Influence of Warmer and Drier Environmental Conditions on Species-Specific Stem Circumference Dynamics and Water Status of Conifers in Submontane Zone of Central Slovakia

The frequency and intensity of droughts and heatwaves in Europe with notable impact on forest growth are expected to increase due to climate change. Coniferous stands planted outside the natural habitats of species belong to the most threatened forests. In this study, we assess stem circumference re...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water (Basel) 2020-10, Vol.12 (10), p.2945
Main Authors: Leštianska, Adriana, Fleischer, Peter, Merganičová, Katarína, Střelcová, Katarína
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Arboreta
Biological monitoring
Cell division
Circumferences
Climate change
Climatic changes
Conifers
Drought
Environmental conditions
Environmental factors
Environmental quality
Forest growth
Growth patterns
Humidity
Larix decidua
Periodic variations
Periodicity
Plant species
Precipitation
Radiation
Rainfall
Stems
Threatened species
Trees
Water deficit
Wavelet analysis
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Summary:The frequency and intensity of droughts and heatwaves in Europe with notable impact on forest growth are expected to increase due to climate change. Coniferous stands planted outside the natural habitats of species belong to the most threatened forests. In this study, we assess stem circumference response of coniferous species (Larix decidua and Abies alba) to environmental conditions during the years 2015–2019. The study was performed in Arboretum in Zvolen (ca. 300 m a.s.l., Central Slovakia) characterised by a warmer and drier climate when compared to their natural habitats (located above 900 m a.s.l.), where they originated from. Seasonal radial variation, tree water deficit (ΔW), and maximum daily shrinkage (MDS) were derived from the records obtained from band dendrometers installed on five mature trees per species. Monitored species exhibited remarkably different growth patterns under highly above normal temperatures and uneven precipitation distribution. The magnitudes of reversible circumference changes (ΔW, MDS) were species-specific and strongly correlated with environmental factors. The wavelet analysis identified species-specific vulnerability to drought indicated by pronounced diurnal stem variation periodicity in rainless periods. L. decidua exhibited more strained stem water status and higher sensitivity to environmental conditions than A. alba. Tree water deficit and maximum daily shrinkage were found appropriate characteristics to compare water status of different tree species.
ISSN:2073-4441
2073-4441
DOI:10.3390/w12102945