Evidence of elevation-specific growth changes of spruce, fir, and beech in European mixed-mountain forests during the last three centuries

Pretzsch, Hans (author), Hilmers, Torben (author), Biber, Peter (author), Avdagić, Admir (author), Binder, Franz (author), Bončina, Andrej (author), Bošela, Michal (author), Dobor, Laura (author), Forrester, David I. (author), Lévesque, Mathieu (author), Ibrahimspahić, Aida (author), Nagel, Thomas Andrew (author), del Rio, Miren (author), Sitkova, Zuzana (author), Schütze, Gerhard (author), Stajić, Branko (author), Stojanović, Dejan (author), Uhl, Enno (author), Zlatanov, Tzvetan (author), Tognetti, Roberto (author)

In Europe, mixed mountain forests, primarily comprised of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.), silver fir (Abies alba Mill.), and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), cover about 10x10⁶ ha at elevations between ~60-%1,600 m a.s.l. They provide invaluable ecosystem services. However, the growth of these forests and the competition between their main species is expected to be strongly affected by climate warming. In this study, we analyzed the growth development of spruce, fir and beech in moist mixed mountain forests in Europe over the last 300 years. Based on tree ring analyses on long-term observational plots we found for all three species (i) a non-decelerating, linear diameter growth trend spanning more than 300 years, (ii) increased growth levels and trends, the latter being particular pronounced for fir and beech, and (iii) an elevation-dependent change of fir and beech growth. Whereas in the past the growth was highest at lower elevations, today%s growth is superior at higher elevations. This spatio-temporal pattern indicates significant changes in the growth and inter-specific competition at the expense of spruce in mixed mountain forests. We discuss possible causes, consequences, and silvicultural implications of these distinct growth changes in mixed mountain forests.

• Language: English
• Keywords: climate change, competition shift, dominance of beech, growth trends, relative loss of Norway spruce
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2020
• Number of pages: Str.
• Numbering: Vol. , iss.
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-114967
• UDC: 630*11:630*16(045)=111
• ISSN on article: 0045-5067
• DOI: 10.1139/cjfr-2019-0368
• COBISS.SI-ID: 5653414
• Publication date in RUL: 03.04.2020

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Canadian journal of forest research
• Shortened title: Can. j. for. res.
• Publisher: Canadian Science Publishing
• ISSN: 0045-5067
• COBISS.SI-ID: 25186304

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: podnebne spremembe, trend rasti, Picea abies, navadna smreka