Impact of recent climatic change on growth of low elevation eastern Mediterranean forest trees

Sarris, Dimitrios; Christodoulakis, Dimitris; Körner, Christian

doi:10.1007/s10584-010-9901-y

Cited by 107 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…6) shows that there is a statistically significant trend towards narrower tree-rings after the 1970s, but the trend lessens and is no longer significant after 2000 and is not found for the most recent years. This differs from results of Sarris et al (2011) on Pinus halepensis growing in lowland Crete, who distinctly showed that tree-ring widths have decreased since the 1970s in connection with the diminution in rainfall and stated that trees have increased their dependency towards deep water reserves. In this respect, our preliminary findings highlight the capacity of Z. abelicea to cope with increasing summer drought conditions.…”

Section: Stability Of Climatic Sensitivity Through Timecontrasting

confidence: 95%

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Imprisoned in the Cretan mountains: How relict Zelkova abelicea (Ulmaceae) trees cope with Mediterranean climate

Fazan

Guillet

Corona

et al. 2017

Science of The Total Environment

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• We established the first ever centennial chronology for a broadleaved tree on Crete.• Zelkova abelicea is most sensitive to precipitation and drought in May-June.• No growth change can be related to the increase in dry conditions of the past decades.• Z. abelicea has a high capacity to withstand changing environmental conditions.We investigate the sensitivity of the relict, endemic Cretan tree species Zelkova abelicea (Lam.) Boiss. (Ulmaceae) to several climate variables (temperature, precipitation and drought). For this purpose, we establish the first centennial tree-ring chronology for the species, and the first ever tree-ring chronology for a broadleaved species on Crete. We demonstrate the strong sensitivity of Z. abelicea towards precipitation and drought in late spring to early summer and the absence of a significant response to abundant precipitation occurring during winter or early spring. Whereas the late spring sensitivity is strong and consistent through time, the species seems to be experiencing a loss of signal towards early summer conditions since the 1970s, interpreted as an earlier cessation of cambial activity due to the increase in summer drought conditions on Crete. However, despite a reduced vegetative period, no significant decrease in radial growth of Z. abelicea was observed in the tree-ring series for the last decades, thus highlighting the capacity of Z. abelicea to withstand changing environmental conditions.

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Section: Stability Of Climatic Sensitivity Through Timecontrasting

confidence: 95%

“…This study is innovative for Crete and presents a challenge, as very little dendroclimatological research has been carried out on the island (e.g. Sarris et al, 2011;Touchan et al, 2014, both focused on Pinus halepensis subsp. brutia).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Imprisoned in the Cretan mountains: How relict Zelkova abelicea (Ulmaceae) trees cope with Mediterranean climate

Fazan

Guillet

Corona

et al. 2017

Science of The Total Environment

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show abstract

“…Observational evidence of shifts in forest structure and function over the last century has started to accumulate and are frequently attributed to climatic changes. Tree growth changes related to temperature increase (Jump et al 2006;Linares and Tíscar 2010), decline in precipitation (Sarris et al 2011) and/or CO 2 fertilisation (Martínez-Editor: Will Steffen.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predicting species dominance shifts across elevation gradients in mountain forests in Greece under a warmer and drier climate

Fyllas¹,

Christopoulou²,

Galanidis

et al. 2017

Reg Environ Change

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The Mediterranean Basin is expected to face warmer and drier conditions in the future, following projected increases in temperature and declines in precipitation. The aim of this study is to explore how forests dominated by Abies borisii-regis, Abies cephalonica, Fagus sylvatica, Pinus nigra and Quercus frainetto will respond under such conditions. We combined an individual-based model (GREFOS), with a novel tree ring data set in order to constrain tree diameter growth and to account for inter-and intraspecific growth variability. We used wood density data to infer tree longevity, taking into account inter-and intraspecific variability. The model was applied at three 500-m-wide elevation gradients at Taygetos in Peloponnese, at Agrafa on Southern Pindos and at Valia Kalda on Northern Pindos in Greece. Simulations adequately represented species distribution and abundance across the elevation gradients under current climate. We subsequently used the model to estimate species and functional trait shifts under warmer and drier future conditions based on the IPCC A1B scenario. In all three sites, a retreat of less drought-tolerant species and an upward shift of more drought-tolerant species were simulated. These shifts were also associated with changes in two key functional traits, in particular maximum radial growth rate and wood density. Drought-tolerant species presented an increase in their average maximal growth and decrease in their average wood density, in contrast to less droughttolerant species.

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“…Increasing drought events correlate with increased tree mortality that coincides with severe fire outbreaks (Sarris et al 2011). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perceptions of forest experts on climate change and fire management in European Mediterranean forests

Raftoyannis¹,

Nocentini²,

Marchi³

et al. 2014

iForest

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Climate change has already increased fire risk in Mediterranean forests. Adaptation options related to forest fires and climate change include measures related to fuel management, fire fighting and infrastructure, as well as public awareness. The importance of each of these measures was evaluated in six Mediterranean countries in a study initiated within the COST Action FP0703 “Expected Climate Change and Options for European Silviculture”. A questionnaire survey was used to document the views of foresters and forest scientists. Country differences were observed and adaptation measures related to fire fighting efficiency and public awareness were valued as more important than fuel management. Results were discussed in the light of a critical review of adaptive fire management measures with special reference to European Mediterranean countries

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Impact of recent climatic change on growth of low elevation eastern Mediterranean forest trees

Cited by 107 publications

References 48 publications

Imprisoned in the Cretan mountains: How relict Zelkova abelicea (Ulmaceae) trees cope with Mediterranean climate

Imprisoned in the Cretan mountains: How relict Zelkova abelicea (Ulmaceae) trees cope with Mediterranean climate

Predicting species dominance shifts across elevation gradients in mountain forests in Greece under a warmer and drier climate

Perceptions of forest experts on climate change and fire management in European Mediterranean forests

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