Journal
TREES-STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
Volume 25, Issue 5, Pages 847-857Publisher
SPRINGER HEIDELBERG
DOI: 10.1007/s00468-011-0560-z
Keywords
Air temperature; Climate change; Fagus sylvatica; Nitrogen availability; Soil moisture; VPD
Categories
Funding
- Richard-Winter-Stiftung
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Climatic change exposes temperate trees to the simultaneous alteration of various growth-relevant factors, among them increased temperatures, extended growing season length and rising atmospheric [CO2], often in combination with more severe droughts and reduced air humidities in summer, and elevated atmospheric N deposition. We conducted a multi-factorial climate chamber experiment to search for interactive effects of temperature (T), soil moisture (h), water vapour saturation deficit (VPD) and N availability (N) on the growth of Fagus sylvatica saplings and for identifying the most relevant factors that control leaf area development and productivity under a future warmer and drier climate with continuing high N deposition. For each of the four factors, two levels were simulated, reflecting current and expected future conditions in Central European beech forests. All four factors (including VPD) had a significant effect on productivity; several factors (e.g. T x VPD) interacted in a synergistic way. Productivity was most tightly correlated with the number of leaves while leaf area was less influential and photosynthetic activity was of only minor importance. The number of leaves produced was most tightly correlated with h, N and VPD, while leaf area (leaf expansion) showed closest relation to temperature. We conclude that predictions about the growth response of trees to climate change and altered atmospheric N deposition need to consider a multitude of environmental factors and must account for positive and negative factor interactions.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available