain
- CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, E-08193, Spain
| | - Patrick Fonti
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Zürcherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf, CH-8903, Switzerland
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6
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Eckes-Shephard AH, Tiavlovsky E, Chen Y, Fonti P, Friend AD. Direct response of tree growth to soil water and its implications for terrestrial carbon cycle modelling. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:121-135. [PMID: 33065763 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Wood growth constitutes the main process for long-term atmospheric carbon sequestration in vegetation. However, our understanding of the process of wood growth and its response to environmental drivers is limited. Current dynamic global vegetation models (DGVMs) are mainly photosynthesis-driven and thus do not explicitly include a direct environmental effect on tree growth. However, physiological evidence suggests that, to realistically model vegetation carbon allocation under increased climatic stressors, it is crucial to treat growth responses independently from photosynthesis. A plausible growth response function suitable for global simulations in DGVMs has been lacking. Here, we present the first soil water-growth response function and parameter range for deciduous and evergreen conifers. The response curve was calibrated against European larch and Norway spruce in a dry temperate forest in the Swiss Alps. We present a new data-driven approach based on a combination of tree ring width (TRW) records, growing season length and simulated subdaily soil hydrology to parameterize ring width increment simulations. We found that a simple linear response function, with an intercept at zero moisture stress, used in growth simulations reproduced 62.3% and 59.4% of observed TRW variability for larch and spruce respectively and, importantly, the response function slope was much steeper than literature values for soil moisture effects on photosynthesis and stomatal conductance. Specifically, we found stem growth stops at soil moisture potentials of -0.47 MPa for larch and -0.66 MPa for spruce, whereas photosynthesis in trees continues down to -1.2 MPa or lower, depending on species and measurement method. These results are strong evidence that the response functions of source and sink processes are indeed very different in trees, and need to be considered separately to correctly assess vegetation responses to environmental change. The results provide a parameterization for the explicit representation of growth responses to soil water in vegetation models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yizhao Chen
- Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Patrick Fonti
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Andrew D Friend
- Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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7
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Peters RL, Miranda JC, Schönbeck L, Nievergelt D, Fonti MV, Saurer M, Stritih A, Fonti P, Wermelinger B, von Arx G, Lehmann MM. Tree physiological monitoring of the 2018 larch budmoth outbreak: preference for leaf recovery and carbon storage over stem wood formation in Larix decidua. TREE PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 40:1697-1711. [PMID: 32722795 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpaa087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2019] [Revised: 05/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Insect defoliation impacts forest productivity worldwide, highlighting the relevance of plant-insect interactions. The larch budmoth (Zeiraphera griseana Hübner) is one of the most extensively studied defoliators, where numerous tree ring-based analyses on its host (Larix decidua Mill.) have aided in identifying outbreak dynamics over the past millennia. Yet, outbreaks have been widely absent after the early 1980s, and little is known about the in situ tree physiological responses and the allocation of carbon resources during and after defoliation. In summer 2018, we tracked an ongoing larch budmoth outbreak in a well-studied larch forest in the Swiss Alps. We performed biweekly monitoring on an affected and unaffected site using a unique combination of xylogenesis observations, measurements of non-structural carbohydrates, isotopic analysis of needle assimilates and ground-based and remote-sensed leaf trait observations. The budmoth induced a defoliation that lasted 40 days and could be detected by satellite observations. Soluble sugars significantly decreased in needles and stem phloem of the defoliated trees, while starch levels remained stable in the stem and root xylem compared to the control. Carbon and oxygen isotope ratios in needle assimilates indicated that neither photosynthetic assimilation rates nor stomatal conductance was different between sites before, during and after the outbreak. Defoliated trees ceased cell wall thickening 17 days earlier than unaffected trees, showing the earliest halt of ring formation recorded from 2007 untill 2013 and causing significant thinner cell walls, particularly in the latewood. No significant differences were found for cell enlargement rates and ring width. Our study revealed that an outbreak causes a downregulation of cell wall thickening first, while no starch is mobilized or leaf physiology is adjusted to compensate for the reduced carbon source due to defoliation. Our observations suggest that affected larch trees prioritize leaf recovery and carbon storage over wood biomass development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard L Peters
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Zürcherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf CH-8903, Switzerland
- Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Laboratory of Plant Ecology, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, Ghent B-9000, Belgium
| | - Jose Carlos Miranda
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Zürcherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf CH-8903, Switzerland
- Forest Genetics and Ecophysiology Research Group, School of Forestry Engineering, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Leonie Schönbeck
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Zürcherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf CH-8903, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Nievergelt
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Zürcherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf CH-8903, Switzerland
| | - Marina V Fonti
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Zürcherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf CH-8903, Switzerland
- Institute of Ecology and Geography, Siberian Federal University, 79 Svobodny pr., Krasnoyarsk 660041, Russia
| | - Matthias Saurer
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Zürcherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf CH-8903, Switzerland
| | - Ana Stritih
- ETH Zurich, Institute for Landscape and Spatial Development, Planning of Landscape and Urban Systems (PLUS), Stefano-Franscini Platz 5, Zürich 8093, Switzerland
- WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Flüelastrasse 11, Davos Dorf 7260, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Fonti
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Zürcherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf CH-8903, Switzerland
| | - Beat Wermelinger
- Forest Health and Biotic Interactions, Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Zürcherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf CH-8903, Switzerland
| | - Georg von Arx
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Zürcherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf CH-8903, Switzerland
| | - Marco M Lehmann
- Forest Dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Zürcherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf CH-8903, Switzerland
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8
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Peters RL, Pappas C, Hurley AG, Poyatos R, Flo V, Zweifel R, Goossens W, Steppe K. Assimilate, process and analyse thermal dissipation sap flow data using the TREX
r
package. Methods Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Richard L. Peters
- Laboratory of Plant Ecology Department of Plants and Crops Faculty of Bioscience Engineering Ghent University Ghent Belgium
- Forest Dynamics Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) Birmensdorf Switzerland
| | - Christoforos Pappas
- Département de géographie Université de Montréal Montreal QC Canada
- Centre d’étude de la forêtUniversité du Québec à Montréal Montreal QC Canada
- Département Science et Technologie Téluq Université du Québec Montreal QC Canada
| | - Alexander G. Hurley
- GFZ German Research Centre for GeosciencesSection 4.3 Climate Dynamics and Landscape Evolution Potsdam Germany
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Birmingham Birmingham UK
| | - Rafael Poyatos
- CREAFE08193 Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès) Catalonia Spain
- Universitat Autònoma de BarcelonaE08193 Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès) Catalonia Spain
| | - Victor Flo
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Birmingham Birmingham UK
| | - Roman Zweifel
- Forest Dynamics Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) Birmensdorf Switzerland
| | - Willem Goossens
- Laboratory of Plant Ecology Department of Plants and Crops Faculty of Bioscience Engineering Ghent University Ghent Belgium
| | - Kathy Steppe
- Laboratory of Plant Ecology Department of Plants and Crops Faculty of Bioscience Engineering Ghent University Ghent Belgium
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9
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Scheidl C, Heiser M, Kamper S, Thaler T, Klebinder K, Nagl F, Lechner V, Markart G, Rammer W, Seidl R. The influence of climate change and canopy disturbances on landslide susceptibility in headwater catchments. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 742:140588. [PMID: 32629267 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Forests have an important regulating function on water runoff and the occurrence of shallow landslides. Their structure and composition directly influence the risk of hydrogeomorphic processes, like floods with high sediment transport or debris flows. Climate change is substantially altering forest ecosystems, and for Central Europe an increase in natural disturbances from wind and insect outbreaks is expected for the future. How such changes impact the regulating function of forest ecosystems remains unclear. By combining methods from forestry, hydrology and geotechnical engineering we investigated possible effects of changing climate and disturbance regimes on shallow landslides. We simulated forest landscapes in two headwater catchments in the Eastern Alps of Austria under four different future climate scenarios over 200 years. Our results indicate that climate-mediated changes in forest dynamics can substantially alter the protective function of forest ecosystems. Climate change generally increased landslide risk in our simulations. Only when future warming coincided with drying landslide risk decreased relative to historic conditions. In depth analyses showed that an important driver of future landslide risk was the simulated vegetation composition. Trajectories away from flat rooting Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) forests currently dominating the system towards an increasing proportion of tree species with heart and taproot systems, increased root cohesion and reduced the soil volume mobilized in landslides. Natural disturbances generally reduced landslide risk in our simulations, with the positive effect of accelerated tree species change and increasing root cohesion outweighing a potential negative effect of disturbances on the water cycle. We conclude that while the efficacy of green infrastructure such as protective forests could be substantially reduced by climate change, such systems also have a strong inherent ability to adapt to changing conditions. Forest management should foster this adaptive capacity to strengthen the protective function of forests also under changing environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Scheidl
- Institute of Mountain Risk Engineering (IAN), University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Peter-Jordan-Straße 82, 1190 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Micha Heiser
- Institute of Mountain Risk Engineering (IAN), University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Peter-Jordan-Straße 82, 1190 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Sebastian Kamper
- Institute of Mountain Risk Engineering (IAN), University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Peter-Jordan-Straße 82, 1190 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Thomas Thaler
- Institute of Mountain Risk Engineering (IAN), University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Peter-Jordan-Straße 82, 1190 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Klaus Klebinder
- Department of Natural Hazards, Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape, Rennweg 1, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Fabian Nagl
- Department of Natural Hazards, Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape, Rennweg 1, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Veronika Lechner
- Department of Natural Hazards, Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape, Rennweg 1, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Gerhard Markart
- Department of Natural Hazards, Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape, Rennweg 1, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Werner Rammer
- Ecosystem Dynamics and Forest Management, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2, 85354 Freising, Germany; Institute of Silviculture, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Peter-Jordan-Straße 82, 1190 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Rupert Seidl
- Ecosystem Dynamics and Forest Management, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2, 85354 Freising, Germany; Institute of Silviculture, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Peter-Jordan-Straße 82, 1190 Vienna, Austria.
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10
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Liu X, Biondi F. Transpiration drivers of high-elevation five-needle pines (Pinus longaeva and Pinus flexilis) in sky-island ecosystems of the North American Great Basin. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 739:139861. [PMID: 32544678 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 05/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the interaction between soil water supply and atmospheric evaporative demand for driving the seasonal pattern of transpiration in sky-island high-elevation forest ecosystems. Sap flow measurements were collected at 10-minute intervals for five consecutive years (2013-2017) on two co-occurring subalpine conifers, i.e. limber pine (Pinus flexilis) and bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva). Our study site is part of the Nevada Climate-ecohydrological Assessment Network (NevCAN), and is located at 3355 m a.s.l. within an undisturbed mixed-conifer stand. We found that seasonal changes in soil moisture regulated transpiration sensitivity to atmospheric conditions. Sap flow density was mainly limited by evaporative demands under non-water limiting conditions, but was influenced only by soil moisture when water availability decreased. Daily sap flow density increased with radiation and soil moisture in June and July when soil moisture was generally above 10%, but correlated only with soil moisture in August and September when soil drought occurred. Sap flow sensitivity to vapor pressure deficit and solar radiation was therefore reduced under decreasing soil moisture conditions. Transpiration peaked in mid-to-late June during both dry and wet years, with a lower peak in late summer during wet years. Normalized mean daily canopy conductance of both species declined with decreasing soil moisture (i.e., increasing soil drought). Severe soil drying (i.e., soil moisture <7% at 20 cm depth), which was rarely detected in wet summers (2013-2014) but occurred more frequently in dry summers (2015-2017), induced a minimum in crown conductance with unchanged low-level sap flow, which might potentially trigger hydraulic failure. The minimum sap flow level under severe soil drought was higher for limber pine than bristlecone pine, possibly because of wider tracheids in limber compared to bristlecone pine. Our findings provide insights into physiological mechanisms of drought-induced stress for iconic sky-island five-needle pines located at high elevation in xeric environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinsheng Liu
- College of Tourism and Geography, Jiujiang University, East Qianjin Road No. 551, Jiujiang 332005, China; DendroLab, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Franco Biondi
- DendroLab, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA.
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