Changes in radial tree growth for Picea abies, Larix decidua, Pinus cembra and Pinus uncinata near the alpine timberline since 1750

Trees ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Rolland ◽  
Véronique Petitcolas ◽  
R. Michalet
Keyword(s):  
Picea Abies ◽  
Tree Growth ◽  
Larix Decidua ◽  
Pinus Cembra ◽  
Pinus Uncinata ◽  
Alpine Timberline

Growth responses of Picea abies and Larix decidua to elevation in subalpine areas of Tyrol, Austria

2003 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 653-662 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mai He Li ◽  
Jian Yang ◽  
Norbert Kräuchi
Keyword(s):  
Picea Abies ◽  
Tree Growth ◽  
Ground Surface ◽  
Tree Height ◽  
Larix Decidua ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
Local Climate ◽  
Subalpine Zone ◽  
Tree Canopies ◽  
Key Factor

Microsites related to microenvironmental conditions, including microclimate, seem to be a key factor for the restoration of forests in the subalpine area. Tree growth was studied in Picea abies (L.) Karst. (Norway spruce) and Larix decidua Mill. (European larch) on 30 plots located at different microsites (i.e., different elevations and micro top o graphies combined) within the subalpine zone (1680–1940 m) of the Schmirn Valley (Tyrol, Austria). The age of the trees studied was 27 years for larch and 28 years for spruce. The mean height and biomass growth decreased significantly with increasing elevation. The effect of elevation and microtopography on growth varied with tree size (age): (1) elevation had little effect on growth of trees less than 0.5 m in height; (2) both elevation and microtopography affected tree growth significantly when the tree height was between 0.5 and 3 m; (3) as trees exceed 3 m in height, tree canopies can fully cover the ground surface and create a forest microclimate causing growth to decline with increasing elevation, irrespective of microtopography. We conclude that the microclimate, associated with microsite, controls growth during the early stages of tree development, but following canopy closure, the local climate (mesoclimate) associated with topography begins to determine tree growth.

Studies on upper timberline: morphology and anatomy of Norway spruce (Picea abies) and stone pine (Pinus cembra) needles from various habitat conditions

1976 ◽  
Vol 54 (14) ◽  
pp. 1622-1632 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. N. Baig ◽  
W. Tranquillini
Keyword(s):  
Picea Abies ◽  
Habitat Conditions ◽  
Pinus Cembra ◽  
Valley Bottom ◽  
Cuticle Formation ◽  
Alpine Timberline ◽  
Upper Timberline ◽  
Wind Exposure ◽  
Cuticle Thickness

The importance of the anatomy of the needles of coniferous trees in determining alpine timberline was studied in the Austrian Alps. Samples of 1- and 2-year-old needles of Picea abies (L.) Karst. and Pinus cembra L. were made from wind-exposed and wind-protected timberline (2140 m above sea level (a.s.l.)), and from the kampfzone (2040 m a.s.l.), forestline (1940 m a.s.l.), and valley bottom (1000 m a.s.l.). The samples were measured for number of needles per centimetre twig, twig length, needle length, cuticle thickness, thickness of epidermis and hypodermis, and depth of stomatal crater. There is a decrease in cuticle thickness with increasing altitude and with increasing wind exposure at timberline, and this is correlated with increased transpiration. The role of inadequate cuticle formation in desiccation damage and mortality of the needles is a significant factor in the control of upper timberline.

Xylem sap chemistry: seasonal changes in timberline conifers Pinus cembra, Picea abies, and Larix decidua

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 157-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Losso ◽  
A. Nardini ◽  
B. Damon ◽  
S. Mayr
Keyword(s):  
Picea Abies ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Xylem Sap ◽  
Larix Decidua ◽  
Pinus Cembra

scholarly journals Time since death and decay rate constants of Norway spruce and European larch deadwood in subalpine forests determined using dendrochronology and radiocarbon dating

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1537-1552 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Petrillo ◽  
Paolo Cherubini ◽  
Giulia Fravolini ◽  
Marco Marchetti ◽  
Judith Ascher-Jenull ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Picea Abies ◽  
Decay Rate ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Matrix Model ◽  
Rate Constants ◽  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Larix Decidua ◽  
European Larch ◽  
14C Dating

Abstract. Due to the large size (e.g. sections of tree trunks) and highly heterogeneous spatial distribution of deadwood, the timescales involved in the coarse woody debris (CWD) decay of Picea abies (L.) Karst. and Larix decidua Mill. in Alpine forests are largely unknown. We investigated the CWD decay dynamics in an Alpine valley in Italy using the chronosequence approach and the five-decay class system that is based on a macromorphological assessment. For the decay classes 1–3, most of the dendrochronological samples were cross-dated to assess the time that had elapsed since tree death, but for decay classes 4 and 5 (poorly preserved tree rings) radiocarbon dating was used. In addition, density, cellulose, and lignin data were measured for the dated CWD. The decay rate constants for spruce and larch were estimated on the basis of the density loss using a single negative exponential model, a regression approach, and the stage-based matrix model. In the decay classes 1–3, the ages of the CWD were similar and varied between 1 and 54 years for spruce and 3 and 40 years for larch, with no significant differences between the classes; classes 1–3 are therefore not indicative of deadwood age. This seems to be due to a time lag between the death of a standing tree and its contact with the soil. We found distinct tree-species-specific differences in decay classes 4 and 5, with larch CWD reaching an average age of 210 years in class 5 and spruce only 77 years. The mean CWD rate constants were estimated to be in the range 0.018 to 0.022 y−1 for spruce and to about 0.012 y−1 for larch. Snapshot sampling (chronosequences) may overestimate the age and mean residence time of CWD. No sampling bias was, however, detectable using the stage-based matrix model. Cellulose and lignin time trends could be derived on the basis of the ages of the CWD. The half-lives for cellulose were 21 years for spruce and 50 years for larch. The half-life of lignin is considerably higher and may be more than 100 years in larch CWD. Consequently, the decay of Picea abies and Larix decidua is very low. Several uncertainties, however, remain: 14C dating of CWD from decay classes 4 and 5 and having a pre-bomb age is often difficult (large age range due to methodological constraints) and fall rates of both European larch and Norway spruce are missing.

EFFECT OF CHEMICAL TREATMENTS ON THE GERMINATION OF FOREST TREE SEEDS

1946 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. P. V. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Picea Abies ◽  
Copper Oxide ◽  
Picea Glauca ◽  
Pinus Resinosa ◽  
Forest Tree ◽  
Potassium Nitrate ◽  
Larix Decidua ◽  
Fraxinus Excelsior ◽  
Betula Papyrifera ◽  
Betula Lenta

Chemical treatments were tested, in comparison with stratification and presoaking, for their effects on germination of forest tree seeds.Significant increases in percentage germination were obtained from potassium nitrate in Betula lenta, B. papyrifera, Fraxinus excelsior, Picea Abies, P. glauca, P. rubens and Pinus resinosa; from thiourea in Larix decidua, Picea Abies, P. glauca and P. rubens; from ethylene chlorhydrin in Betula lenta, B. papyrifera, Fraxinus excelsior, Larix decidua and Pinus resinosa; from red copper oxide in Pinus resinosa; from zinc oxide in Betula papyrifera, Picea glauca, Pinus Banksiana and P. resinosa; from stratifiaction in Acer saccharum, Betula lenta, B. lutea, B. papyrifera, B. populifolia, Fraxinus excelsior, Larix decidua, Picea glauca, Pinus resinosa and P. Strobus; and from presoaking in Betula papyrifera, Larix decidua and Picea Abies.The rate of germination was accelerated by potassium nitrate in Betula papyrifera, Picea Abies, P. glauca, P. rubens and Pinus Strobus; by thiourea in Betula lenta, Larix decidua, Picea glauca and P. rubens; by ethylene chlorhydrin in Larix decidua; by red copper oxide in Betula papyrifera; by stratification in practically all species; and by presoaking in Larix decidua and Picea Abies.The rate of seedling growth was increased by zinc oxide in Larix, Picea, Pinus and Thuja, and by red copper oxide in Pinus.

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