Pinus pumila growth at different altitudes in the Svyatoi Nos Peninsula (Russia)

Abstract

Detailed research is necessary to better understand ecological adaptations of <I>Pinus pumila </I>(Pall.) Regel as a species, whose biological properties are vital for its survival. In the Svyatoi Nos Peninsula, three sites differing in altitude were selected. At all sites the growth form of <I>P. pumila</I> was determined. At the high and medium sites, the following parameters were measured: linear increment on terminal branches, leaf mass per area and the content of nitrogen per unit leaf area. Anatomical studies were carried out on shoots and four needle-year classes. It was found that needles were longer and narrower at the medium site when compared to the high site. Leaf mass per area was higher and a substantial increase in older needles occurred at the high site. Nitrogen content per unit leaf area served as an indicator of assimilation capacity and was higher at the high site. We can conclude that <I>P. pumila</I> has xeromorphic needles, higher assimilation capacity, better protection ability against pathogens and slower growth rate of terminal branches at the high site. Important is also a significant increment of the growth rate of terminal branches at the high site in recent years. Therefore, data obtained from sites at the upper forest limit are valuable in assessing the climate changes and are useful for the forest management practice in mountain areas.

Altitude and Vegetation Affect Soil Organic Carbon, Basal Respiration and Microbial Biomass in Apennine Forest Soils

“…The increase of SOC in the mineral soil could also be favoured by the reduction of the C:N ratio of the pine needles along the slope (from 68.91 at 500 m to 40.28 at 1000 m). The marked increase of the N concentration of the needles (Table 2), according to Gebauer et al, [43] and Liu et al [44], was ascribed to a greater N assimilation efficiency of the plants at a higher altitude as a response to the short growing season and to the adverse environmental conditions. As a consequence of the increasing SOC concentration with altitude occurring in the soils under the pine ecosystem, and the low SOC concentration in the soil under beech forests, the organic C stocks in the upper 20 cm were greater under broadleaves than under the pine ecosystem at 500 and 700 m, whereas a similar amount of C was stored in the soils covered by beech and pine forests at 1000 m altitude.…”