Higher growth synchrony and climate change‐sensitivity in European beech and silver linden than in temperate oaks

• Published in: Journal of biogeography 2023-01, Vol.50 (1), p.209-222
• Main Authors: Kasper, Jan, Leuschner, Christoph, Walentowski, Helge, Weigel, Robert
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Beech; Climate change; climate warming; climate–growth relationship; Climatic data; dendrochronology; Drought; Fagus sylvatica; Global warming; Oak; Plant species; Population decline; Population growth; Quercus cerris; Quercus frainetto; Quercus petraea; radial growth; Romania; Sensitivity; Species; Species diffusion; Summer; Taxa; Tilia tomentosa; tree rings; Trends; Water availability
• ISSN: 0305-0270; 1365-2699
• DOI: 10.1111/jbi.14525

Aim Climatic changes affect the growth dynamics of temperate trees, but these effects might differ between co‐occurring ring‐ and diffuse‐porous species as well as between mesic and xeric rear‐edge populations. We explore whether recent climate warming has increased the climate sensitivity and within‐stand synchrony of growth in these groups differently. Location The natural beech–oak ecotone in Western Romania at the dry margin of beech occurrence. Taxa Three ring‐porous oak species (Quercus petraea, Q. frainetto and Q. cerris), and diffuse‐porous European beech (Fagus sylvatica) and silver linden (Tilia tomentosa). Methods We correlated tree‐ring records with monthly and seasonal climate data (period 1940–2017). Regional growth synchrony was assessed through the analysis of inter‐series correlation of growth within populations and among populations using mixed models. Results In all five species including two south‐east European oak taxa and silver linden, water availability in summer was the most important climatic determinant of radial growth. This factor has gained in importance since the onset of rapid warming after 1980, while the impact of other climate factors in spring and summer has decreased. Within‐population growth synchrony as a measure of overall climatic stress has increased, or remained stable, since 1980 in beech and silver linden, but has decreased in the oak species, matching declining growth trends in beech and linden and increasing (or stable) trends in the oaks. Main Conclusions The patterns of growth synchrony provide valuable information on tree species' drought susceptibility in efforts to select suitable tree species for climate change‐adapted forestry. The climate vulnerability of beech is higher than that of the more drought‐resistant oak species due to its marked summer‐drought sensitivity of growth. Zusammenfassung Ziel Klimatische Veränderungen wirken sich auf die Wachstumsdynamik von Bäumen der gemäßigten Breiten aus, doch könnten sich diese Auswirkungen zwischen gemeinsam vorkommenden ring‐ und diffusporigen Arten sowie zwischen mesischen und xerischen Populationen am Verbreitungsrand unterscheiden. Wir untersuchen, ob die rezente Klimaerwärmung die Klimaempfindlichkeit der Baumarten verändert und die Synchronisierung des Wachstums innerhalb von Populationen erhöht hat. Standort Das natürliche Buchen–Eichen Ökoton in West‐Rumänien an der Trockengrenze des Buchenvorkommens. Taxa Drei ringporige Eichenarten (Quercus petraea