Quantifying the effects of drought on abrupt growth decreases of major tree species in Switzerland.

ABSTRACT: Drought entails important effects on tree physiology, which may result in short- to long-term radial growth decreases. While the majority of studies have focused on annual drought-related variability of growth, relatively little is known about sustained growth decreases following drought years. We apply a statistical framework to identify climatic factors that induce abrupt growth decreases and may eventually result in tree mortality. We used tree-ring data from almost 500 standing dead trees and 200 living trees in eight sites of the Swiss network of strict forest reserves, including four of the most important Central European tree species (Abies alba, Picea abies, Fagus sylvatica and Quercus spp.). First, to assess short-term growth responses to drought under

SUBMITTER: Vanoni M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5513292 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature