Climate-induced mortality of Siberian pine and fir in the Lake Baikal Watershed, Siberia.

ABSTRACT: Siberian pine (Pinus sibirica) and fir (Abies sibirica) (so called "dark needle conifers", DNC) showed decreased radial growth increment within the Lake Baikal watershed since the 1980s with increasing mortality recorded since the year 2000. Tree ring width was strongly correlated with vapor pressure deficit, aridity and root zone moisture. Water stress from droughts made trees more susceptible to insect attacks causing mortality in about 10% of DNC stands within the Lake Baikal watershed. Within Siberia DNC mortality increased in the southern part of the DNC range. Biogeographically, tree mortality was located within the DNC - forest-steppes transition. Tree mortality was significantly correlated with drought and soil moisture anomalies. Within the interior of the DNC range

SUBMITTER: Kharuk VI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6038141 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature