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Site properties have received limited attention in analyzing the weather-growth relationship of trees. We analyzed the annual growth variation of Scots pine on two extreme sites in southern Finland: a dry hill top site and a moist patch of mineral soil surrounded by a large peatland. The effects of daily precipitation and temperature were related to growth variation using correlation analyses. In addition, the common signal and the difference of ring-width indices from the dry and moist sites were studied via principal component analysis and related to the daily weather measurements. All possible time intervals longer than 14 days from current year April 1st to August 31st were tested. We also modeled daily photosynthetic production of Scots pine using two parameter sets, one describing limited stomatal closure and the other one easily triggered stomatal closure. Growth variation at the dry site was linked with variation of precipitation during early and middle parts of growing season, while growth at moist site was correlated with temperature during the middle part of growing season. Daily photosynthetic production, modeled with parameters describing mostly open stomata produced a rather strong negative correlation with ring-width indices from the dry site, possibly indicating that the parametrization overestimated growth during dry years. Other than that, the modeled photosynthetic production was relatively weakly correlated with the ring-width indices. Evidently, the mechanisms controlling Scots pine growth at drought-sensitive sites in southern Finland are complex. Overall, the results indicate that site properties, especially water retention capacity, need to be considered in dendroecological research.

Jelševa sušica je še precej neznana bolezen, ki v zadnjem času močno ogroža sestoje črne jelše v Prekmurju. Raziskav o tej bolezni, še posebej v Sloveniji, ni prav veliko, še manj o vplivu bolezni na priraščanje dreves. V ta namen smo v Polanskem logu v dveh čistih sestojih črne jelše vzorčili rast dreves. V z jelševo sušico okuženem sestoju smo pridobili prirastne izvrtke 24 na videz zdravih (OZ drevesa) in 20 okuženih (O) dreves, v neokuženem sestoju pa še 15 zdravih (Z) dreves. Ocenili smo še določene drevesne parametre in pri okuženih drevesih še prisotnost značilnih simptomov bolezni. Ugotovili smo razlike v povprečnih širinah branik pri okuženih (O) in zdravih drevesih (OZ in Z). Najširše branike so imela Z drevesa, najožje pa O drevesa. Zmanjšan radialni prirastek se je pri O drevesih kazal v zadnjih 9 letih. Okužba se pri na videz zdravih OZ drevesih manifestira na zmanjšanem radialnem prirastku že več let pred vidnimi simptomi okužbe. V okuženem sestoju je bila 25% okuženost in 11% mortaliteta dreves. Phytophthora disease of alder is a fairly unknown but lethal disease of black alder. There has not been much research on this disease in Europe or Slovenia, especially not about the impact of the disease on tree growth. We sampled trees in two pure stands of black alder in Polanski Log. In the infected stand, we obtained tree cores of 24 seemingly healthy (OZ) trees and 20 infected (O) trees. In the uninfected stand we obtained 15 tree cores. Some tree parameters have been measured or assesed for each sampled tree and the presence of phytophthora disease symptoms were registered for the infected trees. We found significant differences in the average tree ring widths in the infected (O) and healthy (OZ & Z) trees. The widest average tree ring was found for Z trees, and the narrowest for O trees. Reduced radial increment in O trees has been reflected in the last 9 years. Healthy OZ trees in the infected stand experienced reduced radial increment for several years before visible symptoms of infection even occur. In the infected stand, there was 25% infection rate and 11% mortality of trees.

Z dendrokronološkimi metodami smo analizirali debelinsko priraščanje smreke na osmih lokacijah v Sloveniji. Med njimi je bilo pet naravnih smrekovih združb, v druge je bila smreka umetno vnesena v preteklosti, oziroma je bil povečan njen naravni delež. Na vsaki ploskvi smo s prirastoslovnim svedrom odvzeli izvrtke najmanj 20 dreves. V dendrokronološkem laboratoriju smo jih posušili in zbrusili do visokega sijaja, nato pa skenirali s pomočjo sistema ATRICS ter izmerili širine branik v programih CooRecorder in CDendro. Ugotovili smo, da med naravnimi in antropogenimi rastišči ni značilnih razlik v debelinskem priraščanju. Na lokacijah Sorško polje, Ravnik in Mašun smo opazili spremembe v debelinskem priraščanju, ki kažejo, da se vpliv temperature zraka (toplejša poletja) in padavin (pogostejši pojav suše) na rast povečuje. Analiza značilnih let je pokazala, da so le-ta v zadnjih 30 letih pogostejša in da se pojavljajo na več lokacijah hkrati, predvsem pa se je povečalo število negativnih značilnih let, t.j. nadpovprečno toplih in suhih let. A dendrochronological analysis of the spruce's radial increment at eight different plots was conducted throughout Slovenia. The plots selected were diverse: five of them were natural spruce stands in others, the spruce was introduced anthropogenically in the past for economic reasons, or its natural share in stands was increased. We took samples of at least 20 trees per plot and examined them in the dendrochronological laboratory using Advanced Tree-Ring Image Capturing System (ATRICS) and specialized dendrochronological software. We compared the growth in natural spruce stands with the secondary (anthropogenic) ones and found no statistical differences in growth patterns between these two groups. However, we found some evidence for climate change effect on radial increment at locations Sorško polje, Ravnik and Mašun, which indicates that air temperature and precipitation now have stronger effect on spruce growth than in the past. Analysis of pointer years suggests that extreme events (exceptionally warm and dry years) are more common and widespread in the last 30 years.

The effect of climatic factors on tree-ring width (TRW) of European ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) with healthy and damaged crowns growing in the central and eastern part of Latvia was assessed by dendrochronological techniques. Pointer year indices were calculated to assess the variability of TRW. Positive pointer years were more frequent than negative, similarly for damaged and healthy trees, suggesting similar limiting factors. The relationships between TRW and climatic factors differed regionally and locally. In the eastern part of Latvia, TRW was affected by temperature in spring of current and preceding years. In the central part of Latvia, weather conditions in current and preceding summer mainly affected TRW; temperature and precipitation had positive effect suggesting occurrence of water deficit, but the daily range of temperature had a negative effect. Hence, regional diversification of radial growth patterns might be expected. Some differences in sensitivity to climate were observed between the damaged and healthy trees. In the central part of Latvia, the damaged trees appeared additionally sensitive to temperature in summer. In the eastern part of Latvia, damaged trees were additionally sensitive to temperature in May. Nevertheless, some additional factors were significant for the healthy trees.

Global change affects the functioning of forest ecosystems and the services they provide, but little is known about the interactive effects of co-occurring global change drivers on important functions such as tree growth and vitality. In the present study we quantified the interactive (i.e. synergistic or antagonistic) effects of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition and climatic variables (temperature, precipitation) on tree growth (in terms of tree-ring width, TRW), taking forest ecosystems with European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) as an example. We hypothesised that (i) N deposition and climatic variables can evoke non-additive responses of the radial increment of beech trees, and (ii) N loads have the potential to strengthen the trees' sensitivity to climate change. In young stands, we found a synergistic positive effect of N deposition and annual mean temperature on TRW, possibly linked to the alleviation of an N shortage in young stands. In mature stands, however, high N deposition significantly increased the trees’ sensitivity to increasing annual mean temperatures (antagonistic effect on TRW), possibly due to increased fine root dieback, decreasing mycorrhizal colonization or shifts in biomass allocation patterns (aboveground vs. belowground). Accordingly, N deposition and climatic variables caused both synergistic and antagonistic effects on the radial increment of beech trees, depending on tree age and stand characteristics. Hence, the nature of interactions could mediate the long-term effects of global change drivers (including N deposition) on forest carbon sequestration. In conclusion, our findings illustrate that interaction processes between climatic variables and N deposition are complex and have the potential to impair growth and performance of European beech. This in turn emphasises the importance of multiple-factor studies to foster an integrated understanding and models aiming at improved projections of tree growth responses to co-occurring drivers of global change. Global change affects the functioning of forest ecosystems and the services they provide, but little is known about the interactive effects of co-occurring global change drivers on important functions such as tree growth and vitality. In the present study we quantified the interactive (i.e. synergistic or antagonistic) effects of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition and climatic variables (temperature, precipitation) on tree growth (in terms of tree-ring width, TRW), taking forest ecosystems with European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) as an example. We hypothesised that (i) N deposition and climatic variables can evoke non-additive responses of the radial increment of beech trees, and (ii) N loads have the potential to strengthen the trees' sensitivity to climate change. In young stands, we found a synergistic positive effect of N deposition and annual mean temperature on TRW, possibly linked to the alleviation of an N shortage in young stands. In mature stands, however, high N deposition significantly increased the trees’ sensitivity to increasing annual mean temperatures (antagonistic effect on TRW), possibly due to increased fine root dieback, decreasing mycorrhizal colonization or shifts in biomass allocation patterns (aboveground vs. belowground). Accordingly, N deposition and climatic variables caused both synergistic and antagonistic effects on the radial increment of beech trees, depending on tree age and stand characteristics. Hence, the nature of interactions could mediate the long-term effects of global change drivers (including N deposition) on forest carbon sequestration. In conclusion, our findings illustrate that interaction processes between climatic variables and N deposition are complex and have the potential to impair growth and performance of European beech. This in turn emphasises the importance of multiple-factor studies to foster an integrated understanding and models aiming at improved projections of tree growth responses to co-occurring drivers of global change.

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of small forest water reservoirs on the radial increment of Scots pine and Norway spruce. We selected four small water reservoirs that were reconstructed in autumn 2006 in the Maskulińskie Forest District (northern Poland). Around each reservoir we placed transects according to the cardinal directions. At those transects we set up 10×10 m sample plots at different distances from the edge of the water reservoirs. On the each sample plot we made simplified phytosociological releve and set the type, subtype, and variety of soil. The impact of the water reservoirs on the radial increment was determined for Scots pine and Norway spruce growing on transects. Conducted research showed that the examined species stronger reacted to the water stored in the reservoirs by diameter increase in the initial two or three years after the reservoir reconstruction. The increment of Scots pine growing near to edge of the water reservoirs (up to 20 m) was reduced. In contrast, there was no significant impact of environmental features or weather conditions on radial increment of the analysed species., Sylwan 162 (7): 539-546

Purpose of this research was to detect influence of climatic change on pine radial increment in stand in the Left-bank Forest-steppe of Ukraine as example 100-years-old stand at State Enterprise 'Kharkiv forest scientific research station’. Methods. Dendrochronological. Method of correlation function and multiple regressions (response function) were used to analyze the influence of climatic factors on tree radial increment. For this purpose computer program RESPO was used. Results. Tree ring series were built and were used for correlation analysis between climatic factors and pine radial increment for two periods: 1960-1988 and 1988-2016.Years of minimum (1933, 1942, 1956, 1972, 1976, 1976, 1987, 1992, 2002, 2006 та 2012) and maximum (1933, 1942, 1956, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1979, 1979, 1987, 1992, 2002 та 2012) of radial increment were detected. Depressions of pine radial increment were as a result of negative weather conditions: low and high winter and early-spring temperature, droughts during vegetation period. Maximums of radial increments were depended on favorable weather conditions for pine radial growth. Correlation and Response analysis for two periods showed that increase of temperature and precipitation, excluding winter precipitation, changed response of forest ecosystems to climatic change: if in first period (1960-1988) radial increment limited by April temperature and together July temperature positively influenced on radial growth, in second period (1988-2016) June temperature negatively infuenced on radial increment. Slight increase precipitation during vegetation period could not soften impact if high temperature during vegetatation period on tree radial increment. Conclusions. At comparison 1960-1988 and 1988-2016 it was detected that during first period positive influence of summer temperature on radial growth was distinctive and for second period one started to limit increment (negative influence) were detected. Slight increase of precipitation for vegetation period in second period significantly didn’t influence on pine radial growth. In second period increase of winter temperature and number of thaws negatively influenced on soil moisture, decreased of tree ring widths., Цель. Выявление влияния изменений климата на радиальный прирост сосны в Левобережной степи Украины на примере 100-летнего соснового насаждения ГП «Харьковская лесная научно-исследовательская станция». Методы. Дендрохронологические. Результаты. Созданы древесно-кольцевые хронологии для установления связей между климатическими показателями и радиальным приростом сосны за два периода: 1960-1988 та 1988-2016 гг. Корреляционный анализ и функция отклика за два периода показали, что при увеличении температур и количества осадков (исключением стали зимние осадки) изменилась реакция лесных екосистем на вариации условий природной среды. Так, если в первом периоде (1960-1988 гг.) радиальный прирост ограничивали апрельские температуры, в то же время на прирост положительно влияли летние (июльские) температуры, то во втором периоде летние температуры (июнькие) стали негативно влиять на прирост деревьев. Незначительное увеличение количества осадков за вегетационный период не смогло смягчить влияние высоких температур вегетационного периода на радиальный прирост. Выводы. При сравнении 1960-1988 и 1988-2016 гг. выявлено, что для первого периода характерно положительное влияние летних температур на радиальный прирост, однако для второго периода они начинают ограничивать прирост деревьев. Незначительное увеличение количества осадков за вегетационный период не смогло смягчить влияние высоких температур вегетационного периода на радиальный прирост., Мета. Виявлення впливу змін клімату на радіальний приріст сосни в Лівобережному степу на прикладі 100-річного соснового насадження ДП «Харківська лісова науково-дослідна станція». Методи. Дендрохронологічні. Результати. Створено деревно-кільцеві хронології, які використано у встановленні зв’язків між кліматичними чинниками та радіальним приростом сосни за два періоди: 1960-1988 та 1988-2016 рр. Кореляційний аналіз та функція відгуку за два періоди показали, що при збільшенні температур та кількості опадів (виняток – зимові опади) змінилася реакція лісових екосистем на зміни клімату: так, якщо в першому періоді (1960-1988 рр.) радіальний приріст обмежували квітневі температури, водночас позитивно впливали липневі температури, то у другому періоді (1988-2016 рр.) червневі температури вже негативно впливали на приріст. Незначне збільшення кількості опадів за вегетаційний період не змогли пом’якшити вплив високих температур вегетаційного періоду на радіальний приріст. Висновки. При порівнянні 1960-1988 та 1988-2016 рр. виявлено, що якщо для першого періоду характерний позитивний вплив літніх температур на радіальний приріст, то для другого періоду вони починають обмежувати приріст. Незначне збільшення кількості опадів за вегетаційний період у другому періоді не змогло пом’якшити вплив високих температур на радіальний приріст дерев.

The contribution of tree-ring analysis to other fields of scientific inquiry with overlapping interests, such as forestry and plant population biology, is often hampered by the different parameters and methods that are used for measuring growth. Here I present relatively simple graphical, numerical, and mathematical considerations aimed at bridging these fields, highlighting the value of crossdating. Lack of temporal control prevents accurate identification of factors that drive wood formation, thus crossdating becomes crucial for any type of tree growth study at inter-annual and longer time scales. In particular, exactly dated tree rings, and their measurements, are crucial contributors to the testing and betterment of allometric relationships.

This paper defines pointer years and years with distinctive tree rings in the growth of beech in 3 sites (ecological units-EU) of the area of Đerdap, in order to observe the reactions of trees to the effects of various factors of growth. The pointer years were determined by the Schweingruber (1983) methodology. The years with distintive tree rings were defined as the years of beech growth with very pronounced distinctive growth rings (annual ring width at least ± 2 standard deviations higher or lower than the arithmetic mean) and pronounced typical growth rings (annual ring width at least ± 1.5 standard deviation higher or lower than the arithmetic mean). The common pointer years for the growth of beech in the site conditions of all three ecological units are 1977 and 1988 (negative pointer years). A particular pointer year is 1988, when in more than 90% of trees under the analyzed environmental conditions the marked reduction of tree rings width of the trees (EUB) or very pronounced reduction in the width of tree rings (EUA and ESV) were observed. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 43007: Istraživanje klimatskih promena na životnu sredinu: pracenje uticaja, adaptacija i ublažavanje]

This study aims to develop a screening approach for genetic tolerance to industrial pollution in Scots pine. The relationship between temporal variation in strength of genetic control on radial increment of seed orchard clones affected by air pollution and past pollutant emissions from a nitrogen fertilizer plant in central Lithuania was assessed. The annual radial increment was measured from increment cores. High present-day defoliation was associated to low radial increment during intensive pollution period in the years 1992 - 1995 when high defoliation was recorded in the stands. There was a tendency for a stronger genetic control of radial increment during the years of high defoliation. The clones representing the extremes of high and low radial increments during the stress period of 1992 - 1995 were selected for further tolerance testing based on needle anatomy traits.

A Thesis for applying for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry The doctoral thesis focuses on the influence of long-term local weather variation on Scots pine growth on a temporal and spatial scale. Dendrochronological methods were used to determine the most influential climatic factors affecting Scots pine radial growth. Since the site index is commonly used in forest growth and yield models as a proxy to describe site productivity, possible climate change impacts on long-term tree height growth were analysed using the site index comparison approach. The findings of a case study in South Estonia were based on the annual growth of three retrospectively reconstructed generations growing in different periods of time which showed that pine trees established after 1960 had elevated growth rates compared to stands established decades earlier. Over a longer time span, this resulted in different cumulative growth patterns and a higher site index. Meteorological data evidenced that thermal climatic conditions for the youngest trees established around 1970 were significantly warmer compared to the time period when the oldest trees were growing, which positively contributed to accelerated growth. Tree-ring analysis from more than 900 Scots pine trees revealed that radial growth response to annual weather fluctuations varied in Estonia on the spatial scale and depended on local climatic circumstances as well as on ecological site conditions. According to the results of the studies conducted within the framework of this thesis, late winter/early spring temperatures and meteorological water availability in late summer prior to the ring formation season are the main climatic factors driving Scots pine growth in Estonia. The thesis also elaborated a basal area increment model for individual trees, which incorporates the effect of thinning and climate related influences. The results of this thesis demonstrate how important it is to account temporal and spatial climatic variability on tree growth, even in such a small country like Estonia, especially in research when making comparisons between different sub-regions or referring to past tree growth. Doktoritöö fookuses on uurida ilmastiku pikaajalise varieerumise mõjusid hariliku männi kasvule nii ajalisel kui ka ruumilisel skaalal. Töös on kasutatud hariliku männi kõrgus- ja radiaalkasvu enim mõjutavate klimaatiliste tunnuste välja selgitamiseks retrospektiivse tüveanalüüsi ja dendrokronoloogilisi meetodeid. Puistu kasvufunktsioonides on kõrgusindeks sageli kasutuses kasvukoha kasvupotentsiaali hindava tunnusena, seepärast analüüsiti töös kõrguskasvu mõjutava ilmastiku muutumise pikaajalist mõju kõrgusindeksite võrdlusmeetodi abil. Retrospektiivse tüveanalüüsi tulemusena erinesid kolme hariliku männi põlvkonna juurdekasv oluliselt ning pärast 1960. aastat kasvama hakanud puudele oli omane palju kiirem kasv kui kümnendeid varasema kasvualgusega puudele. Sellest tulenevalt on nii kumulatiivne kasvukõver kui ka kõrgusindeksid suuremad. Meteoroloogiliste andmete analüüs näitas, et 1970. aasta ja hilisema kasvualgusega puude kasvuajal valitsesid oluliselt soojemad temperatuurid kui kahel varasemal kasvuperioodil, mis omakorda mõjus kasvu kiirenemisele positiivselt. Rohkem kui 900 hariliku männi aastarõngaste laiuse dendroklimaatiline analüüs näitas, et ilmastiku muutumise mõju radiaalkasvule on Eestis piirkonniti oluliselt erinev ning sõltub eelkõige piirkondlike kliimatunnuste ja kasvukohatingimuste koosmõjust. Analüüsi tulemustest saab välja tuua, et Eestis mõjutavad hariliku männi kasvu positiivselt kõige enam hilistalvised/varakevadised temperatuurid ning samuti on oluline taimeaktiivse vee kättesaadavus suvel varaspuidu moodustumise ajal. Doktoritöös on esitatud koos analüüsiga kohalike kliimatingimuste ja raiete mõju siduv rinnaspindala juurdekasvumudel. Doktoritöö tulemused näitavad, et kliimamuutuste ajalist ja ruumilist mõju puude kasvule ei tohiks alahinnata, seda eriti võrreldes Eesti erinevaid geograafilisi piirkondi või analüüsides puude kasvu varasematel perioodidel.

Рассмотрено влияние температуры и осадков на формирование годичных колец ксилемы ствола кедра сибирского (Pinus sibirica Du Tour) и лиственницы сибирской (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) в экотопах с различной влажностью почвы. Показано, что эти два вида существенно различаются по реакции радиального роста ствола на температуру и осадки на протяжении вегетационного периода, что предположительно обусловлено особенностями сезонного цикла развития хвои. Формирование годичного слоя ксилемы у листопадной лиственницы зависит от благоприятного сочетания погодных условий на протяжении двух периодов - «роста» и «работы» хвои, причем в процессе роста молодой хвое необходима влажная и умеренно теплая погода, а ее работа более продуктивна при высокой температуре и умеренных осадках. У вечнозеленого кедра рост ксилемы на начальном этапе не ограничивается ростом молодой хвои, поскольку в значительной мере обеспечивается «работой» живой хвои предыдущих лет. Рост ксилемы деревьев незаболоченных экотопов зависит от осадков в течение вегетационного сезона, а в заболоченных экотопах слабо положительное влияние оказывает летняя температура., The effects of temperature and precipitations on the formation of annual rings in stem wood of Siberian stone pine (Pinus sibirica Du Tour) and Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) in sites with different soil humidity are discussed. It is shown that these two species essentially differ on reaction of radial growth to temperature and precipitations during the growth period that is presumably caused by features of a seasonal cycle of needle development. The formation of a xylem year layer at deciduous larch depends on a favorable combination of weather conditions during two periods - «growth» and «activity» of needles. Damp and moderate-warm weather is necessary for young needles during growth period but its activity is more productive at high temperature and moderate precipitations. At evergreen Siberian stone pine the growth of xylem on the initial stage is not limited by young needles growth due to «activity» of alive needle developed during previous years. The xylem growth of trees of the unwaterlogged sites depends on precipitations during growth season, and in waterlogged sites the slight positive influence is caused by summer temperature.

The study evaluated the sensitivity of European larch (Larix decidua) of two provenances to thermo−pluvial conditions on the provenance plot located in Sękocin Stary (52°05 N, 20°51 E, 125 m a.s.l.). The studied larches originated from Pelplin (lowland, northern Poland, 50 m a.s.l.) and Szczytna (upland, southern Poland, 525 m a.s.l.). The trees of both provenances differed in terms of their quantitative and qualitative breeding characteristics. The trees originated from different climatic regions whose climate was also different from the climate of the provenance plot. Values of the size of the radial increments measured at cores extracted from the trees were the measure of their sensitivity to the climatic factor. The cluster and principal component analyses were used to classify the trees according to their features of the short−term rhythm of the radial increments. The response function and pointer years analyses were used to evaluate climate−growth relationships. The results of the study show the trees of both provenances have similar sensitivity to the thermo−pluvial conditions in the previous September, the temperature in March and the precipitation in May of the year of tree−ring formation. The larches of Pelplin provenance, in contrast to the trees of Szczytna provenance, were sensitive to the low temperature in February and the low precipitation in the growing season. These features could be one of the causes of the lower incremental abilities of the trees of Pelplin provenance. The larches of Szczytna provenance had higher frost tolerance in February and drought tolerance in summer., Sylwan 160 (8): 656-665

Beech growth variability and climate sensitivity are much higher in the crown top than in the bole. The most notable bole–crown discrepancies occurred in response to extreme climate conditions. To characterize growth partitioning within the tree and its responses to climate, we studied eight dominant beech trees (Fagus sylvatica L.) of a pure, even-aged 98-year-old stand in Belgium. We sampled ten disks along the stem from breast height to treetop and examined the inter-annual patterns of, and discrepancies between, ring-area and volume increments by performing detailed stem analysis and dendroecological investigations. Although the common inter-annual variation among all increment series was high, we observed increasing growth variability and climate sensitivity with height, leading to notable bole–crown discrepancies. Both the common inter-annual variation and bole–crown discrepancies were mainly driven by summer heat waves and related droughts of the previous year, and spring droughts of the current year. Despite these discrepancies, the radial growth at breast height can be considered a good estimate of the tree volume increment but not for the purpose of focusing on climatic effects of isolated years. Extreme climatic conditions increase the risk of inaccurate estimations. The results of the present study are discussed in relation to tree ecophysiology hypotheses.

Представлены результаты лесоводственного исследования компонентов фитоценоза, а также дендрохронологического и дендроклиматического анализов радиального прироста сосны и лимитирующих факторов, проведенных в 50-70-летних насаждениях сосны обыкновенной в пригородной зоне г. Воронежа, находящихся на разных стадиях рекреационной дигрессии. Средневзвешенное значение категории состояния обследованных древостоев возрастает от I,7 до III,1 при изменении стадии дигрессии от I к IV. На III-IV и IV стадиях дигрессии древостои относятся к категории «сильно ослабленные». По мере увеличения рекреационной нагрузки снижается проективное покрытие почвы травянистыми растениями и их надземная фитомасса, изменяются долевое участие и видовое разнообразие (появляются сорные и луговые травы). Древостои, подверженные интенсивному рекреационному воздействию, значительно сильнее пострадали от засухи 2010 г. В 2012-2013 гг. средний радиальный прирост древесины в насаждениях, находящихся на I и II стадиях дигрессии, увеличился, в то время как в древостоях на III и IV стадиях дигрессии он продолжает снижаться. До настоящего времени по-прежнему усыхают отдельные деревья во всех искусственных древостоях сосны независимо от стадии дигрессии. Резко увеличиваются до максимальных значений (>60 %) коэффициенты изменчивости прироста в годы после сильных засух, причем после двухлетних особенно сильных засух (1971-1972 и 2009-2010 гг.) повышение коэффициента изменчивости также наблюдается в течение двух и даже трех лет (1973-1974 и 2011-2013 гг.). Очевидно, что IV стадия дигрессии является переходом древостоя к необратимой фазе ухудшения состояния The paper presents the results of silvicultural research of phytocenosis components and dendrochronologocal and dendroclimatic analyses of radial growth of pine and limiting factors in 50-70 year old stands of Scots pine in different stages of recreational digression, which grow in a suburban area of Voronezh. Weighted average of the category of the state of the examined tree stands increases from I, 7 to III, 1 with increasing the stage of digression from I to IV. On III-IV and IV stages of digression tree stands are classified as “very weak.” With increasing recreational load the projective ground cover of herbaceous plants and their aboveground phytomass decreases, the share of participation and diversity varies (weeds and meadow grass appear). The tree stands which exposed to intensive recreational impact significantly more affected by drought in 2010. In 2012 – 2013 years the average radial growth of trees increased in stands which are in I and II stages of digression, while in stands belong to III and IV stages it continues to decline. So far, the desiccation of particular trees continues in all artificial pine stands regardless of the stage of digression. The coefficients of variation of growth sharply increase to a maximum value (> 60 %) in the years after the severe drought, and after two-year especially severe drought (1971-1972 and 2009-2010) the increase of the coefficient of variation is also observed during two or even three years (1973–1974 and 2011-2013). It is clear that Stage IV of the digression is a transition of the tree stand to irreversible phase of deterioration

В верхней части лесного пояса в коренных кедровых и лиственнично-кедровых сообществах в горно-ледниковом бассейне Актру (Северо-Чуйский хребет, Центральный Алтай) у прямостоячих деревьев кедра сибирского (Pinus sibirica Du Tour) (основная жизненная форма), его относительно автономных структур (ветви-канделябры, стланиковидные образования), а также переходных морфологических и других жизненных форм («куст», «живой» пень, «живой» валежник, дерево с многоярусной корневой системой, куртинообразное дерево) проведен качественный анализ радиального прироста ствола и ветвей. Показано, что при благоприятных для роста условиях форма кривой прироста стволов близка к колоколу с максимумом прироста в более раннем возрасте. Рост ветвей особей других форм может быть представлен отдельными участками такого колокола. Эти участки могут быть аппроксимированы уравнениями параболы, экспоненты с положительным или отрицательным ускорениями, а в случае уплощения такой кривой – уравнением прямой. Рост ксилемы через корне-листовые связи регулируется как внешними (погодно-климатические изменения, геоморфологические процессы, фитоценотические взаимодействия и т.п.), так и внутренними факторами. К последним относятся: (1) абсолютный и биологический возраст особей, (2) происхождение ветвей, (3) наличие и степень развития корней, (4) наличие связи морфологических структур с материнским стволом и корнем At the upper forest belt in the primary Siberian stone pine–Siberian larch forests in the headwater Aktru, Severo-Chuisky Range, the Altai Mountains, Russia the qualitative analysis of tree and branch radial increment was made in the main growth form (upright–trunk tree) of Siberian stone pine (Pinus sibirica Du Tour), its relatively autonomic structures (power candelabra branches and elfin wood form), and the transitional morphological (“living” stumps, “living” windfallen trees, shrub-like form, and trees with multi-storey root system) and other growth (clump-like trees) forms. The external (weather and climatic processes, geomorphological events, and phytocoenotic interactions) and the internal factors effect on initiation and existence of the morphological structures and the transitional morphological forms and their growth. The internal factors are 1) absolute and biological age of the trees, 2) primary or secondary origin of the branches, 3) degree of development of the roots, and 4) the connection between the morphological structures and the mother trunk and root. Under favourable growth conditions in the Siberian stone pine trees the form of the curve of the trunk increment is close to the bell with maximum increment in the earlier age when growth temp and acceleration are maximum in the sites. The forms of growth curves can be approximate the equations of the parabola or the exponential curves with the positive or negative accelerations as well as the horizon straight line when the growth curves become plane

The study analysed short−term rhythm of radial increments of spruces from different elevations and their climate drivers. Two Norway spruce stands were chosen at the lower and upper montane forest belt in Roztoka Valley (DR) (1000−1050 m asl, 49°13N, 20°04E) and in Hala Gąsienicowa (HG) (1500−1550 m asl, 49°13N, 20°04E). 20 trees were sampled and one increment core was taken per tree. The sampled trees were dominant or co−dominant individuals without visible damage. To remove the age trend, the tree−ring widths values were standardized to annual sensitivity indices. Principal components analysis, bootstrapped correlation and pointer years analysis were used to classify sensitivity of investigated series and identify the climate factors, which determined annual variability of the radial increments. Pointer years were also determined by using interval trend method. The first principal component (PC1) accounts for 39% of the variance among all tree−ring series. The second component (PC2) accounts for 15% of the variance among the tree−ring series and divides the series into two groups. This grouping seems to express the lower and higher locations of the sites. The sensitivity series of spruces from both sites had different as well as similar features. These differences resulted from different tree's reaction to temperature in early spring and precipitation in spring and summer. The similarity of increment reactions of spruce from both sites was caused by their similar sensitivity to sunshine duration and precipitation in January, temperature in June and July, sunshine duration in June. Cluster analysis confirmed the impact of the climatic factors on differences of increment reactions of spruces. A number of the pointer years was higher at site located in the upper montane forest belt. Their chronology also consisted a stronger climatic signal. The climatic sensitivity which was specificity for a given climatic belt was recorded into individual tree series. For that reason, the tree−ring width series of trees are useful in the estimate of a climate−increment relationship. They can also be used to dividing dendroclimatic belts., Sylwan 159 (12): 1008-1017

11 páginas, 4 figuras.-Texto en español y en inglés, [ES] La variación intra-anual del anillo de crecimiento contiene señales climáticas estacionales que representan registros valiosos en paleoclimatología y que podrían ayudar a entender mejor los mecanismos de respuesta del árbol. El objetivo de este estudio fue modelar la respuesta de la madera temprana (EW) y la tardía (LW) ante variables climáticas del crecimiento radial de Pinus cooperi Blanco. Mediante series dendrocronológicas de EW y LW se establecieron análisis de correlación con registros instrumentales mensuales de precipitación (P), temperatura máxima (Tmax), media (Tmed), mínima (Tmin) y teleconexiones atmosféricas de gran escala, expresadas por el Índice multivariado de la Oscilación atmosférica austral de “El Niño” (ENSO-MEI; por sus siglas en inglés) para el período 1964-2010. La madera temprana y la tardía presentaron correlaciones significativamente diferentes. La madera temprana es más sensible a las lluvias del invierno previo a la estación de crecimiento; la madera tardía se asoció mejor al fenómeno atmosférico de acuerdo con sus valores MEI. Este diferencial en la respuesta de ambos tipos de madera representa el potencial dendroclimático de P. cooperi, el cual tiene implicaciones ante las variaciones climáticas locales., [EN] Intra-annual variation of the growth ring contains seasonal climate signals that represent valuable records of paleoclimatology and can help better understand tree response mechanisms. The objective of this study was to model the response of earlywood (EW) and latewood (LW) to climatic variables in Pinus cooperi Blanco. Using dendrochronological series of EW and LW, correlation analyses were established with monthly instrumental registers of precipitation (P), maximum temperature (Tmax), mean temperature (Tmed), minimum temperature (Tmin) and large-scale atmospheric teleconnections expressed by the Multivariate “El Niño” Southern Oscillation Index (ENSO-MEI) for the period 1964-2020. Earlywood and latewood had different significant correlations. Earlywood is more sensitive to winter rains before the growing season. Latewood was better associated to the ENSO-MEI values. This difference in the response of the two types of wood represents the dendroclimatic potential of P. cooperi, which has implications in the face of local climatic variables., Se reconoce el apoyo del laboratorio del Centro Nacional de Investigación Disciplinaria de la Relación Agua-Suelo-PlantaAtmósfera (el CENID-RASPA) del Instituto Nacional de Investigaciónes Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias (INIFAP) en Gomez Palacio, Durango, para la recolección y el procesamiento del material leñoso de Pinus cooperi Blanco elegido en campo. También se agradecen las observaciones a revisores anónimos y al equipo editorial, cuyo esfuerzo mejoró el manuscrito.

The aim of this study was to i) determine similarities and differences in the increment reaction of silver firs growing at different elevation, ii) identify climatic factors, which caused these response, and iii) determine dendroclimatic zones and identify a site, where a tree grew on the basis of tree−ring widths series. Studied stands were located in the Ustroń Forest District at the elevation of: 500−550 m a.s.l. (foothill zone, 18°59 E, 49°43 N) and 800−850 m a.s.l. (lower montane forest zone, 18°58 E, 49°43 N). In each stand 20 dominant firs were selected and one increment core per tree was taken. Tree−ring widths (fig. 1) were transformed into annual sensitivity index (fig. 2). Principal component analysis was used to reduce a number of original variables and classify the tree−ring series. Response function analysis was used to determine climate−radial increment relationships. The standardized series of firs on both sites were different in terms of the climate influence (fig. 3). The analysed trees responded differently to solar and thermal conditions in previous autumn and current summer as well as to pluvial conditions at the beginning of winter and in the second half of summer. The investigated firs had also common increment characteristics. The trees from both sites responded similarly to thermal, solar and pluvial conditions in February, solar and pluvial conditions in May and temperature in winter and summer (fig. 4). Climatic signal of each elevation zone was recorded by each tree and depended on the climatic conditions in given area. On the basis of standardized tree−ring series, dendroclimatic regionalization can be created and the stand, where a tree grew, can be identified., Sylwan 159 (5): 372-380

The aim of this study was to analyse the response of 33 seed stand progenies of Norway spruce, originating from the Romanian Carpathians, in terms of growth and wood characteristics, in trials located inside (Brețcu and Gurghiu) and outside (Avrig and Câmpina) of their natural distribution. Thirty years after planting, measurements were performed for the following traits: total height (TH), average volume per tree (AV/T), radial increment (RI), latewood percentage (LP) and conventional wood density (CWD). Correlation coefficients between the evaluated traits, on one hand, and the geographical coordinates (latitude, longitude and altitude) and ecophysiological latitude of seed stands origin, on the other, were also determined. ANOVA revealed significant (P < 0.01) differences among populations for all traits, with the exception of RI, suggesting that it is possible to make a selection at the populations level. Generally, the most valuable populations for TH and RI originate from Eastern and Western Carpathians. High values for LP were recorded mainly for populations originating from Eastern Carpathians. Compared to the two trials installed inside the natural range, the values for RI, TH and AV/T diminished only in one of the two tests installed outside the natural range (Câmpina), but the value for CWD increased. This pattern of expression of traits in the two trials located outside the natural range was explained by the different climatic conditions in two areas: the thermo-pluviometric factor in May-September period (TPV-IX) is 25.3 in Avrig, and only of 21.7 in Campina trial. On the other hand, on overall and in all the Carpathians branches, for latewood proportion there was a significant decrease (P, Cilj istraživannja bila je analiza reakcije 33 sjemenske sastojine obične smreke, iz područja rumunjskih Karpata, s obzirom na rast i karakteristike drva na pokusnim plohama smještenim unutar (Breþcu i Gurghiu) i izvan njihove prirodne rasprostranjenosti (Avrig i Câmpina) (sl. 1). Trideset godina nakon sadnje izvršena su mjerenja sljedećih značajki: ukupna visina (UV), prosječni volumen po stablu (PV/S), radijalni prirast (RP), postotak kasnog drva (PKD) i standardna gustoća drva (SGD). Utvrđeni su i koeficijenti korelacije između ispitanih pokusnih ploha i zemljopisnih obilježja sastojina. ANOVA je otkrila značajne (P < 0.01) razlike između biljnih zajednica svih pokusnih ploha, uz iznimku radijalnog prirasta (RP), što ukazuje na činjenicu da je moguće izvršiti izbor na razini sjemenske sastojine. S obzirom na ukupnu visinu (UV) i radijalni prirast (RP), utvrđeno je da se najvrjednije sastojine općenito nalaze na istočnim i zapadnim Karpatima, iako su velike vrijednosti radijalnog prirasta (RP) i postotka kasnog drva (PKD) uglavnom zabilježene kod sastojina na istočnim Karpatima. Vrijednosti radijalnog prirasta (RP), postotka kasnog drva (PKD) (sl. 2) i prosječnog volumena po stablu (PV/S) bile su niže na pokusnim plohama smještenim izvan prirodnih staništa, dok su vrijednosti ukupne visine (UV) i standardne gustoće drva (SGD) bile više. Analiza lokacije također je pokazala veliku važnost interakcije između biljne zajednice i okoliša za sve parametre (osim SGD). Iste biološke zajednice različito reagiraju na promjene uvjeta u okolišu. Prema rezultatima ovoga rada moguće je preporučiti određene biljne zajednice, s tim da se reprodukcijski materijal iz ovih izvora može koristiti samo u ekološkim uvjetima koji su slični onima gdje je provedeno ispitivanje. Utvrđeno je da je standardna provenijencija prema IUFRO-u (Moldoviţa) najbolja biljna zajednica za provođenje svih ispitivanja.Tablica 1 prikazuje fizičko-geografske i klimatske uvjete na 4 pokusne plohe, tablica 2 prikazuje srednje vrijednosti, koeficijente varijacije i amplituda varijacije za sve analizirane parametre, u svim eksperimentima. Rezultati ANOVA-e za sve lokacije i kombinacije sve četiri lokacije prikazani su u tablici 3 i 4. Tablica 5 predstavlja rezultate Pearsonove korelacije između analiziranih parametara i zemljopisnih obilježja sastojina iz kojih dolazi sjeme.

The main aim of the research was to study trees growth responses to the changing environmental conditions and to assess the degree of damage to trees taking into consideration their secondary crown. Based the material from plots established in 12 silver fir stands (tab.), chronologies were developed for trees in various age classes (fig. 1). 1950 saw a downward trend in the radial growth that continued till 1985, to be followed by an upturn lasting till 2000, when the radial growth stabilised. No significant changes in tree−growth were observed in the group of the youngest trees. Three types of growth response to environmental changes (positive, neutral and negative) were distinguished in the last three 15−year−long periods. In years 1970−1984 the largest proportion of firs indicated negative growth responses, while firs with positive response dominated in the period 2000−2014 (fig. 2). The period 1970−2014 saw a steady increase in the mean value of growth responses. The assessment of the top−crown growth (feature B) showed that more than 50% of the trees showed inhibited growth (fig. 3). The assessment of tree vitality (feature C) confirmed the dominance of trees with moderate crown vitality. The vitality of the secondary crowns (Zw) situated below the primary crowns (Zp) of firs was assessed on the basis of crown density and its length (formula [1]). Incorporating Zw in the assessment of tree damage (formula [2]) resulted in an increase in the vitality of the whole crown (Z) (fig. 4). Based on the defoliation, 73% of trees were found to be within damage class 2 (fig. 5). Another method of damage to trees determination was adopted (formula [3]) to assess the damage to fir stands and showed that the largest proportion of trees was with moderate damage (fig. 6). The damage index values obtained with this method were lower compared to the method that considers the defoliation exclusively. Even lower index values were obtained while using the method based on both damage index W and tree−growth response. Of the three discussed damage assessment methods, the most accurate is the method based on damage index Wz, taking into account the growth response of the entire crown (Z)., Sylwan 159 (11): 893-904

This paper presents the first regional research of the chronologies of sessile oak trees and definition of the local (master) chronology of sessile oak in the area of Fruska Gora. In addition, the aim of this study is to determine the strength of the common signal in the growth of sessile oak and its dendroclimatological potential under the given conditions. The quality of the local series of radial increment (chronology) and the strength of the common and climatic signals were evaluated using the following parameters: average mean sensitivity, expressed population signal, signal-to-noise ratio and the variance explained by eigenvectors in the procedure of analysis of the principal components. The results have shown that the obtained master chronologies are of satisfactory quality and reliability, and that they contain a sufficient general common ”signal”, which is a characteristic of all analyzed trees that can be processed in all dendroclimatological analyses. It was concluded that, under the investigated site conditions, sessile oak showed low to medium sensitivity of reaction to the modifications of environmental conditions in the past 90 years. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije: Sumski zasadi u funkciji povecanja posumljenosti Srbije]

To assess the possible influence of climate on the vitality of beech trees, we used several descriptors of common beech vitality: crown condition, radial growth and concentration of mineral elements in leaves. We want to check the validity of various descriptors of beech vitality as well as their possible interrelations and dependencies on climatic conditions and to asses the influence of climate change. We selected mature and healthy beech stand with moderate average defoliation for the subject of this study. Crown defoliation data, minerals in leaves and soil, cores from 26 trees and meteorological data were collected. Data were compared for the period 1994 – 2007. Crown defoliation slightly increasing since 1996, with percentage being the highest in 2003 and 2004 (approx. 30%), the years that follows heavy drought in 2002, after 2004 crown defoliation slowly decrease. Foliar nutrient concentrations of N, P, Ca, Mg and K are in average years above threshold value, while in the year following extreme year they drop below threshold values indicating prolonged stressful conditions for tree growth. Wetter conditions in April-August are influencing Ca concentration in leaves ; while hotter and drier climate in the same period has a negative influence on Ca, P and Mg concentrations in leaves. Tree-ring widths are correlated with wetter conditions in June. Crown transparency, as long as it is below 25-30%, has no influence on radial growth and on mineral nutrient concentrations in leaves. There was no relationship between mineral nutrient concentrations in leaves and radial growth.

In the experiment eight populations of Picea abies were chosen at 100 m intervals between 500 m and 1200 m altitude a.s.l.. In each population wood core samples were collected from 14–19 trees (126 cores total), and measured using a Corim Maxi device. At four of the eight sites (every 200 m in elevation between 500 m and 1100 m a.s.l.), the diversity of ground vegetation was evaluated, and temperature was recorded at every 100 m of altitude. The highest average radial increment of spruce occurred between the altitudes 800–1000 m a.s.l., which is probably the optimum for spruce. The larger increment indices observed at higher altitudes may signify a high growth potential of spruce. It may also suggest a recent upward shift of the optimum growth zone for this tree species. In 15 phytosociological records, the presence of 148 plant species forming plant associations: Dentario glandulosae- Fagetum typicum (sub-mountainous and mountainous form) and Abieti-Piceetum, and community Abies alba-Rubus hirtus, was documented. No relationship was found between ground vegetation species diversity (expressed by Shannon-Wiener index) and levels of stand diversity. The vegetation species diversity varied with the elevation above sea level: the highest plant diversity was found at 500 m a.s.l., and decreased with increasing altitude. The potential increase in air temperatures may result in changes to the altitudinal range of many plant species including trees, and consequently in an upward shift of the boundaries of plant zones; in this case the sub-mountainous and lower mountainous forest zone. In this region, the optimal zone for Norway spruce may be restricted to the highest elevations.

The studies were based on the empirical material collected from 88 sample plots located in 78 beech−pine stands and 10 pine stands with beech undergrowth. The effect of the competition of beech trees from the understorey and pine trees on the radial increment (r/em) and basal area increment (emg/em) was investigated. The strength of the competition was determined using distance−independent indices, which did not take into account the position of a tree in the stand. The effect of the competition on the basal area growth of both beech and pine trees was found to be greater than on the radial growth., Sylwan 157 (10): 730-736

The paper contains a description and results of direct and indirect methods for assessing pathological changes in the zone of coarse root wood of spruce and fir trees. It also provides an evaluation of the effect of the type of changes and width of the unchanged wood zone on the electrical conductivity. The macroscopic analysis was compared with the results of electrical current measurements and the effect of the detected changes on crown condition and diameter increment of trees., Sylwan 156 (8): 599-606

Изучено влияние температуры и осадков на радиальный прирост деревьев сосны (Pinus sylvestris L.) в суходольных сосняках юга Томской области. При среднемноголетнем распределении осадков по сезонам года наибольшая ширина годичного кольца формируется при более низких температурах вегетационного периода и более высоких температурах зимы и весны и большем количестве осадков лета (в основном июня) текущего гидрологического года. В период малоснежных зим усиливается положительная роль выпадающих весной и летом осадков (апрель-июль) в формировании кольца ксилемы и отрицательная роль осадков декабря-января текущего гидрологического года. В целом за столетний период (1900-2000 гг.) радиальный прирост деревьев сосны обыкновенной значимо зависит от температур апреля и сентября и осадков июня во всех обследованных суходольных сосняках и хорошо объясняется сезонными особенностями ее физиологической и ростовой активности и сезонными изменениями почвенного климата на юге Западно-Сибирской равнины., The effect of temperature and precipitation was studied on pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) radial increment in pine forests in southern Tomsk Oblast, West Siberia, Russia. The most tree ring width is produced by the lower temperatures in the growing season, the higher winter and spring temperatures and the higher summer precipitation in the current hydrological year. The positive correlation between the ring width and the higher spring and summer (since April till July) precipitation and the negative correlation between the width and the higher winter (since December till January) precipitation are found during winters with less snow cover. During the last century (1900-2000) the tree radial increment significantly depends on April and September temperatures and June precipitation in all pine forests studied and is satisfactory explained by seasonal patterns of physiological and growth activity of pine trees and by seasonal changes of soil climate in southern West Siberian Plain.