Early emergence increases survival of tree seedlings in Central European temperate forests despite severe late frost.

ABSTRACT: Global warming is expected to result in earlier emergence of tree seedlings that may experience higher damages and mortality due to late frost in spring. We monitored emergence, characteristics, and survival of seedlings across ten tree species in temperate mixed deciduous forests of Central Europe over one and a half year. We tested whether the timing of emergence represents a trade-off for seedling survival between minimizing frost risk and maximizing the length of the growing period. Almost two-thirds of the seedlings died during the first growing period. The timing of emergence was decisive for seedling survival. Although seedlings that emerged early faced a severe late frost event, they benefited from a longer growing period resulting in increased overall survival. Larger seedling hei

SUBMITTER: Bianchi E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6662263 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature