Thinning decreases above-ground biomass increment in central European beech forests but does not change individual tree resistance to climate events

Bošeľa, Michal; Štefančík, Igor; Marčiš, Peter; Rubio-Cuadrado, Álvaro; Lukáč, Martin

doi:10.1016/j.agrformet.2021.108441

Cited by 27 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…Competition reduction-or thinning-has been proposed to adapt forest plantations to climate change [85,86]; however, our findings suggest that competition is less relevant to tree growth during periods limited by climatic factors. This is consistent with a recent study in a European beech forest, which found that thinning did not increase trees' resilience to drought [87].…”

Section: Seasonal Stem Growth Of Temperate Eucalypts Is Strongly Influenced By Competitionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Species and Competition Interact to Influence Seasonal Stem Growth in Temperate Eucalypts

Plumanns-Pouton

Bennett

Najera-Umaña

et al. 2022

Forests

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Insights on tree species and competition effects on seasonal stem growth is critical to understanding the impacts of changing climates on tree productivity, particularly for eucalypts species that occur in narrow climatic niches and have unreliable tree rings. To improve our understanding of climate effects on forest productivity, we examined the relative importance of species, competition and climate to the seasonal stem growth of co-occurring temperate eucalypts on the tree productivity of temperate eucalypts. We measured monthly stem growth of three eucalypts (Eucalyptus obliqua, E. radiata, and E. rubida) over four years in a natural mixed-species forest in south-eastern Australia, examining the relative influences of species, competition index (CI) and climate variables on the seasonal basal area increment (BAI). Seasonal BAI varied with species and CI, and was greatest in spring and/or autumn, and lowest in summer. Our study highlights the interactive effects of species and competition on the seasonal stem growth of temperate eucalypts, clearly indicating that competitive effects are strongest when conditions are favourable to growth (spring and autumn), and least pronounced in summer, when reduced BAI was associated with less rainfall. Thus, our study indicates that management to reduce inter-tree competition would have minimal influence on stem growth during less favourable (i.e., drier) periods.

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Section: Seasonal Stem Growth Of Temperate Eucalypts Is Strongly Influenced By Competitionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Species and Competition Interact to Influence Seasonal Stem Growth in Temperate Eucalypts

Plumanns-Pouton

Bennett

Najera-Umaña

et al. 2022

Forests

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“…In general, as the thinning intensity increases, the biomass on the stand scale decreased. This result is the same as other research results, which is directly caused by the reduction in stand density and the number of dynamic trees caused by thinning [17,21,32,37]. Between 34.4% and 49.6% thinned groups, biomass showed a slight rebound, which was the result of the significant increase in the proportion of birch species [38].…”

Section: Effect Of Thinning On Biomasssupporting

confidence: 89%

“…We calculate the biomass through the allometric growth equation of D erage individual tree biomass and DBH have a similar trend. However, th study, differences can be seen in biomass growth between white birch and has greater leaf mass per area and greater photosynthetic capacity than lar as the thinning intensity increases, the biomass on the stand scale decrease is the same as other research results, which is directly caused by the redu density and the number of dynamic trees caused by thinning [17,21,32,37]. B and 49.6% thinned groups, biomass showed a slight rebound, which was th significant increase in the proportion of birch species [38].…”

Section: Effect Of Thinning On Biomassmentioning

confidence: 53%

“…Our research result has shown that the CK group stands store more carbon than thinning groups [32]. Here, thinning has resulted in reduced ca biomass.…”

Section: Effect Of Thinning On Carbon Densitymentioning

confidence: 62%

“…Analogous to other studies, species-level differences in growth may be useful in explaining different responses to thinning treatments [31]. The thinning management seems to be the most important driver of the increase in hardwoods and mixed stands and the decrease in conifer stands [32,33]. Understanding the relationship between thinning intensity and growth response can help managers plan thinning levels to maximize benefits for carbon stock and species growth.…”

Section: Effect Of Thinning On Forest Growthmentioning

confidence: 90%

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The Effect of Thinning Management on the Carbon Density of the Tree Layers in Larch–Birch Mixed Natural Secondary Forests of the Greater Khingan Range, Northeastern China

Meng

Zhang

et al. 2022

Forests

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Natural secondary forests not only contribute to the total balance of terrestrial carbon, but they also play a major role in the future mitigation of climate change. In China, secondary forests have low productivity and carbon sequestration, which seriously restricts the sustainable development of the forest. Thinning is a core measure of scientific management of forest ecosystems and is a primary natural forest management technique. The carbon density of the tree layer is most affected by thinning. Taking larch–birch mixed natural secondary forests in the Greater Khingan Range, Northeast China, as the research object, we analyzed the changes in tree layer carbon density of secondary forests under different thinning intensities. The results showed that in five thinned groups, when intensity was 49.6%, the diameter at breast height (DBH) and individual tree biomass significantly increased. Thinning had no significant effect on the carbon content of the tree stem, branches and bark, but had significant effects on the carbon content of leaves. Our result showed that the carbon content of birch leaves increased and that of larch decreased. As the thinning intensity increases, the proportion of broad-leaved tree species (birch) increased, yet larch decreased. In the short term, thinning will reduce the total biomass and carbon density of tree layers. However, when the thinning intensity was 49.6%, the carbon accumulation was higher than that of the blank control group (CK group) after thinning for 12 years. This shows that after a long period of time, the carbon density of tree layers will exceed that of the CK group. Reasonable thinning intensity management (49.6% thinning intensity) of natural secondary forests can make trees grow better, and the proportion of broad-leaved trees increases significantly. It can also increase the carbon sequestration rate and lead to more accumulation of biomass and carbon density. This can not only promote the growth of secondary forests, but also shows great potential for creating carbon sinks and coping with climate change.

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Droughts in forested ecoregions in cold and continental climates: A review of vulnerability concepts and factors in socio‐hydrological systems

Stenfors,

Blicharska,

Grabs

et al. 2023

WIREs Water

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In a changing climate, drought risk and vulnerability assessments are becoming increasingly important. Following the global call for proactive drought risk management, drought vulnerability assessments are progressively taking their stage in the drought research community. As the manifestation of drought vulnerability is dependent on the social, ecological, and hydroclimatic context in which it occurs, identifying vulnerability factors relevant for specific climatological and ecological regions may improve the quality of vulnerability assessments. Meanwhile, a holistic overview of factors affecting vulnerability in polar and cold climates is currently lacking. These regions are home to large socio‐hydrological systems including urban areas, energy systems, agricultural practices, and the boreal forest. By conducting an interdisciplinary systematic literature review, the manifestation and conceptualization of drought vulnerability were identified for forested ecoregions in the Köppen–Geiger D and E climates. Vulnerability factors, as described by several scientific disciplines, were identified and combined into a conceptual framework for drought vulnerability in the study region. The results demonstrate the wide range of conceptualizations that exist for assessing drought vulnerability, and the thematic differences between sectors such as forestry, water supply, and agriculture. The conceptual framework presented herein adopts a novel approach, categorizing vulnerability factors by their location in a socio‐hydrological system, and their relation to blue or green water sources. This allowed for identification of systemic vulnerability patterns, providing new insights into regional differences in drought vulnerability and a base for stakeholders performing proactive drought risk assessments in the study region.This article is categorized under: Human Water > Methods Science of Water > Water Extremes Water and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness Human Water > Water Governance

show abstract

Thinning decreases above-ground biomass increment in central European beech forests but does not change individual tree resistance to climate events

Cited by 27 publications

References 51 publications

Species and Competition Interact to Influence Seasonal Stem Growth in Temperate Eucalypts

Species and Competition Interact to Influence Seasonal Stem Growth in Temperate Eucalypts

The Effect of Thinning Management on the Carbon Density of the Tree Layers in Larch–Birch Mixed Natural Secondary Forests of the Greater Khingan Range, Northeastern China

Droughts in forested ecoregions in cold and continental climates: A review of vulnerability concepts and factors in socio‐hydrological systems

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