Positive effects of warming do not compensate growth reduction due to increased aridity in Mediterranean mixed forests

Increased winter and early spring temperatures due to climate change can enhance forest productivity due to earlier growth onset in temperate regions. However, drought-prone forests can be highly vulnerable to the combined effect of high summer temperatures and water stress. Understanding how water stress and rising temperatures along the growing season control tree growth in co-occurring species with contrasting drought tolerances is key to project climate change effects on forest dynamics. Here, we evaluated the interactive effect of seasonal temperature and water availability on annual radial growth and climate-growth instability over six decades (1951-2015) in three pine species with contrasting drought tolerances (Pinus pinaster, Pinus nigra, and Pinus sylvestris). For this, we retrospectively observed radial tree growth using dendroecological methods and evaluated seasonal temperature and water availability effects by using linear mixed models. Early growing season temperature and water availability had a positive effect on tree growth, but the positive effect of late season temperature was modulated by water availability. Moving time-window analyses revealed temporal instability in climate-growth relationships. Since the 1980s, pine species showed a higher growth sensitivity to both seasonal temperatures and annual water availability. Furthermore, growth reductions were more pronounced due to increased summer temperatures and reduced precipitation. Our results were similar for the three studied pine species despite their contrasting tolerance to drought. Overall, climate warming effects on pine growth are contingent upon water availability in Mediterranean continental forests. Synchronization among species, climate-growth instability, and negative growth trends suggests an increased vulnerability to drought of Mediterranean pine species in response to ongoing climate change.

Automated summary

Increased winter and early spring temperatures due to climate change can enhance forest productivity in temperate regions by promoting earlier growth onset. However, drought-prone forests are vulnerable to high summer temperatures and water stress. Understanding how water stress and rising temperatures control tree growth in co-occurring species with contrasting drought tolerances is important for predicting climate change effects on forest dynamics.