Article
Forestry
Aristeidis Kastridis, Vasiliki Kamperidou, Dimitrios Stathis
Summary: The study found that precipitation is the key factor influencing the growth of A. borisii-regis trees under Mediterranean climate conditions, while temperature has a relatively small impact on tree growth. Precipitation in June, May, and July shows a high correlation with tree-ring width, while snow does not significantly affect tree growth.
Article
Agronomy
Ana-Maria Heres, Josue M. Polanco-Martinez, Ion Catalin Petritan, Any Mary Petritan, Jorge Curiel Yuste
Summary: This study highlights the importance of considering the stationary and non-stationary nature of tree-growth-climate relationships. The results show that these relationships vary between different tree species and sites. Heat map analyses based on rolling window correlations prove to be an effective statistical tool in assessing the stability of these relationships.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ireneusz Malik, Maciej Dluzewski, Joanna Rotnicka, Malgorzata Wistuba, Kazimierz Krzemien, Andrzej Muszynski, Elzbieta Rojan, Albert Slezak
Summary: The study found that a large flood in 2014 caused silver poplar trees in the semi-arid High Atlas Mountains of Morocco to exhibit dual, opposite growth reactions in the following year, with half of the trees developing wider rings and the other half developing narrower rings. The wide rings were attributed to a sudden supply of water benefitting the trees, while the narrower rings were a result of environmental stress related to sediment deposits from the flood. This demonstrates the importance of considering detailed analysis of individual tree responses to environmental events, rather than relying solely on average ring widths.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Olga Ukhvatkina, Alexander Omelko, Alexander Zhmerenetsky
Summary: Climate change has complex effects on the radial growth of Jezo spruce, with the balance between positive and negative effects depending significantly on local topography.
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Gulzade Kahveci
Summary: The dendrochronological potential of Juniperus foetidissima in central Anatolia was evaluated by preparing raw, standard, and residual tree-ring chronologies. The residual tree-ring chronologies were found to be statistically relevant and were used to examine the climate-growth relationship. Positive or negative correlations were observed between residual tree-ring widths and monthly precipitation and mean temperature, although the coefficient values were low. In conclusion, despite some issues with cross-dating, Juniperus foetidissima can be used for dendrochronological research and the development of long-term chronologies.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sasa Kostic, Tom Levanic, Sasa Orlovic, Bratislav Matovic, Dejan B. Stojanovic
Summary: This study built tree-ring width (TRW), stable carbon isotope ratio (delta C-13), and intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE) data set chronologies for two oak species in northwestern Serbia. The results showed that Turkey oak exhibited better drought tolerance compared to pedunculate oak and delta C-13 responded more strongly and rapidly to climate variations than TRW.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Samuli Helama
Summary: Tree-ring dating relies on dendrochronology principles and cross-dating of growth patterns among specimens. This study examines the type I and II errors involved in null hypothesis testing of cross-dating statistics. The results show that there is no universal criterion for acceptable dating outcomes, and multiple dendroecological factors need to be considered. Additionally, evaluating the strength of correlation relative to other positions improves the assessment of correct dating positions.
QUATERNARY GEOCHRONOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Beatriz Franca Borja, Arno Fritz das Neves Brandes, Rafael Perpetuo Albuquerque, Leonardo Bona do Nascimento, Claudia Franca Barros
Summary: This study analyzed the long-term climate-growth response of Pseudopiptadenia contorta in two Atlantic Forest remnants in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Consistent growth patterns were found for P. contorta, with a congruent growth response to annual and spring precipitation, as well as precipitation in the rainy months. The study highlights the potential of P. contorta as a model for further dendrochronological research to facilitate the reconstruction of historical climatic series and predictions of future impacts of climate change in tropical areas.
Article
Forestry
Yudong Shen, Katsuhiko Takata, Kayo Kudo, Hiroyuki Muraoka, Taku M. Saitoh, Yu Hirano, Koh Yasue
Summary: This study investigated the effects of climate factors on ring density and ring weight of Betula ermanii. The results showed that ring weight was primarily controlled by ring width, rather than ring density. Higher temperature and less precipitation led to decreased ring density, while higher nighttime temperature and dry conditions decreased ring weight.
TREES-STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Li Fu, Yan Xu, Dan Zhao, Bingfang Wu, Zhihong Xu
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the responses of Pinus tabuliformis, a major coniferous tree species, to air pollution in the Miyun Reservoir Basin (MRB) in Beijing. The results showed an overall increase in intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE) of Pinus tabuliformis, and the contribution of atmospheric CO2 concentration (c(a)) to tree growth was significant at remote sites. The study also found that heavy air pollution led to further stomatal closure, as evidenced by higher delta C-13 levels in tree rings.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jose Villanueva-Diaz, David W. Stahle, Helen Mills Poulos, Matthew D. Therrell, Ian Howard, Aldo Rafael Martinez-Sifuentes, David Hermosillo-Rojas, Julian Cerano-Paredes, Juan Estrada-Avalos
Summary: The forests of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States are experiencing challenges such as higher temperatures, persistent drought, and more severe wildfires. Analysis on four conifer species native to these forests shows that they are sensitive to changes in precipitation and temperature, with different responses in different seasons.
Article
Plant Sciences
Catalin-Constantin Roibu, Ciprian Palaghianu, Viorica Nagavciuc, Monica Ionita, Victor Sfecla, Andrei Mursa, Alan Crivellaro, Marian-Ionut Stirbu, Mihai-Gabriel Cotos, Andrei Popa, Irina Sfecla, Ionel Popa
Summary: In the context of forecasted climate change scenarios, the growth of forest tree species at their distribution margin is crucial to adapt current forest management strategies. This study analyzed the growth of beech populations in the Republic of Moldova and found that the marginal populations had higher growth rates compared to core distribution sites. The study also revealed a significant response of beech growth to climatic variables, particularly vapor pressure deficit (VPD), indicating that water deficit is a limiting factor for beech growth in the region.
Article
Forestry
Chunyan Wu, Dongsheng Chen, Xiaomei Sun, Shougong Zhang
Summary: Precise quantification of climate-growth relationships is crucial for scientific forest management. This study investigated the response of tree growth to climate at different altitudes using Larix kaempferi trees. The results showed that tree-ring growth (TRG) was correlated with climate differently in different tree classes at different altitudes. TRG was more sensitive to climate at low altitudes, mainly limited by precipitation, while at high altitudes, the climate-growth relationships were opposite. Dominant trees were found to be the best choice for accurately assessing climate-growth relationships.
JOURNAL OF FORESTRY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Thomas W. Patterson, Cathryn H. Greenberg, Andrew Hacket-Pain
Summary: Oak trees are dominant and important in the Central Hardwood Region of the USA for their timber value and the food value of their acorns for wildlife. This study examined the relationship between acorn production, climate, and tree-ring data from five oak species in southern Appalachian hardwood forests. The results showed limited evidence that acorn production influences tree-ring data, indicating that tree-ring based reconstruction of acorn crops in these oak species may not be feasible.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yuanqiao Li, Xiuchen Wu, Yongmei Huang, Xiaoyan Li, Fangzhong Shi, Shoudong Zhao, Yuting Yang, Yuhong Tian, Pei Wang, Shulei Zhang, Cicheng Zhang, Yang Wang, Chongyang Xu, Pengwu Zhao
Summary: The study shows a stronger compensation effect of winter snow on subsequent growing-season tree growth in drier climates, compared to wetter areas.
Article
Forestry
Zoltan Kern, Viorica Nagavciuc, Istvan Gabor Hatvani, Istvan Norbert Hegyi, Neil J. Loader, Ionel Popa
Summary: This study evaluates the ontogenetic pattern in the 618O and 613C data in Swiss stone pine trees from the Eastern Carpathians, Romania. The results show that there is no persistent linear trend in the Swiss stone pine 618O data, while a systematic enrichment in 13C was observed in the 613C data over a < 40 year-long period after germination. Despite the limited sample size, these findings provide valuable insights for future analyses and sampling strategies in the Eastern Carpathian Swiss stone pine stands.
Article
Forestry
Paula Ballikaya, Wenqi Song, Olivier Bachmann, Marcel Guillong, Xiaochun Wang, Paolo Cherubini
Summary: Rapid industrialization has caused a significant increase in air pollution. The factors influencing the abundance and composition of smog, especially fine particulate matter, in China are not well understood, and there are limited air quality monitoring networks providing short-term pollution data. This study used LA-ICP-MS to analyze chemical elements in tree rings from Harbin, China, and found that some elements showed changes in pollution levels over time. The analysis also confirmed the effectiveness of emission reduction measures in improving China's urban air quality after 2010.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Paula Ballikaya, Jose Maria Mateos, Ivano Brunner, Andres Kaech, Paolo Cherubini
Summary: In a greenhouse experiment, silver nanoparticles were applied to European beech leaves and were found to primarily aggregate on the leaf surface, surrounding the stomata. Further analysis revealed that some nanoparticles adhered to the cell walls, suggesting that they were absorbed as particles rather than ions through the stomata. These findings provide new insights into the ability of trees to uptake nanosized particles and their potential transportation within the tree.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Yanyan Ni, Wenfa Xiao, Jianfeng Liu, Zunji Jian, Maihe Li, Jin Xu, Lei Lei, Jianhua Zhu, Qi Li, Lixiong Zeng, Paolo Cherubini
Summary: Through a study on the relationship between the radial growth of Pinus massoniana and climate variability in natural forests and planted forests in subtropical China, it was found that the growth-climate relationships are largely similar in both types of forests. The effects of climate variables on tree growth vary among different sites and latitudinal gradients. These findings not only enrich our understanding of the impacts of climate on forest growth, but also provide implications for future forest sustainable management in subtropical regions of central China.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Paula Ballikaya, Ivano Brunner, Claudia Cocozza, Daniel Grolimund, Ralf Kaegi, Maria E. Murazzi, Marcus Schaub, Leonie C. Schoenbeck, Brian Sinnet, Paolo Cherubini
Article
Forestry
Viorica Nagavciuc, Andrei Mursa, Monica Ionita, Victor Sfecla, Ionel Popa, Catalin-Constantin Roibu
Summary: This study analyzed the influence of extreme climatic events on different tree ring parameters of Quercus sp. using a regional oak tree-ring network in eastern Europe. By comparing the seasonal cycle of tree growth with climatic parameters, the current and lagged consequences of extreme hydroclimatic events on tree ring width and the capacity of trees to recover were evaluated. The results showed that the variability of oak tree ring width is mainly influenced by water resources, and long-lasting drought events are an important limiting factor for Quercus sp.'s growth.
Article
Plant Sciences
Wen Guo, Paolo Cherubini, Jian Zhang, Mai-He Li, Lianghua Qi
Summary: Leaf stomatal and anatomical traits have a strong influence on plant productivity. This study investigates the environmental adaptation mechanisms of these traits in moso bamboo forests and their relationship with ecosystem productivity. The results show that climate and soil factors significantly affect leaf stomatal and anatomical traits. Solar radiation and mean annual precipitation are the key drivers of variation in leaf stomatal and anatomical traits, respectively. Soil moisture and nutrients also have a significant impact on these traits. Network analysis reveals a significant correlation between leaf stomata and anatomical traits, with stomatal size playing a key role in adapting to environmental conditions. Structural equation modeling shows that leaf stomatal traits have a direct effect on bamboo ecosystem productivity. This study provides new insights into the prediction of bamboo forests under global climate change.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Holger Gartner, Loic Schneider, Sandro Lucchinetti, Paolo Cherubini
Summary: In dendroecological research, it is crucial to accurately date each single growth ring for various studies. The way samples are taken is essential for successful preparation and analysis.
JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Enkh-Uchral Batkhuyag, Marco M. Lehmann, Paolo Cherubini, Bilguun Ulziibat, Tseren-Ochir Soyol-Erdene, Marcus Schaub, Matthias Saurer
Summary: The Ulaanbaatar area in Mongolia has become highly polluted due to urbanization, industrial activity, and traffic. However, the impact of air pollution on surrounding forests is not well understood. This study uses stable isotope analyses and trace element analysis to investigate the effects of air pollution and climate change on forests in and around Ulaanbaatar. The results show pollution effects in foliar material and increased concentrations of trace elements in leaves and needles, indicating the threat to forests in urban areas.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Piyatida Kittipornkul, Paitip Thiravetyan, Yasutomo Hoshika, Beatrice Sorrentino, Ionel Popa, Pierre Sicard, Elena Paoletti, Alessandra De Marco
Summary: The study reveals that the concentration of tropospheric ozone exceeds the safety levels in tropical and subtropical regions, posing a threat to crops, forests, and human health. The ozone concentration exceeds the allowed range in certain areas, negatively impacting human health, forest productivity, and food security. Ozone risk assessment includes concentration-based and flux-based metrics.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Rong Zhang, Zihao Hu, Paolo Cherubini, David J. Cooper, Liangjun Zhu, Pifeng Lei
Summary: The young secondary forests in subtropical regions of China have significant roles in the global carbon cycle and China's ecological and economic security. Climate warming affects the tree radial growth and the response of different tree species to climate varies. Drought stress caused by climate warming significantly impacts the radial growth of most tree species, especially conifers.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Forestry
R. Allen, A. Mazis, B. Wardlow, P. Cherubini, J. Hiller, D. Wedin, T. Awada
Summary: Through a 30-year study, we found that precipitation, temperature, and drought severity index are important factors influencing the growth of J. virginiana and P. ponderosa, while soil water content significantly affects the performance of J. virginiana. In addition, there is a significant relationship between vegetation indices (VIs) and tree growth, and VIs can be an effective tool to replace or complement ground measurements. This study provides evidence for using remote sensing to monitor the growth of woody species and evaluate grassland vegetation growth.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Letter
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Frederick Reinig, Lukas Wacker, Olaf Joeris, Clive Oppenheimer, Giulia Guidobaldi, Daniel Nievergelt, Florian Adolphi, Paolo Cherubini, Stefan Engels, Jan Esper, Frank Keppler, Alexander Land, Christine Lane, Hardy Pfanz, Sabine Remmele, Michael Sigl, Adam Sookdeo, Ulf Buentgen
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Valentin Jujea, Valeriu Stoilov-Linu, Mihaela Boboc, Ionel Popa, Alexandru Nedelea, Nicolae Craciun, Bogdan-Mihai Negrea
Summary: This study assessed land use and land use change using supervised mapping on satellite imagery. The analysis of landscape fragmentation revealed the effectiveness of the mapping method. The study highlights significant changes in land use, particularly a decrease in artificial surfaces and grassland between 2000 and 2010.
Article
Forestry
Paula Ballikaya, Ivano Brunner, Claudia Cocozza, Daniel Grolimund, Ralf Kaegi, Maria Elvira Murazzi, Marcus Schaub, Leonie C. Schoenbeck, Brian Sinnet, Paolo Cherubini
Summary: This study investigated the uptake and transport mechanisms of gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) in European beech and Scots pine trees. The results showed that both tree species were capable of taking up and transporting Au-NPs to their stem. European beech exhibited higher uptake of Au-NPs, possibly due to its higher stomatal density and wood characteristics.