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Beech production forests under climate change: Recent growth trends in beech populations of northern and central Germany and identification of hydrologically-defined cultivation limits (BEECHLIMITS)
Project
Project code: 28WC415001
Contract period: 01.07.2017
- 31.08.2020
Budget: 289,561 Euro
Purpose of research: Inventory & Assessment
European beech is the most important tree species of Central Europe’s natural forest vegetation and currently an important timber species in Germany and neighboring countries. Dendroecological and physiological data indi-cate that this species responds in Central Europe sensitively to the recent climate warming, despite its well known capacity for adaptation and regeneration after damage. There is thus an urgent need for forestry to assess the threat posed to beech by climate warming and drying in order to reduce the risk of a misguided tree species selection in its distribution range in Central Europe.
This project investigates the radial growth of adult beech trees in 40 mature stands selected along a precipitation and continentality gradient in northern and Central Germany from the Dutch border to river Oder using dendro-chronological (climate sensitivity of growth, response to extreme events, δ13C signature of annual rings) and hydraulic techniques (cavitation sensitivity of branch xylem). Study aim is to relate actual growth patterns and possible growth decline as well as the vulnerability of the hydraulic system to summer precipitation and the soil moisture regime (capacity for plant-extractable water, soil moisture minima). Investigations about the frequency and vitality of beech rejuvenation and the live:dead ratio of fine root mass in summer will provide additional
information about the drought response of the different studied beech populations. Based on this data set, region-al thresholds of summer precipitation and soil moisture levels will be defined, beyond which beech is exposed to increased drought risk and beech planting may not be recommended under realistic climate change scenarios in the lowlands of northern and Central Germany.
Section overview
Subjects
- Silviculture
- Climate Change
