Atiehsadat Mousavisangdehi, Reza Oladi, Kambiz Pourtahmasi, Vahi Etemad, Marcin Koprowski, Jan Tumajer
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引用次数: 0
Key message
Oriental beech trees in Hyrcanian forests may exhibit a bimodal growth pattern. While water availability does not limit growth, these trees benefit from warmer weather.
Abstract
Climate projections for the Hyrcanian forests predict higher temperatures and reduced rainfall. However, the impact of these changes on beech tree growth is still debated. This study investigates the intra-annual growth patterns of Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) and their responses to climatic variation within the Hyrcanian forests of northern Iran. We collected micro-cores from six healthy trees in the Sangdeh forest every week from March to September 2022. Microsections were prepared from each core, and the width of the developing tree ring was measured under an optical microscope. We fitted a generalized additive model (GAM) to the measured radial growth increments to model growth and derive daily growth rates. We then used correlations between daily tree growth rates and climatic variables considering different time lags. The results show variable growth patterns within the beech trees, including both unimodal and bimodal growth dynamics during the growing season. Analysis of climatic data indicates a significant positive correlation between temperature and growth rate, particularly with a 15-day lag, while rainfall and humidity exhibit weaker, negative correlations with growth. Surprisingly, sufficient rainfall in the study area may hinder growth due to associated cloud cover, which limits sunshine and photosynthesis. A comparison of variations in radial growth and temperature shows their tight synchronization over the growing season. In conclusion, this study offers insights into the complex interactions between climatic factors and tree growth, with implications for regional forest management and climate change adaptation strategies.
期刊介绍:
Trees - Structure and Function publishes original articles on the physiology, biochemistry, functional anatomy, structure and ecology of trees and other woody plants. Also presented are articles concerned with pathology and technological problems, when they contribute to the basic understanding of structure and function of trees. In addition to original articles and short communications, the journal publishes reviews on selected topics concerning the structure and function of trees.