Growth Response of Endemic Black Pine Trees to Meteorological Variations and Drought Episodes in a Mediterranean Region

Abstract

Weather variations affect natural ecosystems, while in regions where climate change is anticipated to intensify extreme events such as droughts, the vitality of vulnerable species may be reduced. The sensitivity of key-species to the climatic conditions may illustrate their adjustability in specific areas and assist decision making towards proper mitigation and adaptation measures. Pinus nigra, commonly known as black pine, is an endemic species, forming many protected habitats in the Mediterranean. In this study, black pine tree-ring data from Greece are used to assess the response of tree growth to specific temperature-related (mean, max. and min. temperature and diurnal temperature range) and water-related (precipitation, evapotranspiration, relative humidity and vapor pressure deficit) meteorological parameters. Additionally, the effect of drought episodes is estimated using indices, including the well-established standardised precipitation index (SPI) and reconnaissance drought index (RDI), as well as two recently proposed modifications, namely, the agricultural SPI (aSPI) and the effective RDI (eRDI). The outcomes reveal several seasonal patterns, emphasising the sensitivity of black pine principally to water-related meteorological parameters, with winter and early spring conditions having a primary role on annual tree growth. Black pine seems to be tolerant to drought in the study region, in terms of its resilience; however, there are indications that multiyear droughts may have prolonged effects on tree growth, which may last approximately three years after drought ends. Additionally, it is derived that both aSPI and eRDI illustrate more efficiently tree growth response to drought, indicating that these modifications provide increased accuracy regarding drought characterisation in the forest environment.

Utilizing Mediterranean Plants to Remove Contaminants from the Soil Environment: A Short Review

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Tree-ring climate response of Jeffrey pine in the Cascade Creek Watershed, Northern California

“…Warming and reduced precipitation have been increasingly limiting tree growth in the Mediterranean regions (Lebourgeois et al 2005;Granier et al 2007;Proutsos, Tigkas 2020). Drought has legacy effects weakening tree's resilience for a few years after drought episode (Granda et al 2013;Proutsos, Tigkas 2020). However, the time lag effects can be counterbalanced by recovery capacity (Granda et al 2013).…”

Spatio-Temporal Variability in Hydroclimate over the Upper Yangtze River Basin, China

“…The variability and availability of water resources also have direct influences on local ecoenvironmental conservation and sustainable socioeconomic development [49]. Reduced water availability and drought are identified as the main factors limiting tree growth in a region [50]. The Yangtze River Basin (YRB) is rich in vegetation types and has functions such as water and soil conservation and regulation of river runoff [38].…”

“…There are alpine meadows and alpine grasslands in the upper reaches, and subtropical evergreen broad-leaf forests in both the eastern and western parts of the basin [51]. The assessment of climate change is therefore important, especially considering that the unique ecosystems of the basin may be highly affected by extreme climate events such as droughts [50].…”