scholarly journals Axial changes in wood functional traits have limited net effects on stem biomass increment in European beech (Fagus sylvatica)

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 498-510
Author(s):  
Richard L Peters ◽  
Georg von Arx ◽  
Daniel Nievergelt ◽  
Andreas Ibrom ◽  
Jonas Stillhard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fagus Sylvatica ◽  
Carbon Fixation ◽  
Carbon Allocation ◽  
Volume Growth ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Wood Formation ◽  
Tree Level ◽  
Mature Trees ◽  
Anatomical Basis

Abstract During the growing season, trees allocate photoassimilates to increase their aboveground woody biomass in the stem (ABIstem). This ‘carbon allocation’ to structural growth is a dynamic process influenced by internal and external (e.g., climatic) drivers. While radial variability in wood formation and its resulting structure have been intensively studied, their variability along tree stems and subsequent impacts on ABIstem remain poorly understood. We collected wood cores from mature trees within a fixed plot in a well-studied temperate Fagus sylvatica L. forest. For a subset of trees, we performed regular interval sampling along the stem to elucidate axial variability in ring width (RW) and wood density (ρ), and the resulting effects on tree- and plot-level ABIstem. Moreover, we measured wood anatomical traits to understand the anatomical basis of ρ and the coupling between changes in RW and ρ during drought. We found no significant axial variability in ρ because an increase in the vessel-to-fiber ratio with smaller RW compensated for vessel tapering towards the apex. By contrast, temporal variability in RW varied significantly along the stem axis, depending on the growing conditions. Drought caused a more severe growth decrease, and wetter summers caused a disproportionate growth increase at the stem base compared with the top. Discarding this axial variability resulted in a significant overestimation of tree-level ABIstem in wetter and cooler summers, but this bias was reduced to ~2% when scaling ABIstem to the plot level. These results suggest that F. sylvatica prioritizes structural carbon sinks close to the canopy when conditions are unfavorable. The different axial variability in RW and ρ thereby indicates some independence of the processes that drive volume growth and wood structure along the stem. This refines our knowledge of carbon allocation dynamics in temperate diffuse-porous species and contributes to reducing uncertainties in determining forest carbon fixation.

scholarly journals Drought Resistance of Norway Spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst) and European Beech (Fagus sylvatica [L.]) in Mixed vs. Monospecific Stands and on Dry vs. Wet Sites. From Evidence at the Tree Level to Relevance at the Stand Level

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 639
Author(s):  
Shah Rukh ◽  
Werner Poschenrieder ◽  
Michael Heym ◽  
Hans Pretzsch
Keyword(s):  
Stress Gradient ◽  
Volume Growth ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Tree Level ◽  
Mixed Stands ◽  
Ecological Gradient ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Growth Loss ◽  
The Individual

Frequency of drought years is expected to increase through climate warming. Mixed stands have often shown to be more productive than monospecific stands in terms of yield and of resistance against windthrows and bark beetle attacks. Mixture of beech and spruce is of particular interest. However, little is known about its growth reaction to drought. Therefore, we investigated the drought reaction of beech and spruce in mixed vs. monospecific stands along an ecological gradient. In particular, we sought evidence for mixture-related resilience on the individual tree level. Therefore, we quantified the response of tree ring width to drought. Moreover, we attempted to explain the relevance of individual tree response on the stand level by quantifying the stand level loss of volume growth after drought. At the individual tree level, beech was found to be more resilient and resistant in pure vs. mixed stands. Spruce, in contrast, was favored by mixture, and this was especially evident on drier sites. Along the gradient, growth losses at stand level increased in both mixed and pure stands in 2015, with growth gains on the drier sites observed in the same drought year, in accordance with the Stress Gradient Hypothesis. However, the stand level difference of growth loss between mixed and pure stands was not statistically significant. Mitigating mixture effects on the level of the individual tree thus did not become evident on the level of the whole stand.

scholarly journals Cross-dating tree-ring series of living European beech by isochronic weather records

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-58
Author(s):  
Denisa Sedmáková ◽  
Róbert Sedmák ◽  
Michal Bosel’a ◽  
Marek Ježík ◽  
Roman Sitko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tree Ring ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
Main Idea ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Combined Method ◽  
Good Ability ◽  
The Cross ◽  
Width Measurements ◽  
Cross Dating

Abstract The main objective of the study is to facilitate cross-dating of sensitive tree-ring series from living European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) trees in the absence of a regional chronology. The main idea lies in the preliminary dating of marker rings or ring patterns visually identified on the wood (before the ring-width measurements), which is independently validated through a moving correlation between a tentative reference chronology and instrumental climate records (after the ring-width measurements). Following the detection of low moving correlations, potentially misdated segments or series are re-examined and a new tentative reference chronology is constructed. The process is repeated as long as a higher correlation with climate is obtainable. The applicability of this method was investigated on three difficult-to-date sets of tree-ring series of beech trees which were growing at temperature- or precipitation-sensitive locations in under-canopy or canopy positions. A good ability of the combined method for the cross-dating was practiced on datasets almost impossible to cross-date by commonly used approaches. Highlighting the actual correlation of ring widths with climate in tree-ring series makes the cross-dating process more independent from human decisions, so the com-bined cross-dating has the potential to improve the reliability of various dendrochronological studies.

scholarly journals The Impact of Adverse Weather and Climate on the Width of European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) Tree Rings in Southeastern Europe

Atmosphere ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Stjepanović ◽  
Bratislav Matović ◽  
Dejan Stojanović ◽  
Branislava Lalić ◽  
Tom Levanič ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fagus Sylvatica ◽  
Tree Rings ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Deciduous Tree ◽  
Beech Forests ◽  
Adverse Weather ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica L ◽  
The Impact

European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is the most important deciduous tree species in Europe. According to different climate scenarios, there is a relatively high probability of a massive decline in and loss of beech forests in southern Europe and in the southern part of central Europe. Thus, the authors of this study explored the dynamics of tree diameter increments and the influence of extremely dry years on the width of tree rings. This study used dendroecological methods to analyze the growth and diameter increments of European beech trees at locations in Serbia and the Republic of Srpska. The sampling was conducted along the vertical distribution of beech forests, at five sites at the lower limit of the distribution, at five optimal sites of the distribution, and at five sites at the upper limit of the distribution. Long-term analyses indicate that dry conditions during a growing season can reduce tree-ring width, but a reduction in tree growth can be expected as a result of more than one season of unfavorable conditions. Low temperatures in autumn and winter and prolonged winters can strongly affect upcoming vegetation and reduce tree development even under normal thermal conditions during a growing season.

scholarly journals Influence of wood density in tree-ring based annual productivity assessments and its errors in Norway spruce

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 5871-5905 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Bouriaud ◽  
M. Teodosiu ◽  
A. V. Kirdyanov ◽  
C. Wirth
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Wood Density ◽  
Volume Growth ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
Tree Level ◽  
Allometric Model ◽  
Full Account ◽  
Biomass Increment ◽  
Annual Productivity ◽  
Annual Biomass

Abstract. Estimations of tree annual biomass increments are used by a variety of studies related to forest productivity or carbon fluxes. Biomass increment estimations can be easily obtained from diameter surveys or historical diameter reconstructions based on tree rings records. However, the biomass models rely on the assumption of a constant wood density. Converting volume increment into biomass also requires assumptions on the wood density. Wood density has been largely reported to vary both in time and between trees. In Norway spruce, wood density is known to increase with decreasing ring width. This could lead to underestimating the biomass or carbon deposition in bad years. The variations between trees of wood density has never been discussed but could also contribute to deviations. A modelling approach could attenuate these effects but will also generate errors. Here were developed a model of wood density variations in Norway spruce, and an allometric model of volume growth. We accounted for variations in wood density both between years and between trees, based on specific measurements. We compared the effects of neglecting each variation source on the estimations of annual biomass increment. We also assessed the errors of the biomass increment predictions at tree level, and of the annual productivity at plot level. Our results showed a partial compensation of the decrease in ring width in bad years by the increase in wood density. The underestimation of the biomass increment in those years reached 15%. The errors related to the use of an allometric model of volume growth were modest, around ±15%. The errors related to variations in wood density were much larger, the biggest component being the inter-tree variability. The errors in plot-level annual biomass productivity reached up to 40%, with a full account of all the error sources.

scholarly journals Influence of wood density in tree-ring-based annual productivity assessments and its errors in Norway spruce

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (20) ◽  
pp. 6205-6217 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Bouriaud ◽  
M. Teodosiu ◽  
A. V. Kirdyanov ◽  
C. Wirth
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Wood Density ◽  
Volume Growth ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
Tree Level ◽  
Allometric Model ◽  
Full Account ◽  
Biomass Increment ◽  
Annual Productivity ◽  
Annual Biomass

Abstract. Estimations of tree annual biomass increments are used by a variety of studies related to forest productivity or carbon fluxes. Biomass increment estimations can be easily obtained from diameter surveys or historical diameter reconstructions based on tree rings' records. However, the biomass models rely on the assumption that wood density is constant. Converting volume increment into biomass also requires assumptions about the wood density. Wood density has been largely reported to vary both in time and between trees. In Norway spruce, wood density is known to increase with decreasing ring width. This could lead to underestimating the biomass or carbon deposition in bad years. The variations between trees of wood density have never been discussed but could also contribute to deviations. A modelling approach could attenuate these effects but will also generate errors. Here a model of wood density variations in Norway spruce, and an allometric model of volume growth were developed. We accounted for variations in wood density both between years and between trees, based on specific measurements. We compared the effects of neglecting each variation source on the estimations of annual biomass increment. We also assessed the errors of the biomass increment predictions at tree level, and of the annual productivity at plot level. Our results showed a partial compensation of the decrease in ring width in bad years by the increase in wood density. The underestimation of the biomass increment in those years reached 15 %. The errors related to the use of an allometric model of volume growth were modest, around ±15 %. The errors related to variations in wood density were much larger, the biggest component being the inter-tree variability. The errors in plot-level annual biomass productivity reached up to 40 %, with a full account of all the error sources.

Timing of spring xylogenesis in temperate deciduous tree species relates to tree growth characteristics and previous autumn phenology

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorène Julia Marchand ◽  
Inge Dox ◽  
Jožica Gričar ◽  
Peter Prislan ◽  
Jan Van den Bulcke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tree Growth ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Wood Formation ◽  
Growth Characteristics ◽  
Tree Age ◽  
Deciduous Tree ◽  
Pedunculate Oak ◽  
Temperate Deciduous ◽  
Previous Autumn

Abstract We explored the timing of spring xylogenesis and its potential drivers in homogeneous mature forest stands in a temperate European region. Three species with contrasting leaf development dynamics and wood anatomy were studied: European beech, silver birch and pedunculate oak. Detailed phenological observations of xylogenesis and leaf phenology were performed from summer 2017 till spring 2018. Cambium reactivation (CR) occurred before the buds of oak and birch were swollen, whereas these two phenological phases were concurrent for beech. On the other hand, initial earlywood vessels were fully differentiated (FDIEV) after leaf unfolding for all three species. Timing of CR was correlated to average ring-width of the last 10 years (2017–2008), tree diameter, and, partially, with tree age. In addition, the timing of FDIEV was correlated to tree age and previous’ year autumn phenology i.e., timing of wood growth cessation and onset of leaf senescence. Multivariate models could explain up to 68% of the variability of CR and 55% of the variability of FDIEV. In addition to the “species” factor, the variability could be explained by ca. 30% by tree characteristics and previous’ years autumn phenology for both CR and FDIEV. These findings are important to better identify which factors (other than environment) can be driving the onset of the growing season and highlight the influence of tree growth characteristics and previous’ year phenology on spring wood phenology, wood formation and, potentially, forest production.

THE EFFECTS OF DROUGHT ON WOOD FORMATION IN FAGUS SYLVATICA DURING TWO CONTRASTING YEARS

IAWA Journal ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 332-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyriaki Giagli ◽  
Jožica Gričar ◽  
Hanuš Vavrčík ◽  
Ladislav Menšík ◽  
Vladimír Gryc
Keyword(s):  
Fagus Sylvatica ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Standardized Precipitation Index ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Wood Formation ◽  
Lower Sensitivity ◽  
Cambial Cell ◽  
Vessel Size ◽  
Local Weather

We studied the effect of local weather conditions on intra-annual wood formation dynamics and wood structure of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) from a temperate location in the Czech Republic in two consecutive years, 2010 and 2011, characterized by different amounts of precipitation. Microcores were taken at weekly intervals and transverse sections of cambial and xylem tissue were prepared for light microscopic observation. Air temperature and soil moisture content were measured daily at the research plot. Tree-ring formation patterns and vessel features showed different responses to climatic factors in the two years. In 2010, the onset of cambial cell production occurred almost 10 days later than in 2011, when a considerably reduced amount of rainfall was already observed in the winter and spring months, as shown in Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) values. Lack of precipitation in 2011 caused premature cessation of cambial cell division and markedly narrower annual xylem increments. Vessel density and water conductive area were higher in 2011 than in 2010. Average vessel size in general did not change. In response to local weather conditions, beech controls its hydraulic conductivity mainly by changing the number of vessels and tree growth rate, followed by vessel size. The lower sensitivity of vessel diameter to hydrological alterations confirms previous studies by other authors.

Contrasting carbon allocation responses of juvenile European beech (Fagus sylvatica) and Norway spruce (Picea abies) to competition and ozone

2015 ◽  
Vol 196 ◽  
pp. 534-543 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilma Ritter ◽  
Christoph Andreas Lehmeier ◽  
Jana Barbro Winkler ◽  
Rainer Matyssek ◽  
Thorsten Erhard Edgar Grams
Keyword(s):  
Picea Abies ◽  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica ◽  
Carbon Allocation ◽  
European Beech

Fine root exudation rate increases in drier soils, but tree level carbon exudation does not change under drought in mature Fagus sylvatica - Picea abies trees

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin D. Hafner ◽  
Melanie Brunn ◽  
Marie J. Zwetsloot ◽  
Kyohsuke Hikino ◽  
Karin Pritsch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Picea Abies ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Fine Root ◽  
Carbon Allocation ◽  
Root Exudation ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Tree Level ◽  
Root Abundance ◽  
Exudation Rate

<div><span>Drought is a severe natural risk that increases drying-rewetting frequencies of soils. Yet, it remains largely unknown how forest ecosystems respond to dry-wet cycles, hampering our ability to evaluate the overall sink and source functionality for this large carbon pool. Recent investigations suggest that the release of soluble carbon via root exudation increases under drought, influencing soil carbon stabilization and mineralization. However, an integration of root exudation into the carbon allocation dynamics of drought stressed trees is missing. We hypothesized that roots in dry soil layers have a higher exudation rate than roots in more moist layers across different soil depths. Further, we tested if higher exudation rates under drought are attenuated by reduced root abundance in dry soils and if the fraction of root exudation from total carbon allocation increases with decreasing photosynthesis rates under drought. At the KROOF experimental site in southern Germany, where mature beech (<em>Fagus sylvatica </em>L.) and spruce (<em>Picea abies </em>(L.) Karst.) trees were exposed to artificial drought stress for five consecutive growing seasons, we show that at the root level root exudation rate increases in drier soils. Especially roots in the upper soil profile and roots of spruce trees increased root exudation under drought. When scaled to whole tree level, we did not find differences in total exudation between drought stressed and control trees, indicating sustained root exudation at the tree level under drought. As photosynthesis rates and therefore total carbon assimilation was substantially reduced under drought (by 50 % in beech and almost 70 % in spruce), the fraction of root exudation from total assimilation slightly increased for drought stressed trees. Our results demonstrate that stimulation of root exudation rates with drought exists in natural temperate forest ecosystems but might be mitigated by reduced fine root abundance under drought. Nevertheless, increased exudation per root surface area will have localized impacts on rhizosphere microbial composition and activity especially in the topsoil exposed to more extreme dry-wet cycles. Finally, also the exudate composition can help to determine how priming of soil organic matter relates to belowground carbon allocation dynamics and to disclose processes of complementary species interaction and should be emphasised in future studies. </span></div>

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