Growth form distribution and genetic relationships in tree clusters of Pinus flexilis,a bird-dispersed pine

Seed dispersal by the Clark's nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana Wilson) may markedly influence the growth form and genetic population structure of limber pine (Pinus flexilis James). The nutcracker buries clusters of seeds in subterranean caches; germination of clustered seeds often results in a growth form characterized by two or more genetically distinct trees with fused or contiguous trunks (tree clusters). The occurrence of a morphologically similar form, the multi-trunk tree (a single genet branched near the base), as well as the typical single-trunked tree, complicates the study of limber pine populations. We examined growth form distribution and genetic relationships in tree clusters in limber pine populations at four elevations (from 2585 m to 3460 m) in the Colorado Front Range. At three study areas, relative occurrence of limber pine growth forms, as well as that of associated pines, was examined by a point-centered quarter survey. From the four study areas, we collected foliage from each trunk from a total of 74 clumps (combined tree clusters and multi-trunk trees) in order to differentiate the two growth forms using starch gel protein electrophoresis. Tree clumps were significantly more common in limber pine than in ponderosa or lodgepole pine (P<0.010). Although single-trunk limber pine was the most common growth form, except at the highest elevation, both multi-trunk trees and tree clusters were present in each stand. Tree clusters were estimated to comprise about 20% of the tree sites in each limber pine stand; the estimated proportion of multi-trunk trees varied by site from 5% to 77%. Trees in clusters were related, on average, as half to full siblings (mean r=0.43), but were unrelated to trees in other clusters (mean r=0.01). Electrophoretic analysis suggests possible genetic differentiation in limber pine that may be the result of different selection pressures on the growth forms.     

Tree growth response to drought and temperature in a mountain landscape in northern Arizona, USA

Aim To understand how tree growth response to regional drought and temperature varies between tree species, elevations and forest types in a mountain landscape. Location Twenty‐one sites on an elevation gradient of 1500 m on the San Francisco Peaks, northern Arizona, USA. Methods Tree‐ring data for the years 1950–2000 for eight tree species (Abies lasiocarpa var. arizonica (Merriam) Lemm., Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm., Pinus aristata Engelm., Pinus edulis Engelm., Pinus flexilis James, Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws., Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca (Beissn.) Franco and Quercus gambelii Nutt.) were used to compare sensitivity of radial growth to regional drought and temperature among co‐occurring species at the same site, and between sites that differed in elevation and species composition. Results For Picea engelmannii, Pinus flexilis, Pinus ponderosa and Pseudotsuga menziesii, trees in drier, low‐elevation stands generally had greater sensitivity of radial growth to regional drought than trees of the same species in wetter, high‐elevation stands. Species low in their elevational range had greater drought sensitivity than co‐occurring species high in their elevational range at the pinyon‐juniper/ponderosa pine forest ecotone, ponderosa pine/mixed conifer forest ecotone and high‐elevation invaded meadows, but not at the mixed conifer/subalpine forest ecotone. Sensitivity of radial growth to regional drought was greater at drier, low‐elevation compared with wetter, high‐elevation forests. Yearly growth was positively correlated with measures of regional water availability at all sites, except high‐elevation invaded meadows where growth was weakly correlated with all climatic factors. Yearly growth in high‐elevation forests up to 3300 m a.s.l. was more strongly correlated with water availability than temperature. Main conclusions Severe regional drought reduced growth of all dominant tree species over a gradient of precipitation and temperature represented by a 1500‐m change in elevation, but response to drought varied between species and stands. Growth was reduced the most in drier, low‐elevation forests and in species growing low in their elevational range in ecotones, and the least for trees that had recently invaded high‐elevation meadows. Constraints on tree growth from drought and high temperature are important for high‐elevation subalpine forests located near the southern‐most range of the dominant species.     

Sensitivity of French temperate coniferous forests to climate variability and extreme events (Abies alba,Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris)

Questions: (1) How do extreme climatic events and climate variability influence radial growth of conifers (silver fir, Norway spruce, Scots pine)? (2) How do elevation and soil water capacity (SWC) modulate sensitivity to climate? Location: The sampled conifer stands are in France, in western lowland and mountain forests, at elevations from 400 to 1700 m, and an SWC from 50 to 190 mm. Methods: We established stand chronologies for total ring width, earlywood and latewood width for the 33 studied stands (985 trees in total). Responses to climate were analysed using pointer years and bootstrapped response functions. Principal component analysis was applied to pointer years and response function coefficients in order to elucidate the ecological structure of the studied stands. Results: Extreme winter frosts are responsible for greater growth reductions in silver fir than in Norway spruce, especially at the upper elevation, while Scots pine was the least sensitive species. Exceptional spring droughts caused a notable growth decrease, especially when local conditions were dry (altitude<1000 m and SWC<100 mm for silver fir, western lowlands for Scots pine). Earlywood of silver fir depended on previous September and November and current‐year February temperature, after which current June and July water supply influenced latewood. Earlywood of Norway spruce was influenced by previous September temperature, after which current spring and summer droughts influenced both ring components. In Scots pine, earlywood and latewood depended on the current summer water balance. Local conditions mainly modulated latewood formation. Conclusions: If the climate becomes drier, low‐elevation dry stands or trees growing in western lowlands may face problems, as their growth is highly dependent on soil moisture availability.     

芦芽山阳坡不同海拔华北落叶松径向生长对气候变化的响应

为研究树木生长对气候变化的响应状况,选取芦芽山阳坡的3个海拔高度建立了华北落叶松(Larix principis-rupprechtii)的树轮宽度年表。年表的统计参数表明,3条年表均为研究气候信息的可靠资料。结果表明,芦芽山阳坡华北落叶松的径向生长和生长与气候的关系均具有海拔差异,中海拔(2440 m)和高海拔(2540 m)的华北落叶松具有相似年际生长变化,而二者均与低海拔(2330 m)华北落叶松的年际生长不同。低海拔华北落叶松的生长与4月平均气温和上一年11月降水量显著负相关,而中海拔和高海拔的生长均与上一年10月平均气温和6月降水量显著负相关。通过年表与气候因子之间的滑动相关分析发现,3个海拔高度华北落叶松生长与气候因子的关系均不稳定,生长与气温条件之间的显著相关关系是随着气温升高而出现的。气温的升高引起了华北落叶松生长与气温因子关系的海拔差异,以及径向生长的海拔差异。这一结果对于气候变化对植被垂直梯度影响的研究具有一定参考价值。     

Bioclimatology of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in the Eastern Alps: spatial and altitudinal climatic signals identified through a tree-ring network

Aim To identify the dominant spatial patterns of Fagus sylvatica radial growth in the Eastern Alps, and to understand their relationships to climate variation and bioclimatic gradients. Location Fourteen beech stands in the Eastern Alps, growing between 200 and 1500 m a.s.l. in Italy, Slovenia and Austria. Methods At each site, trees were sampled using increment borers or by taking discs from felled trees. Cores and discs were processed by measuring and crossdating ring width. Ring width series were standardized, averaged, and prewhitened to obtain site chronologies. Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) and Principal Components Analysis of prewhitened site chronologies were used to identify spatial and altitudinal growth patterns, related to the bioclimatic position of each stand. Bootstrap correlation and response functions were computed between monthly climatic variables and either principal component scores or composite chronologies from stands associated by HCA. The stability of dendroclimatic signals was analyzed by moving correlation functions (MCF). Correlation analysis (teleconnections) based on a data base of 37 Italian and Slovenian beech tree‐ring chronologies revealed the spatial extent of principal component scores. Results Sampled trees were 200–400 years old, representing the oldest beech trees that have been crossdated for the Alps to date. Maximum age was directly related to altitude and to the presence of historical forms of conservation. Tree‐ring parameters varied according to geographic patterns and the age of sampled trees. Stands were bioclimatically organized according to their location, and with reference to their elevation and distance from the Adriatic Sea. A direct response to winter temperature was found at all elevations. The altitudinal gradient ranged from low‐elevation stands, characterized by a Mediterranean‐type, late spring–summer drought signal, to mountain and high‐elevation stands, characterized by a direct response to growing season temperature plus an inverse response to the previous year’s July temperature. The mountain and high‐elevation signal was evident in Austria, the Central Alps and Slovenia, while the low‐elevation signal was confined to mountains adjacent to the Adriatic Sea. MCF revealed trends in the response to climatic factors affecting tree‐ring formation in mountain and high‐mountain stands linked to climatic warming. Main conclusions Dendroclimatic networks can be used for bioclimatic studies of tree populations. A biogeographical separation emerged between the Alps and the Apennines at the upper elevations, while different degrees of mediterraneity distinguished sites at lower elevations. This information will be useful in assessing any future climate‐related bioclimatic shifts, especially for forests at ecotones and along altitudinal gradients.     

长白山北坡不同海拔红松径向生长-气候因子关系对气温突变的响应

树木径向生长受复杂环境的影响。为预测气候变化背景下未来红松(Pinus koraiensis)径向生长动态变化,在长白山北坡采集3个海拔梯度(745、1134、1280 m)红松树轮样芯,运用树木年轮学研究方法,分析不同海拔红松径向生长-气候因子关系对气温突变的响应差异。结果表明:(1)通过对采样点附近气象站气温数据的M-K检验发现,年均温在1987年发生显著突变;(2)低海拔红松径向生长主要受当年生长季6—7月降水的影响,中、高海拔红松径向生长主要受当年7月平均最低气温的影响;(3)气温突变以后,低海拔红松径向生长-气候因子关系较为稳定,中海拔红松径向生长对前一年11月降水量的响应关系发生显著改变,高海拔红松径向生长对当年5月降水量的响应关系发生显著改变。因此,气温突变背景下,低海拔红松树轮年表更适用于区域气候重建等研究。同时随着气温持续升高,低海拔红松径向生长可能呈现下降趋势,中、高海拔红松径向生长可能呈现先增加后下降的趋势。     

Warming and provenance limit tree recruitment across and beyond the elevation range of subalpine forest

Climate niche models project that subalpine forest ranges will extend upslope with climate warming. These projections assume that the climate suitable for adult trees will be adequate for forest regeneration, ignoring climate requirements for seedling recruitment, a potential demographic bottleneck. Moreover, local genetic adaptation is expected to facilitate range expansion, with tree populations at the upper forest edge providing the seed best adapted to the alpine. Here, we test these expectations using a novel combination of common gardens, seeded with two widely distributed subalpine conifers, and climate manipulations replicated at three elevations. Infrared heaters raised temperatures in heated plots, but raised temperatures more in the forest than at or above treeline because strong winds at high elevation reduced heating efficiency. Watering increased season‐average soil moisture similarly across sites. Contrary to expectations, warming reduced Engelmann spruce recruitment at and above treeline, as well as in the forest. Warming reduced limber pine first‐year recruitment in the forest, but had no net effect on fourth‐year recruitment at any site. Watering during the snow‐free season alleviated some negative effects of warming, indicating that warming exacerbated water limitations. Contrary to expectations of local adaptation, low‐elevation seeds of both species initially recruited more strongly than high‐elevation seeds across the elevation gradient, although the low‐provenance advantage diminished by the fourth year for Engelmann spruce, likely due to small sample sizes. High‐ and low‐elevation provenances responded similarly to warming across sites for Engelmann spruce, but differently for limber pine. In the context of increasing tree mortality, lower recruitment at all elevations with warming, combined with lower quality, high‐provenance seed being most available for colonizing the alpine, portends range contraction for Engelmann spruce. The lower sensitivity of limber pine to warming indicates a potential for this species to become more important in subalpine forest communities in the coming centuries.     

Leap frog in slow motion: Divergent responses of tree species and life stages to climatic warming in Great Basin subalpine forests

In response to climate warming, subalpine treelines are expected to move up in elevation since treelines are generally controlled by growing season temperature. Where treeline is advancing, dispersal differences and early life stage environmental tolerances are likely to affect how species expand their ranges. Species with an establishment advantage will colonize newly available habitat first, potentially excluding species that have slower establishment rates. Using a network of plots across five mountain ranges, we described patterns of upslope elevational range shift for the two dominant Great Basin subalpine species, limber pine and Great Basin bristlecone pine. We found that the Great Basin treeline for these species is expanding upslope with a mean vertical elevation shift of 19.1 m since 1950, which is lower than what we might expect based on temperature increases alone. The largest advances were on limber pine‐dominated granitic soils, on west aspects, and at lower latitudes. Bristlecone pine juveniles establishing above treeline share some environmental associations with bristlecone adults. Limber pine above‐treeline juveniles, in contrast, are prevalent across environmental conditions and share few environmental associations with limber pine adults. Strikingly, limber pine is establishing above treeline throughout the region without regard to site characteristic such as soil type, slope, aspect, or soil texture. Although limber pine is often rare at treeline where it coexists with bristlecone pine, limber pine juveniles dominate above treeline even on calcareous soils that are core bristlecone pine habitat. Limber pine is successfully “leap‐frogging” over bristlecone pine, probably because of its strong dispersal advantage and broader tolerances for establishment. This early‐stage dominance indicates the potential for the species composition of treeline to change in response to climate change. More broadly, it shows how species differences in dispersal and establishment may result in future communities with very different specific composition.     

Abies spectabilis shows stable growth relations to temperature,but changing response to moisture conditions along an elevation gradient in the central Himalaya

A better understanding of growth-climate responses of high-elevation tree species across their distribution range is essential to devise an appropriate forest management and conservation strategies against adverse impacts of climate change. The present study evaluates how radial growth of Himalayan fir (Abies spectabilis D. Don) and its relation to climate varies with elevation in the Manaslu Mountain range in the central Himalaya. We developed tree-ring width chronologies of Himalayan fir from three elevational belts at the species’upper distribution limit (3750−3900 m), in the middle range (3500−3600 m), and at the lower distribution limit (3200−3300 m), and analyzed their associations with climatic factors. Tree growth of Himalayan fir varied synchronously across elevational belts, with recent growth increases observed at all elevations. Across the elevation gradient, radial growth correlated positively (negatively) with temperature (precipitation and standardized precipitation-evapotranspiration index, SPEI-03) during the summer (July to September) season. However, the importance of summer (July to September) temperatures on radial growth decreased with elevation, whereas correlations with winter (previous November to current January) temperatures increased. Correlations with spring precipitation and SPEI-03 changed from positive to negative from low to high elevations. Moving correlation analysis revealed a persistent response of tree growth to May and August temperatures. However, growth response to spring moisture availability has strongly increased in recent decades, indicating that intensified spring drought may reduce growth rates of Himalayan fir at lower elevations. Under sufficient moisture conditions, increasing summer temperature might be beneficial for fir trees growing at all elevations, while trees growing at the upper treeline will take additional benefit from winter warming.     

芦芽山阳坡不同海拔白杄径向生长对气候变暖的响应

使用树轮生态学方法研究了山西芦芽山建群种白杄(Picea meyeri)径向生长对气候变暖的响应状况, 发现随着气温升高, 不同海拔白杄生长与气候因子关系的变化存在差别。研究区气温可以分为1958-1983年的气温降低阶段和1984-2007年的气温升高阶段。由气温降低阶段进入气温升高阶段, 低海拔白杄树轮年表的序列间相关系数和第一主成分解释量均增大, 而高海拔白杄树轮年表的序列间相关系数和第一主成分解释量均减小, 表明气候条件对低海拔白杄生长的影响增强而对高海拔白杄生长的影响减弱。随着气温升高, 不同海拔白杄径向生长与气候因子的关系均出现了变化。1958-1983年, 低海拔(2 060 m)白杄生长与7月降水量显著正相关(p < 0.05), 而在1984-2007年, 这一关系表现为极显著正相关(p < 0.01), 同时与生长季中5-7月平均气温呈现显著负相关(p < 0.05)。海拔2 330 m, 白杄在1958-1983年与7月降水量极显著正相关(p < 0.01), 进入1984-2007年后与气候因子没有显著相关关系。海拔2 440 m, 白杄生长由1958-1983年的与气候因子没有显著相关关系转变为1984-2007年的与上一年10月平均气温显著负相关(p < 0.05)。高海拔(2 540 m)白杄生长在1958-1983年与上一年11月平均气温极显著负相关(p < 0.01), 在1984-2007年与上一年10月、当年1月平均气温和6月降水量均显著负相关(p < 0.05)。滑动相关分析结果表明, 随着气温升高, 低海拔主要气候因子对生长的影响增强, 而高海拔主要气候因子对生长的影响减弱, 这可能成为高海拔白杄生长对气温升高敏感性降低的原因。在气候变暖的驱动下, 海拔引起的白杄生长与气候因子关系的差异发生了变化。     

Climatic Stress during Stand Development Alters the Sign and Magnitude of Age-Related Growth Responses in a Subtropical Mountain Pine

The modification of typical age-related growth by environmental changes is poorly understood, In part because there is a lack of consensus at individual tree level regarding age-dependent growth responses to climate warming as stands develop. To increase our current understanding about how multiple drivers of environmental change can modify growth responses as trees age we used tree ring data of a mountain subtropical pine species along an altitudinal gradient covering more than 2,200 m of altitude. We applied mixed-linear models to determine how absolute and relative age-dependent growth varies depending on stand development; and to quantify the relative importance of tree age and climate on individual tree growth responses. Tree age was the most important factor for tree growth in models parameterised using data from all forest developmental stages. Contrastingly, the relationship found between tree age and growth became non-significant in models parameterised using data corresponding to mature stages. These results suggest that although absolute tree growth can continuously increase along tree size when trees reach maturity age had no effect on growth. Tree growth was strongly reduced under increased annual temperature, leading to more constant age-related growth responses. Furthermore, young trees were the most sensitive to reductions in relative growth rates, but absolute growth was strongly reduced under increased temperature in old trees. Our results help to reconcile previous contrasting findings of age-related growth responses at the individual tree level, suggesting that the sign and magnitude of age-related growth responses vary with stand development. The different responses found to climate for absolute and relative growth rates suggest that young trees are particularly vulnerable under warming climate, but reduced absolute growth in old trees could alter the species’ potential as a carbon sink in the future.     

祁连山中部地区树轮宽度年表特征随海拔高度的变化

利用采自祁连山中部地区不同海拔高度的四个采样点的青海云杉树轮样芯 ,分别建立了树木年轮宽度年表。发现随海拔高度的上升 ,树轮宽度指数的振幅减小 ,年表的平均敏感性降低 ,样本间的一致性也逐步减小 ,上限年表与气候因子的相关性最低 ,这与目前大家普遍认同的上限树木的生长受温度控制的概念并不一致。进一步的分析表明 ,年表的敏感性随海拔高度降低主要是由于该区域树木生长的限制因子是春季降水 ,而降水随海拔高度的升高而增加 ,从而使得春季降水对树木生长的限制作用随海拔升高而逐步减弱 ;生物学指标的测定结果表明 ,生长在高海拔的树木对环境的生态适应策略发生变化 ,其生理代谢维持在较低水平 ,以避免环境变化带来的影响 ,因此生长在高海拔的青海云杉对环境变化的敏感性较差。     

Connections between climatic variables and the growth and needle dynamics of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in Estonia and Lapland

The relationships between climatic variables and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growth and needle dynamics were studied in three stands in Estonia and in four stands located near the northern timberline in Lapland. The trees sampled in Estonia had low correlations with the analysed climatic variables (air temperature, precipitation and indices of atmospheric circulation). Moreover, the weak cross-correlation of the time-series of the Estonian sample trees indicated that Scots pine is affected mainly by local factors in that region. In Lapland, however, height increment and needle production correlated strongly among trees within a stand (mean r=0.45 and 0.46, respectively) and between stands (r=0.32 and 0.37). Radial increment also showed a high inter-correlation among the trees within a stand in Lapland (r=0.45). Both height increment and needle production were strongly influenced by the temperature regime of the previous summer in Lapland (mean r=0.64 and 0.64, respectively). Radial increment was correlated with the mean July temperature of the current year (mean r=0.29). The correlations between the indices of atmospheric circulation and tree attributes were weak, while the strongest correlation was between the Ponta Delgada NAO index (PD–NAO) and height increment and needle production in Lapland. Height increment, needle production and radial increment have increased since the 1990s in the trees growing in Lapland. This may indicate a positive effect of climate warming on tree growth in Lapland. In Estonia, where climatic conditions do not limit tree growth, the climate warming seems not to directly influence the growth and needle dynamics of Scots pine.     

Growth variation in Abies georgei var. smithii along altitudinal gradients in the Sygera Mountains, southeastern Tibetan Plateau

A network of nine Smith fir (Abies georgei var. smithii) ring-width chronologies was constructed from sites ranging in elevation from 3,550 to 4,390 m above sea level (a.s.l.) in the Sygera Mountains, southeastern Tibetan Plateau. High-elevation trees had lower growth rates than did low-elevation trees. The mean tree-ring series intercorrelation (RBAR) increased with elevation. Principal component analysis identified three elevation zones (around 3,600, 3,800, and >4,200 m a.s.l.) with distinctive tree-ring growth patterns. Five chronologies with elevation >4,200 m a.s.l. were highly correlated. Overall, the initiation of tree-ring growth in Smith fir is controlled by common climatic signals, such as July minimum temperature, across a broad altitudinal range. Precipitation was not a growth-limiting factor across stands. Regardless of differences in stand elevation, topographical aspect, and tree age, the radial growth of Smith fir trees was markedly similar in response to common climatic signals, perhaps as a result of the relatively high-elevation of these forests (above 3,550 m a.s.l.) and the abundant summer monsoon rainfall. In addition, radial tree growth along the altitudinal gradients was indicative of a recent warming trend on the southeastern Tibetan Plateau.     

Higher climatic sensitivity of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) subjected to tourist pressure on a hiking trail in the Brodnica Lakeland,NE Poland

Climate condtions constitute some of the main factors affecting variation in annual tree-ring growth. However other exogenous processes including geomorphic activity can affect substantially the rate of tree growth. Currently little is known on how human activity such as trampling affects tree growth along hiking trails.We analyzed annual growth variation in 42 Scots pine trees (Pinus sylvestris L.) subjected to what is known as tourist pressure on a heavily used hiking trail in the Brodnica Lakeland located in Northeastern Poland and compared them with 45 pin. trees growing under natural conditions. Specifically, we compared the climate sensitivity of pine trees growing under trampling pressure with a pine reference site using climate variables such as mean, minimum and maximum monthly air temperature and monthly precipitation. Positive and negative pointer years for two sites were designated using the Becker algorithm and compared.Results revealed that Scots pine annual growth at both sites was highly correlated with winter (January, February) and spring (March) air temperatures and February precipitation. However, both the response function analysis and pointer year analysis revealed higher climatic sensitivity of trees subjected to trampling. It was revealed that thermal and pluvial conditions play an important role for Scots pine growth at the trampling site (PRES), especially in June and July when cambium is probably most active. At the same time, these are the months during which tourist activity is the most intense. Tree growth on a hiking trail was positively correlated with higher precipitation and lower maximum air temperature in June and July. This may indicate that pine trees subjected to trampling are threatened by a potential moisture limitation that occurs within and around the studied hiking trail due to an increase in soil compaction. Additionally, the study revealed growth reduction in pine trees subjected to trampling pressure starting from the late 1970s, i.e., right at a time when a strong increase in tourist traffic was noted across the Brodnica Lakeland.The study shows that human impact associated with trampling on hiking trails significantlly affects the growth of Scots pine and should be taken into account in future dendroecological studies.     

Climatic signals in tree ring of Picea schrenkiana along an altitudinal gradient in the central Tianshan Mountains, northwestern China

Tree-ring samples of Picea schrenkiana (Fisch. et Mey) were studied along an altitudinal gradient in the central Tianshan Mountains, and ring-width chronologies were developed for three sites at different altitudes: low-forest border (1600–1700 m a.s.l.), interior forest (2100–2200 m a.s.l.), and upper treeline (2600–2700 m a.s.l.). Annual ring-width variations were similar among the three sites but variability was greatest at the low-forest border site. The statistical characters of the chronologies showed that mean sensitivity (MS) and standard deviation (SD) decreased with increasing elevation. In other words, the response of tree growth to environmental changes decreased with increasing altitude. To understand the differing response of trees at different elevations to the environmental changes, response function analysis was used to study the relationships between tree-ring widths and mean monthly temperature and total monthly precipitation from 1961 to 2000. The results showed that precipitation was the most important factor limiting tree radial growth in the arid central Tianshan Mountains, precipitation in August of the prior growth year played an important role on tree's radial growth across the entire altitudinal gradient even at the cold, high-elevation treeline site. It is expected that with increasing altitude air temperature decreased and precipitation increased, the importance of precipitation on tree growth decreased, and the response of tree growth to environmental changes decreased, too. This conclusion may be helpful to understand and research the relationship between climatic change and tree growth in arid and semiarid area.     

Evolutionary heritage shapes tree distributions along an Amazon‐to‐Andes elevation gradient

Understanding how evolutionary constraints shape the elevational distributions of tree lineages provides valuable insight into the future of tropical montane forests under global change. With narrow elevational ranges, high taxonomic turnover, frequent habitat specialization, and exceptional levels of endemism, tropical montane forests and trees are predicted to be highly sensitive to environmental change. Using plot census data from a gradient traversing > 3,000 m in elevation on the Amazonian flank of the Peruvian Andes, we employ phylogenetic approaches to assess the influence of evolutionary heritage on distribution trends of trees at the genus‐level. We find that closely related lineages tend to occur at similar mean elevations, with sister genera pairs occurring a mean 254 m in elevation closer to each other than the mean elevational difference between non‐sister genera pairs. We also demonstrate phylogenetic clustering both above and below 1,750 m a.s.l, corresponding roughly to the cloud‐base ecotone. Belying these general trends, some lineages occur across many different elevations. However, these highly plastic lineages are not phylogenetically clustered. Overall, our findings suggest that tropical montane forests are home to unique tree lineage diversity, constrained by their evolutionary heritage and vulnerable to substantial losses under environmental changes, such as rising temperatures or an upward shift of the cloud‐base.     

Land-use history and succession of Larix decidua in the Southern Alps of Italy–An essay based on a cultural history study of Roswitha Asche

Larix decidua, the European Larch tree, is a typical forest species of the Southern Alps of North Italy growing in mixture with Picea, in isolated pure stands, or as solitary trees on meadows at 1000–2000 m elevation. Presently, the old-growth Larix forests show no regeneration, while Picea abies, Norway spruce, invades at lower elevation, and Pinus cembra, Stone pine, at higher elevation. In this study, we investigate the conditions that lead to pure stands of L. decidua in the past. It is shown that intensive land-use of grazing was essential for Larix regeneration, and that the pure stands of Larix will disappear in the future with the change of land-use, unless management will be intensified again to produce mineral soil for Larix to regenerate.     

Spatial distribution and temporal dynamics of high‐elevation forest stands in southern Siberia

Aim To evaluate the hypothesis that topographic features of high‐elevation mountain environments govern spatial distribution and climate‐driven dynamics of the forest. Location Upper mountain forest stands (elevation range 1800–2600 m) in the mountains of southern Siberia. Methods Archive maps, satellite and on‐ground data from1960 to 2002 were used. Data were normalized to avoid bias caused by uneven distribution of topographic features (elevation, azimuth and slope steepness) within the analysed area. Spatial distribution of forest stands was analysed with respect to topography based on a digital elevation model (DEM). Results Spatial patterns in mountain forests are anisotropic with respect to azimuth, slope steepness and elevation. At a given elevation, the majority of forests occupied slopes with greater than mean slope values. As the elevation increased, forests shifted to steeper slopes. The orientation of forest azimuth distribution changed clockwise with increase in elevation (the total shift was 120°), indicating a combined effect of wind and water stress on the observed forest patterns. Warming caused changes in the forest distribution patterns during the last four decades. The area of closed forests increased 1.5 times, which was attributed to increased stand density and tree migration. The migration rate was 1.5 ± 0.9 m year^–1, causing a mean forest line shift of 63 ± 37 m. Along with upward migration, downward tree migration onto hill slopes was observed. Changes in tree morphology were also noted as widespread transformation of the prostrate forms of Siberian pine and larch into erect forms. Main conclusions The spatial pattern of upper mountain forests as well as the response of forests to warming strongly depends on topographic relief features (elevation, azimuth and slope steepness). With elevation increase (and thus a harsher environment) forests shifted to steep wind‐protected slopes. A considerable increase in the stand area and increased elevation of the upper forest line was observed coincident with the climate warming that was observed. Warming promotes migration of trees to areas that are less protected from winter desiccation and snow abrasion (i.e. areas with lower values of slope steepness). Climate‐induced forest response has significantly modified the spatial patterns of high‐elevation forests in southern Siberia during the last four decades, as well as tree morphology.     

Long-term changes in tree-ring–climate relationships at Mt. Patscherkofel (Tyrol,Austria) since the mid-1980s

Although growth limitation of trees at Alpine and high-latitude timberlines by prevailing summer temperature is well established, the loss of thermal response of radial tree growth during last decades has repeatedly been addressed. We examined long-term variability of climate–growth relationships in ring width chronologies of Stone pine (Pinus cembra L.) by means of moving response functions (MRF). The study area is situated in the timberline ecotone (ca. 2,000–2,200 m a.s.l.) on Mt. Patscherkofel (Tyrol, Austria). Five site chronologies were developed within the ecotone with constant sample depth (≥19 trees) throughout most of the time period analysed. MRF calculated for the period 1866–1999 and 1901–1999 for ca. 200- and ca. 100-year-old stands, respectively, revealed that mean July temperature is the major and long-term stable driving force of Pinus cembra radial growth within the timberline ecotone. However, since the mid-1980s, radial growth in timberline and tree line chronologies strikingly diverges from the July temperature trend. This is probably a result of extreme climate events (e.g. low winter precipitation, late frost) and/or increasing drought stress on cambial activity. The latter assumption is supported by a <10% increase in annual increments of ca. 50-year-old trees at the timberline and at the tree line in 2003 compared with 2002, when extraordinary hot and dry conditions prevailed during summer. Furthermore, especially during the second half of the twentieth century, influence of climate variables on radial growth show abrupt fluctuations, which might also be a consequence of climate warming on tree physiology.