Complex climate constraints of upper treeline formation in the Pyrenees

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F86652079%3A_____%2F15%3A00473340" target="_blank" >RIV/86652079:_____/15:00473340 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00468-015-1176-5" target="_blank" >http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00468-015-1176-5</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00468-015-1176-5" target="_blank" >10.1007/s00468-015-1176-5</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Complex climate constraints of upper treeline formation in the Pyrenees

Original language description

Key Message In the Pyrenees low temperature and scarce precipitation limit radial growth at treeline. The climatic drivers of treeline formation in mid-latitude mountains are temperature and also moisture variability. nAlpine treelines are often induced by a threshold of minimum temperatures above which tree growth is generally not possible anymore. However, this worldwide pattern may not account for more drought-prone tains, where changes in precipitation can also ecosystem functioning and productivity at moun-affect higher elevations. Here, we aim to determine if tree-ring formation in ecotones along the Pyrenees indeed primarily depends on temperature means or also reflects hydroclimatic changes. The mean duration of the growing season at Pyrenean treelines was 177 days, lasting from mid-May to early November, which corresponds to a mean root-zone temperature of 8.2 degrees C. Temperatures during the early and late growing season were most critical for mountain pine growth at highest elevations, and above average spring temperatures also contributed to radial enlargement of tracheids. Sites showing more similar soil temperatures also presented more similar long-term growth trends indicating that local conditions trace regional influences on growth. Nevertheless, more wet conditions in summer enhanced growth at treelines subjected to more Mediterranean influence and therefore having a higher summer water deficit. A broader perspective reveals that soil moisture availability during spring and summer, however, also influence ring width formation at other treelines located in mid-latitude mountains separating temperate and semi-arid biomes. Our results suggest re-evaluating the idea of purely temperature-limited treelines, especially in mid-latitude mountains that experience moisture seasonality or where precipitation decreases with increasing elevation.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_x - Unclassified - Peer-reviewed scientific article (Jimp, Jsc and Jost)

CEP classification

EH - Ecology - communities

OECD FORD branch

—

Project

—

Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2015

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Trees: structure and function

ISSN

0931-1890

e-ISSN

—

Volume of the periodical

29

Issue of the periodical within the volume

3

Country of publishing house

DE - GERMANY

Number of pages

12

Pages from-to

941-952

UT code for WoS article

000354484000029

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-84940005209