Soil aeration, water deficit, nitrogen availability, acidity and temperature all contribute to shaping tree species distribution in temperate forests. (5th January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Piedallu, Christian; Gégout, Jean‐Claude; Lebourgeois, François; Seynave, Ingrid
• Is Part Of: Journal of vegetation science. Volume 27:Number 2(2016:Mar.)
• Page Start: 387
• Page End: 399
• Publication Date: 2016-01-05
• Subjects: Climate -- Environmental gradient -- Plant ecology -- Soil -- Species distribution model -- Tree species; Plant ecology -- Periodicals; Plant communities -- Periodicals; Plant populations -- Periodicals; 581.7
• DOI: 10.1111/jvs.12370
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1100-9233

Abstract

Abstract: Aim: Knowledge about suitable ecological conditions for tree species remains largely incomplete. We aim to quantify and compare suitable environmental conditions for some of the most common tree species in Europe using a modelling approach and a large array of predictors that describe the different dimensions of the environmental niche. Location: France. Methods: Using a large database of 46 768 plots distributed across France (550 000 km 2 ), we compared the performance of 61 physiologically relevant predictors that describe temperature, soil nutrient supply, soil water availability and aeration at fine spatial resolution to model the distribution of 32 tree species. To allow some comparisons between species along the same gradients, the most efficient predictors were determined and used to characterize the species requirements. Results: Mean annual temperature, soil water deficit, soil pH, C/N and temporary and permanent waterlogging gave the best performances. The efficiency of species distribution models based on these six variables was comparable to models calibrated with 61 variables. For the first time, those models provide a unique quantitative framework of homogeneous information concerning the requirements for a large number of tree species. Conclusions: Our results highlight the importance of soil descriptors to shape plant distribution and allow each species to delineate areas inside the climate envelope with favourable nutritional and moisture conditions. These results emphasize a gap between existing studies on species distribution, mainly based on large‐scale climatic predictors, and empirical knowledge or existing practices where soil is recognized as a main driver. Abstract : This study compare a large set of physiologically‐relevant ecological predictors to identify the main drivers and quantify the suitable conditions for 32 tree species in temperate forests. For the first time, it shows soil water deficit, soil pH, C/N and temporary and permanent waterlogging all contribute to shape the studied species distribution, in addition to the classically used temperatures.