Present and forecasted xeric climatic limits of beech and sessile oak distribution at low altitudes in Central Europe

Czúcz, Bálint; Gálhidy, László; Mátyás, Csaba

doi:10.1007/s13595-011-0011-4

Cited by 106 publications

(112 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…In addition, the extremely low decay range ratio of variables in this group indicates that beech forests in southern Transdanubia can be highly threatened by drought, in accordance with previous regional results [20,29]. European beech trees and forests have also been reported to be particularly affected by summer droughts, as well as by May and July high temperatures, annual precipitation, and the temperature-to-rainfall ratio in the transitional forest-steppe vegetation zone [21]. The above-mentioned findings were similar in the Mediterranean and related regions [26].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…Previous and current studies suggest that precipitation-related bioclimatic composites are suitable as an indicator for adaptation and sensitivity at the xeric limit of distribution [19,21,23]. In our study, an extremely high level of the exclusion function was presented by Precipitation seasonality (BIO15, see Table 2), that seems to be an independent and appropriate measure for climatic sensitivity.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 54%

“…In case of climate-induced forests the reliability of climate modes is considered "fair" if AUC > 0.7 and "good" if AUC > 0.8 [11,21]. In our study, median AUC reached "fair" for the main groups of both clusters (AUC = 0.785 for the temperature group, and AUC = 0.768 for the precipitation group).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 50%

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Functional Response Trait Analysis Improves Climate Sensitivity Estimation in Beech Forests at a Trailing Edge

Salamon-Albert

Abaligeti

Ortmann‐Ajkai

2017

Forests

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Functional response traits influence the ability of species to colonize and thrive in a habitat and to persist under environmental challenges. Functional traits can be used to evaluate environment-related processes and phenomena. They also help to interpret distribution patterns, especially under limiting ecological conditions. In this study, we investigate landscape-scale functional distribution responses of beech forests in a climatic transitional zone in Europe. We construct empirical density distribution responses for beech forests by applying coping-resilience-failure climatic traits based on 27 bioclimatic variables, resulting in prevalence-decay-exclusion distribution response patterns. We also perform multivariate exploratory cluster analysis to reveal significant sets of response patterns from the resilience and adaptation aspects. Temperature-related distribution responses presented a prevalence-dominated functional pattern, with Annual mean temperature indicating the most favorable adaptation function. Precipitation indices showed climate-limited response patterns with the dominance of extinction function. Considering regional site-specific climate change projections, these continental beech forests could regress moderately due to temperature increase in the near future. Our results also suggest that both summer and winter precipitation could play a pivotal role in successful resilience. Functions and variables that indicate climate sensitivity can serve as a useful starting point to develop adaptation measures for regional forest management.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 54%

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Functional Response Trait Analysis Improves Climate Sensitivity Estimation in Beech Forests at a Trailing Edge

Salamon-Albert

Abaligeti

Ortmann‐Ajkai

2017

Forests

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“…To study drought or aridity-induced vegetation limits, moisture supply is the main factor to be considered. It has been shown, for example, that summer drought intensity in conjunction with late spring air temperature and precipitation are the determinant factors for beech distribution at low elevations in central Europe (Czúcz et al, 2011). Moreover, soil water availability seems to actively control beech growth at its southern distribution limit (Tegel et al, 2014).…”

Section: Vegetation Assessment In the Fieldmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The species is able to grow under the temperate climate of central Europe in relatively dry to moist soils, yet under the subMediterranean climate of southern Europe, the competitiveness of beech is increasingly limited by climatic drought. In southern Europe growth rates and competitiveness of beech are reduced and controlled by environmental variables that indicate drought intensity (Czúcz et al, 2011;Tegel et al, 2014) and beech forests become replaced by submeridional forests composed of more drought tolerant species, mainly pines and oaks (Horvat et al, 1974;Ellenberg and Leuschner, 2010). Therefore, beech is restricted to shady slopes and/or deep soils and/or higher elevations (Ozenda et al, 1988;Peters, 1997;Reif and Löblich-Ille, 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Floristic Change at the Drought Limit of European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) to Downy Oak (Quercus pubescens) Forest in the Temperate Climate of Central Europe

Reif

Xystrakis

Gärtner

et al. 2017

Not Bot Horti Agrobo

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An increase in drought could cause shifts in species composition and vegetation structure. In forests it limits the occurrence of drought sensitive tree species which become replaced by drought tolerant tree species and forest communities. Under temperate macroclimatic conditions, European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) naturally dominates the forested landscape, except on extremely shallow soil in combination with high irradiation. On these sites beech reaches its drought limit, and is replaced by forests dominated by species like downy oak (Quercus pubescens s.l.) and English oak (Quercus petraea L). Phytosociological and ecological data were collected in the transition (ecotone) between European beach stands and stands of more drought tolerant species in order to quantify the drought intensity threshold, above which beech is replaced by drought tolerant species. It was shown that favourable topographic and soil conditions partially compensated the unsuitable climatic conditions for beech. The ecotone between these forest types was found to be characterized by shallow soils with an available soil water storage capacity of 73 l/m² or less, and an irradiation intensity of 6000 MJ/m 2 or more during the growing season. This indicates that under conditions of climate change beech would naturally still remain the dominant tree species on the majority of central European forest sites.

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On the influence of provenance to soil quality enhanced stress reaction of young beech trees to summer drought

Buhk

Kämmer

Beierkuhnlein

et al. 2016

Ecology and Evolution

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Climate projections propose that drought stress will become challenging for establishing trees. The magnitude of stress is dependent on tree species, provenance, and most likely also highly influenced by soil quality. European Beech (Fagus sylvatica) is of major ecological and economical importance in Central European forests. The species has an especially wide physiological and ecological amplitude enabling growth under various soil conditions within its distribution area in Central Europe. We studied the effects of extreme drought on beech saplings (second year) of four climatically distinct provenances growing on different soils (sandy loam and loamy sand) in a full factorial pot experiment. Foliar δ13C, δ15N, C, and N as well as above‐ and belowground growth parameters served as measures for stress level and plant growth. Low‐quality soil enhanced the effect of drought compared with qualitatively better soil for the above‐ and belowground growth parameters, but foliar δ13C values revealed that plant stress was still remarkable in loamy soil. For beeches of one provenance, negative sandy soil effects were clearly smaller than for the others, whereas for another provenance drought effects in sandy soil were sometimes fatal. Foliar δ15N was correlated with plant size during the experiment. Plasticity of beech provenances in their reaction to drought versus control conditions varied clearly. Although a general trend of declining growth under control or drought conditions in sandy soil was found compared to loamy soil, the magnitude of the effect of soil quality was highly provenance specific. Provenances seemed to show adaptations not only to drought but also to soil quality. Accordingly, scientists should integrate information about climatic pre‐adaptation and soil quality within the home range of populations for species distribution modeling and foresters should evaluate soil quality and climatic parameters when choosing donor populations for reforestation projects.

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Present and forecasted xeric climatic limits of beech and sessile oak distribution at low altitudes in Central Europe

Cited by 106 publications

References 38 publications

Functional Response Trait Analysis Improves Climate Sensitivity Estimation in Beech Forests at a Trailing Edge

Functional Response Trait Analysis Improves Climate Sensitivity Estimation in Beech Forests at a Trailing Edge

Floristic Change at the Drought Limit of European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) to Downy Oak (Quercus pubescens) Forest in the Temperate Climate of Central Europe

On the influence of provenance to soil quality enhanced stress reaction of young beech trees to summer drought

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