Short-term stem diameter variations in irrigated and non-irrigated stone pine (Pinus pinea L.) trees in a xeric non-native environment

Abstract

Key Message Irrigation of adult stone pine trees growing in a xeric non-native habitat had positive effects not only in stem diameter growth but also in tree response to climatic variability.• Context Stone pine is a key species from Mediterranean Europe increasingly planted in South America. The knowledge about irrigation impact on short-term stem diameter dynamics is still limited in non-native arid areas.• Aims To improve our understanding of the effect of irrigation on (1) stem diameter changes of stone pine trees in a droughtprone environment in Chile and (2) the sensitivity of the species to weather conditions. • Methods We studied daily stem diameter changes in irrigated and non-irrigated 31-year-old stone pine trees during a growing season with below average precipitation in Chile. Short-term diameter changes were recorded using high-resolution dendrometers. The detrended daily stem diameter changes, expressing tree water status, were correlated with weather variability in both irrigated and non-irrigated trees. • ResultsThe growth period lasted longer and the cumulative sum of daily changes increased by 130% in irrigated trees. Moreover, a similar correlation of tree water status with climatic variables was found in non-irrigated, with the exception of precipitation.• Conclusion Irrigation increased stone pine productivity in this xeric environment and reduced the correlations between daily stem diameter variations and local climatic variability.

Finding balance: Tree‐ring isotopes differentiate between acclimation and stress‐induced imbalance in a long‐term irrigation experiment

“…However, large‐scale and long‐term experiments remain rare, even though they are crucial for understanding and disentangling acclimation processes in the context of the natural variability of climate and ecosystem dynamics. There are a few examples of long‐term experiments in mature forests (Cotrufo et al., 2011; Loewe‐Muñoz et al., 2021) where water availability has been manipulated to investigate acclimation processes, in response to reduced soil water availability by rainfall exclusion (Barbeta et al., 2013; Belluau et al., 2021; Gavinet et al., 2019; Goke & Martin, 2022; Grams et al., 2021), irrigation (Feichtinger et al., 2014; Rigling et al., 2003) or both (Beier et al., 1995). Unfortunately, such experiments seldom last longer than 10 years (Barbeta et al., 2013; Da Costa et al., 2018; Dobbertin et al., 2010; Feichtinger et al., 2014; van Sundert et al., 2023), despite the fact that it is becoming apparent that acclimation processes might take longer (Bose et al., 2022).…”

Environmental and socio-economic impacts of the changes in distribution areas of Pinus pinea L. (stone pine) due to climate change in Türkiye

“…As different groups of models on Earth (MIROC6, CanESM5, CNRM-ESM2-1, etc.) include new physical processes, biogeochemical cycles and higher spatial resolution, climate models are constantly updated depending on the preparation of data sets (IPCC, 2014; Changes in climate and anthropogenic pressures are affecting ecosystems more and more every day, which necessitates more effective and functional planning efforts for target species and related ecosystems (Falcucci et al, 2007;Loewe-Muñoz et al, 2021). Understanding the links between climate change and plant species distributions is crucial for combating climate change and taking appropriate measures for the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainability of ecosystems.…”