RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article
T1 Implications of reduced stand density on tree growth and drought susceptibility: A study of three species under varying climate
A1 Steckel, Mathias
A1 Moser, W. Keith
A1 Río Gaztelurrutia, Miren del
A1 Pretzsch, Hans
K1 Bosques y silvicultura
K1 Gestión forestal
K1 Plant physiology
K1 Drought stress
K1 Stand density
K1 Water availability
K1 Pinus
K1 Estrés hídrico
K1 Densidad del rodal
K1 Disponibilidad de agua
K1 Pino
K1 3106 Ciencia Forestal
AB A higher frequency of increasingly severe droughts highlights the need for short-term measures to adapt existing forests to climate change. The maintenance of reduced stand densities has been proposed as a promising silvicultural tool for mitigating drought stress. However, the relationship between stand density and tree drought susceptibility remains poorly understood, especially across ecological gradients. Here, we analysed the effect of reduced stand density on tree growth and growth sensitivity, as well as on short-term drought responses (resistance, recovery, and resilience) of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.), and ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Douglas ex C. Lawson). Tree ring series from 409 trees, growing in stands of varying stand density, were analysed at sites with different water availability. For all species, mean tree growth was significantly higher under low compared with maximum stand density. Mean tree growth sensitivity of Scots pine was significantly higher under low compared with moderate and maximum stand density, while growth sensitivity of ponderosa pine peaked under maximum stand density. Recovery and resilience of Scots pine, as well as recovery of sessile oak and ponderosa pine, decreased with increasing stand density. In contrast, resistance and resilience of ponderosa pine significantly increased with increasing stand density. Higher site water availability was associated with significantly reduced drought response indices of Scots pine and sessile oak in general, except for resistance of oak. In ponderosa pine, higher site water availability significantly lessened recovery. Higher site water availability significantly moderated the positive effect of reduced stand density on drought responses. Stand age had a significantly positive effect on the resistance of Scots pine and a negative effect on recovery of sessile oak. We discuss potential causes for the observed response patterns, derive implications for adaptive forest management, and make recommendations for further research in this field.
PB MDPI
YR 2020
FD 2020
LK https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/58967
UL https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/58967
LA eng
NO Forests 2020, vol.11, n.6, 627
NO Producción Científica
DS UVaDOC
RD 23-may-2024