Site‐ and species‐specific responses of forest growth to climate across the European continent. Issue 6 (20th December 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Babst, Flurin; Poulter, Benjamin; Trouet, Valerie; Tan, Kun; Neuwirth, Burkhard; Wilson, Robert; Carrer, Marco; Grabner, Michael; Tegel, Willy; Levanic, Tom; Panayotov, Momchil; Urbinati, Carlo; Bouriaud, Olivier; Ciais, Philippe; Frank, David
• Is Part Of: Global ecology & biogeography. Volume 22:Issue 6(2013:Jun.)
• Page Start: 706
• Page End: 717
• Publication Date: 2012-12-20
• Subjects: Ecology -- Periodicals; Biogeography -- Periodicals; Biodiversity -- Periodicals; Macroevolution -- Periodicals; 577
• DOI: 10.1111/geb.12023
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1466-822X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="geb12023-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>To evaluate the climate sensitivity of model‐based forest productivity estimates using a continental‐scale tree‐ring network.</p> </sec> <sec id="geb12023-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Location</title> <p>Europe and North Africa (30–70° N, 10° W–40° E).</p> </sec> <sec id="geb12023-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>We compiled close to 1000 annually resolved records of radial tree growth for all major European tree species and quantified changes in growth as a function of historical climatic variation. Sites were grouped using a neural network clustering technique to isolate spatiotemporal and species‐specific climate response patterns. The resulting empirical climate sensitivities were compared with the sensitivities of net primary production (NPP) estimates derived from the ORCHIDEE‐FM and LPJ‐wsl dynamic global vegetation models (DGVMs).</p> </sec> <sec id="geb12023-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>We found coherent biogeographic patterns in climate response that depend upon (1) phylogenetic controls and (2) ambient environmental conditions delineated by latitudinal/elevational location. Temperature controls dominate forest productivity in high‐elevation and high‐latitude areas whereas moisture sensitive sites are widespread at low elevation in central and southern Europe. DGVM simulations broadly reproduce the empirical patterns, but show less temperature sensitivity in the boreal zone and stronger precipitation sensitivity towards the mid‐latitudes.</p> </sec> <sec id="geb12023-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Main conclusions</title> <p>Large‐scale forest productivity is driven by monthly to seasonal climate controls, but our results emphasize species‐specific growth patterns under comparable environmental conditions. Furthermore, we demonstrate that carry‐over effects from the previous growing season can significantly influence tree growth, particularly in areas with harsh climatic conditions – an element not considered in most current‐state DGVMs. Model–data discrepancies suggest that the simulated climate sensitivity of NPP will need refinement before carbon‐cycle climate feedbacks can be accurately quantified.</p> </sec> </abstract>