Forest Ecology and Management最新文献

{"title":"Throwing fuel on the fire? Contrasting fine and coarse fuel responses to windthrow in temperate eucalypt forests in south-eastern Australia","authors":"T.A. Fairman,&nbsp;C. Symon,&nbsp;J. Cawson,&nbsp;T.D. Penman","doi":"10.1016/j.foreco.2024.122266","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foreco.2024.122266","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Windthrow is a disturbance in south-eastern Australian forests which significantly re-arranges forest and fuel structure by removing canopy trees. The implications for fuel dynamics and fire behaviour remains unquantified, making it a concern for fire managers. This study quantifies changes to forest and fuel structure caused by windthrow of varying severity, and uses this data to consider potential implications for fire behaviour. Thirty sites were established across dry eucalypt forests in south-eastern Australia ∼2 years after a severe windstorm resulted in extensive areas of windthrow. Ten sites were selected within each of unimpacted, low and high severity windthrow areas. Fine fuels were assessed using visual estimates of height, cover and percent dead across various fuel strata (surface; near-surface; elevated; bark) to develop fuel hazard scores using established protocols. Coarse fuels (fallen branches, logs) were assessed using a line-intercept survey. Fuel data were used to calculate expected fire behaviour (rate of spread, flame height, total heat output and residence time) across windthrow severity. The trends in both fine and coarse fuels were largely reflective of the forest structural changes induced by windthrow. Surface fuel (i.e. dead litter on the forest floor) decreased in depth and cover, while near-surface fuels increased in cover, height and proportion of dead with increasing windthrow severity. This reflects a reduction in litter inputs from reduced canopy cover, and an increase in the abundance of grasses and fallen canopy debris. Elevated fuels (i.e., shrubs) were unchanged across windthrown and unimpacted sites;bark fuel decreased with increasing windthrow severity, reflecting a reduction in standing basal area at severely impacted sites. Coarse fuel loads substantially increased with windthrow severity: high severity sites had ∼300 Mg/ha of coarse fuel loads compared to ∼20 Mg/ha at unimpacted sites. The changes in fine and coarse fuels resulted in a 1.2-fold increase in predicted flame height and a 17-fold increase in total heat output and residence time in high severity windthrow sites compared with unimpacted sites. Our research shows that windthrow produces complex and contrasting patterns in fine and coarse fuel loads, and the increase in near-surface and coarse fuels confers greater potential fire intensity via increased flame height, total heat output and residence time. Windthrow represents a conundrum for fire managers who are required to balance the reduction in fire risk while also retaining the important habitat resource fallen logs represent.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":12350,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecology and Management","volume":"572 ","pages":"Article 122266"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112724005784/pdfft?md5=744ffb943b89a9a0085ccb6705aa80aa&pid=1-s2.0-S0378112724005784-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142167893","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unraveling the chemistry of plant flammability: Exploring the role of volatile secondary metabolites beyond terpenes","authors":"Fabián Guerrero ,&nbsp;Lorena Espinoza ,&nbsp;Camilo Carmona ,&nbsp;Melisa Blackhall ,&nbsp;Carolina Quintero ,&nbsp;Korina Ocampo-Zuleta ,&nbsp;Susana Paula ,&nbsp;Javier Madrigal ,&nbsp;Mercedes Guijarro ,&nbsp;Yulian Carrasco ,&nbsp;Marcela A. Bustamante-Sánchez ,&nbsp;Alejandro Miranda ,&nbsp;Karen Yáñez ,&nbsp;Jan Bergmann ,&nbsp;Lautaro Taborga ,&nbsp;Mario Toledo","doi":"10.1016/j.foreco.2024.122269","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foreco.2024.122269","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Plant flammability research has proven pivotal in comprehending the contribution of vegetation to the flammability of forest ecosystems. Yet, the relationship between many leaf chemical traits and plant flammability is poorly understood. While terpenes and some leaf nutrients in plants have been extensively studied for their role in flammability, a wide array of other secondary metabolites remain unexplored in this context. Here, we present the volatile secondary metabolites composition of fresh leaves from nine dominant species from central Chile, both native and exotic, and determine whether there is variability within and among species in chemical composition and flammability. Moreover, we investigate how these compounds influence various leaf flammability traits. The Chilean Mediterranean ecosystem emerges as a useful study site given its unique endemic flora, increased frequency of forest fires, proliferation of invasive plants and extensive land conversion that favors the spread of fire-prone exotic species, and significant scarcity of phytochemical research dedicated to this ecosystem. A total of 118 volatile chemical compounds were quantified, belonging to over ten groups of volatile secondary metabolites. Terpenes, ketones, and hydrocarbons comprised 75 % of these compounds, and each species displayed a unique phytochemical profile. Surprisingly, some native species (<em>Citronella mucronata</em>, <em>Cryptocarya alba</em>) exhibited equivalent or higher leaf flammability than the well-known flammable exotics <em>Eucalyptus globulus</em> and <em>Pinus radiata</em>, respectively. Leaf flammability was best explained by the concentration of aldehydes, ketones, green leaf volatiles, and aromatic compounds. Interestingly, terpenes as well as moisture content were not significantly correlated with flammability. In conclusion, our results highlight the importance of considering a broader range of phytochemicals, beyond terpenes, to fully understand leaf flammability among species. Consequently, a deeper understanding -within and across ecosystems- of the influence exerted by diverse groups of phytochemicals on flammability is an urgent need for forest management planning in an increasingly flammable world.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":12350,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecology and Management","volume":"572 ","pages":"Article 122269"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142167895","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rethinking lightning-induced fires: Spatial variability and implications for management policies","authors":"Mehmet Göktuğ Öztürk ,&nbsp;İsmail Bekar ,&nbsp;Çağatay Tavşanoğlu","doi":"10.1016/j.foreco.2024.122262","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foreco.2024.122262","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Lightning is the primary natural ignition source for wildfires. However, in certain ecosystems, anthropogenic fires predominate and account for the majority of fire incidents. In many countries, the prevailing perception holds that wildfires are overwhelmingly human-caused. While statistically accurate when pooling data from across the country, this perspective leads to a misconception that wildfires are not a natural component of ecosystems. This generalization requires a critical examination of regional variability in lightning-induced wildfires (LIWs). As a case study, we examined the spatial distribution of LIWs in Türkiye using national wildfire data between 2002 and 2022. We considered three main wildfire causes: human-caused, lightning-induced, and unknown-origin. We investigated the distribution of fire occurrences and burned areas to demonstrate the spatial variability of LIWs and human-caused fires (HCFs) across Türkiye at the regional and local forest management unit levels. We found considerable regional and local disparities in the incidence of LIWs across Türkiye. We also observed a higher incidence of LIWs in areas with higher lightning densities, especially in the mountainous regions of western and northern Anatolia, including southwestern and northwestern Anatolia. In certain years, the proportion of LIWs exceeds 45 % in some regional units and 75 % in many local units. However, LIWs burned significantly smaller areas than HCFs. The most populated regions primarily experienced HCFs, while in several other regions, including less-populated or forest-rich ones, lightning was a major source of wildfires. Seasonal trends also emerged, showing an increased prevalence of LIWs, with a peak during the fire season and a relatively higher percentage during seasonal transitions. Despite the increasing human activity, LIWs have remained a significant cause of wildfires in several regions in the country. Our results on the significant spatial variability in LIWs challenge the traditional belief that human activities are the primary ignition sources for wildfires across Türkiye and downplay lightning as an ignition source. Our findings suggest that a one-size-fits-all fire management strategy which has led to wildfire suppression policies for the past century is suboptimal for countries where lightning is a significant source of wildfires. Therefore, an ecologically sound and economically efficient wildfire management policy must account for regional variability in the causes of wildfires. Accordingly, we recommend a reassessment of blanket fire suppression strategy in several countries such as Türkiye, advocating for more selective suppression practices that consider the role of naturally occurring wildfires.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":12350,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecology and Management","volume":"572 ","pages":"Article 122262"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142162375","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Land tenure and human disturbance influence the current distribution of aboveground biomass in Sri Lankan rainforest fragments","authors":"David J. Woodbury ,&nbsp;Harsha Jayawickrama ,&nbsp;Meredith P. Martin ,&nbsp;Sisira Ediriweera ,&nbsp;Mark S. Ashton","doi":"10.1016/j.foreco.2024.122285","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foreco.2024.122285","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study examines the landscape distribution of aboveground biomass (AGB) in fragmented tropical rainforests in Sri Lanka. While most attribute AGB losses from fragmentation to abiotic edge effects (e.g., desiccation and wind), land tenure and human disturbance also play a significant role. In South Asia, forest fragments are essential food, medicine, and wood sources for large rural populations. Despite this, few studies have addressed AGB dynamics in smallholder landscapes with a long land clearance and cultivation history. This study explored three objectives: (a) assessing the accuracy of a common allometric height-diameter model, (b) comparing AGB stocks in forest fragments to primary forests, and (c) examining the influence of land tenure, abiotic edge effects, and human disturbance on AGB distribution. We estimated AGB using field-based measurements in 18 forest fragments and two primary forest sites and employed mixed effects models to explore the landscape distribution of AGB. The allometric height-diameter model overestimated fragment tree heights compared to measured heights, leading to an overestimation of AGB by 25 %. AGB stocks were significantly lower in fragmented forests (259.9 Mg ha⁻¹) than in primary forests (434.5 Mg ha⁻¹), and there was no significant correlation between plot AGB and variables associated with abiotic edge effects (i.e., distance-to-edge, fragment size, isolation). However, AGB positively correlated with factors related to decreased accessibility and local land ownership. These findings suggest that land tenure and human disturbance strongly influence the current AGB distribution in Sri Lankan rainforest fragments, emphasizing the need to understand human impacts for effective conservation and management.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":12350,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecology and Management","volume":"572 ","pages":"Article 122285"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142162376","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Modeling post-fire mortality of Turkish pine (Pinus brutia Ten.)","authors":"Coşkun Okan Güney ,&nbsp;Aylin Güney ,&nbsp;Abdullah Sarı ,&nbsp;Ali Kavgacı ,&nbsp;Kevin C. Ryan ,&nbsp;Sharon M. Hood","doi":"10.1016/j.foreco.2024.122265","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foreco.2024.122265","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Turkish pine (<em>Pinus brutia</em>) is a widely distributed species in fire-prone regions of the eastern Mediterranean, where it is of economic and ecological importance. After wildfires, damaged trees are usually salvage logged out of concern that fire-injured individuals will eventually die. While fire is a major cause of Turkish pine mortality, the species has traits, such as thick bark, that should confer some resistance to low-intensity fire. The aim of this study is to develop post-fire tree mortality models for Turkish pine to support post-fire management decisions. We selected 510 Turkish pine trees from four wildfires that occurred in the Mediterranean region of Türkiye in 2018 and 2019. Only fire-damaged trees that had initially survived the fires were selected. We measured tree diameter, height, and bark thickness and fire-caused injuries (crown volume scorched, bark char height, bark char index, cambium kill rating, and ground char index) within two months after fire. Stem-related variables were measured at three different heights (0, 50, and 130 cm). We then quantified delayed mortality for two years after each fire and developed mixed effects logistic regression models to predict probability of mortality. Most Turkish pines (84 %) survived, with the majority of mortality occurring during the first year post-fire. Crown volume scorched and stem damage variables were the most important predictors of mortality. Models were selected based on their explanatory power and practical use in the field. Among these, the most explanatory model includes crown volume scorched and bark char index measured at 0 cm stem height. The suggested model for use in forestry includes crown volume scorched and diameter at breast height. Some trees were able to survive and flush new foliage during the first season after fire despite 100 % crown scorch due to low bud kill. Our results show that Turkish pine can survive fire when stem injury is low. The mortality models can assist managers in making more evidence-based decisions for post-fire management and developing more ecologically sustainable post-fire management operations.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":12350,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecology and Management","volume":"572 ","pages":"Article 122265"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142162374","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Local controls modify the effects of timber harvesting on surface soil carbon and nitrogen in a temperate hardwood forest","authors":"Elisabeth B. Ward ,&nbsp;Mark S. Ashton ,&nbsp;Jessica L. Wikle ,&nbsp;Marlyse Duguid ,&nbsp;Mark A. Bradford","doi":"10.1016/j.foreco.2024.122268","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foreco.2024.122268","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Managing for structural complexity to enhance forest health and resiliency is increasingly incorporated in silvicultural treatments. High spatial variability in stands managed for structural complexity could obscure forest management effects on surface soils. Yet few studies have assessed how within-stand variation in forest structure and other local controls influence the effects of timber harvesting on surface soil organic matter dynamics over time. We used a stratified random sampling design to capture variation in stand age, legacy structure, soil type, and topography in a second-growth, oak-hardwood forest in the northeastern U.S. We compared surface soil carbon and nitrogen content and availability in 15 harvested stands managed to promote tree regeneration (<em>n</em> = 144 plots) and five unharvested controls (<em>n</em> = 48 plots). We also examined changes over time since harvest in just the harvested stands using a 25-year chronosequence. Timber harvesting strongly influenced surface soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics. The harvested stands had lower soil carbon and nitrogen, microbial biomass, and carbon mineralization but higher nitrogen mineralization. These differences were more pronounced in the drier soil type with higher organic matter content than in the more moist soil type. Across the 25-year chronosequence, elevation, soil type, and downed woody material density dictated the direction of changes in surface soil carbon and nitrogen over time. Soil carbon and nitrogen accrued over time at drier, higher elevation (∼300 m) sites and was positively associated with higher densities of fine woody material but declined at lower elevations (∼180 m). Proximity to legacy trees was associated with higher soil carbon and nitrogen concentrations and availability. Our findings underscore the importance of silvicultural practices that retain structural legacies in shaping surface soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics over time. Our results also highlight how accounting for spatial variation in local controls on soil carbon and nitrogen, such as topography, can improve detection of changes from forest management practices that increase spatial heterogeneity within stands, such as irregular shelterwood and seed tree regeneration methods.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":12350,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecology and Management","volume":"572 ","pages":"Article 122268"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142162373","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Influence of habitat edges on spatial and spatio-temporal occurrence patterns of mesocarnivores in landscapes dominated by Eucalyptus plantations","authors":"Rita Pereira ,&nbsp;Gonçalo Matias ,&nbsp;Margarida Santos-Reis,&nbsp;Luís Miguel Rosalino","doi":"10.1016/j.foreco.2024.122257","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foreco.2024.122257","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Human population growth leads to drastic changes in landscape structure that often result in fragmentation. Fragmentation modifies the landscape and divides it into smaller habitat patches, creating habitat edges. These can affect the distribution and abundance of species and influence interspecific interactions. By comparing edges with habitat interiors, we intend to study how or if habitat edges influence mesocarnivores’: i) activity patterns, ii) co-occurrence in time, and iii) occupancy. We used camera-trapping to monitor the mesocarnivore community in two <em>Eucalyptus</em> plantations interspersed with patches of natural habitats, producing a landscape rich in habitat edges. 18 camera traps were placed in each study site, half on habitat edges and half in the interior habitat. We found a higher overlap of the mesocarnivores activity patterns in interior habitat than in habitat edges and a consistent positive effect for edge density on occupancy at both species and community-level. This study demonstrates that habitat edges shape mesocarnivores’ spatial and temporal behaviour. While spatially all species are positively affected by edges, as these can provide alternative or higher availability of resources, or act as travel corridors, to minimize interspecific interactions in edges, species activity overlap is greater within interior habitats than in edge habitats. Our findings support the design of better management measures in human-altered ecosystems, such as agricultural areas and forestry plantations, to guarantee the conservation of biodiversity while maintaining economic profitability.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":12350,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecology and Management","volume":"572 ","pages":"Article 122257"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112724005693/pdfft?md5=e168a5eeb8c99f9d51cb005eaca164da&pid=1-s2.0-S0378112724005693-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142151141","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Responses to drought of two Mediterranean ring-porous, deciduous species: Searching for climate smart trees and shrubs","authors":"J. Julio Camarero ,&nbsp;Michele Colangelo ,&nbsp;Antonio Gazol ,&nbsp;Cristina Valeriano ,&nbsp;Miguel Angel Ortega ,&nbsp;Fernando Silla","doi":"10.1016/j.foreco.2024.122282","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foreco.2024.122282","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Drought-tolerant tree species with high growth rates and a good capacity for carbon storage in woody tissues (dense wood) are searched for due to aridification. Deciduous, ring-porous tree and shrub species could show such drought tolerance and growth traits, thus representing good candidates for climate-smart rewilding. However, we still do not know the long-term growth rates of these species and how they respond to drought, particularly in climate change hotspots such as the Mediterranean Basin. We analysed these issues at the site and individual levels in two ring-porous, deciduous species (<em>Pistacia terebinthus</em>, <em>Celtis australis</em>) using dendroecology and wood anatomy. The ring width, earlywood vessel diameter, vessel density (VD) and area (%) were measured in two focal sites, one per species, and then growth data were compared with two secondary sites to test if site-to-site synchrony changed through time. Ring-width indices (RWI) and the hydraulic diameter (<em>Dh</em>) of earlywood were calculated. Growth rates (ring width), <em>Dh</em> and vessel area were higher in <em>C. australis</em> (1.03−2.26 mm, 269 μm, 33.9 %) than in <em>P. terebinthus</em> (0.57−0.72 mm, 146 μm, 21.5 %). Consequently, VD was higher in <em>P. terebinthus</em> than in <em>C. australis</em> (104 vs. 61 vessels mm⁻²). The ring width and <em>Dh</em> were more coupled in <em>P. terebinthus</em> (<em>r</em> = 0.43) than in <em>C. australis</em> (<em>r</em> = 0.32). RWI series of the focal and secondary sites have been synchronized since the 1990s as temperatures rose. Precipitation during the growing season (May, June) enhanced growth and VD of both species. <em>P. terebinthus</em> was more responsive to a drought index than <em>C. australis</em>. The two study species show high growth rates and tolerate drought being thus suitable candidates for climate-smart rewilding.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":12350,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecology and Management","volume":"572 ","pages":"Article 122282"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112724005942/pdfft?md5=dbc5d76c6b6759f2a98a6a73c4449b7f&pid=1-s2.0-S0378112724005942-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142151142","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Climate vulnerability of Nothofagus pumilio, Nothofagus dombeyi and Austrocedrus chilensis in northern Patagonia’s temperate forests","authors":"Ernesto J. Reiter ,&nbsp;Robert Weigel ,&nbsp;Helge Walentowski ,&nbsp;Gabriel A. Loguercio ,&nbsp;Jonas Fierke ,&nbsp;Ariel F. Neri Winter ,&nbsp;Alois Simon ,&nbsp;Martyna M. Kotowska ,&nbsp;Natalia Z. Joelson ,&nbsp;Marina Caselli ,&nbsp;Christoph Leuschner","doi":"10.1016/j.foreco.2024.122261","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foreco.2024.122261","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Rapid climate change is exposing forests worldwide to increasing stress. In the temperate forests of northern Patagonia (Argentina), increased tree mortality and stand-level dieback have been reported in recent time. However, a comprehensive understanding of how climate change is affecting native trees´ growth across this complex mountainous landscape is still lacking. With a dendrochronological analysis of three widespread tree species (the conifer <em>Austrocedrus chilensis</em>, the evergreen broadleaf <em>Nothofagus dombeyi</em> and the deciduous broadleaf <em>Nothofagus pumilio</em>) in 24 stands across a steep precipitation gradient (1900–700 mm year⁻¹ over &lt;80 km) in the eastern Andes, we explore how recent climate trends are affecting the climate sensitivity of tree growth, basal area increment (BAI), growth synchrony and interannual growth variability. In the colline–lower montane belts (500–1100 m a.s.l.), the growth of <em>A. chilensis</em> and <em>N. dombeyi</em> is primarily constrained by high temperatures and low precipitation in late spring/early summer across the whole gradient. Towards higher elevations, growth limitation of <em>N. pumilio</em> has been shifting from cold- to drought- (and heat-) limited during the last four decades. BAI has generally declined in all <em>A. chilensis</em> stands since the late 1970s, partly due to increasing competition in juvenile stands. However, growth synchrony and interannual variability have increased consistently in both juvenile and mature stands since 1980. The BAI of <em>N. dombeyi</em> has recently diverged across sites, with stable or positive trends at the drier sites and negative trends at the moister sites; yet, similar to <em>A. chilensis,</em> growth synchrony and interannual variability have generally increased. At higher elevations, <em>N. pumilio</em> stands revealed contrasting BAI trends in recent decades, with an overall decrease in growth synchrony and interannual variability. Regional trends in BAI, growth synchrony and interannual variability appeared to be largely modulated by elevation and stand characteristics rather than decreasing precipitation in eastern direction. Across the species, a strong relation between recent BAI, growth synchrony and interannual variability trends, and growth rate at young age (reflecting stand history) was detected, indicating that stands with fast growth at young age are more likely to suffer from premature vitality decline at higher age. Future warming most likely will weaken the vitality of <em>A. chilensis</em> in much of its current distribution range, and that of fast-growing <em>N. dombeyi</em> forests especially at low to mid elevations, while <em>N. pumilio</em> stands are only beginning to experience negative climate warming-related effects.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":12350,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecology and Management","volume":"572 ","pages":"Article 122261"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112724005735/pdfft?md5=b88f837ab2bce246bbdec9d819b8ed31&pid=1-s2.0-S0378112724005735-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142150653","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Post-harvest recovery of microclimate buffering and associated temporary xerophilization of vegetation in sub-continental oak forests","authors":"Linda Csölleová ,&nbsp;Marek Kotrík ,&nbsp;Dávid Kupček ,&nbsp;Vlastimil Knopp ,&nbsp;František Máliš","doi":"10.1016/j.foreco.2024.122238","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.foreco.2024.122238","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Forest microclimate buffering is a key factor influencing living conditions of forest understorey species. Shaping open-air conditions into unique microclimate, forest canopies can mitigate climate change impacts on forest vegetation. In managed forests, canopy disturbances associated with forest harvest reduce microclimate buffering, threaten forest-dwelling species, and may trigger compositional shifts of understorey towards warm-demanding plants. However, how long does it take for microclimate to recover and whether understorey changes are permanent or temporary remain sufficiently unexplored. To reveal changes in microclimate, potential compositional shifts of understorey and time for microclimate and vegetation recovery, we measured forest microclimate and recorded understorey composition along developmental gradient of even-aged managed oak forests in the Western Carpathians (Central Europe). We compared offsets of air temperature and soil moisture to open-air conditions and thermal and moisture requirements of understorey plants between developmental stages and analysed relationships of these measures to tree layer structural variables. During growing season, all developmental stages exhibited lower maximum temperatures and higher soil moisture minima than open-air conditions, with the smaller thermal and higher moisture offsets in the stages of seed cut and clearings compared to mature stand. In a vegetation response to cutting disturbances, we did not identify thermophilization, but shift towards drought tolerant plants, i.e. xerophilization. This emphasizes higher importance of water availability than temperature for vegetation of oak forest in sub-continental conditions. Importantly, observed xerophilization was linked to occurrence of species typical for non-forest vegetation or more open forests, which are typical for oak dominated forests. Microclimate typical for mature stands recovered when tree regeneration reaches the height of ca. 10–15 m. Also, xerophilization was temporary and moisture requirements of vegetation recovered along with microclimate. Our results indicate that decrease in microclimate buffering effect may support restoration of declined vegetation diversity of sub-continental oak forest and forest understories have potential to recover along with forest succession. On the other hand, period of microclimate buffering effect loss is rather long and many plants could by threatened by extreme conditions during ongoing climate change. Thus, to safeguard all forest species novel harvest techniques combining open light gaps with closed-canopy components are required.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":12350,"journal":{"name":"Forest Ecology and Management","volume":"572 ","pages":"Article 122238"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142150650","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}