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Forests
Special Issues
Tree Growth and Physiological Properties under Ongoing Global Climate Change
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Tree Growth and Physiological Properties under Ongoing Global Climate Change

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Ecophysiology and Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2024) | Viewed by 7512

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jakub Černý

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, Research Station at Opočno, Na Olivě 550, 517 73 Opočno, Czech Republic
Interests: silviculture; forest ecology; forest management; climate change; tree adaptation; resource use
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Petr Maděra

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Forest Botany, Dendrology and Geobiocoenology (FFWT), Mendel University, Zemedelska 1, 61300 Brno, Czech Republic
Interests: forestry; woody plants ecology; dragon trees; frankincense trees; nature conservation; Socotra
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Zdeněk Patočka

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Forest Management and Applied Geoinformatics (FFWT), Mendelova Univerzita v Brne, Brno, Czech Republic
Interests: forest; digital mapping; geoinformation; geospatial science; geographic information system

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is known that forest ecosystems, as a significant sink of atmospheric carbon, play a pivotal role in the global carbon cycle, especially under ongoing global climate change (GCC). GCC, characterized by weather and climatic anomalies that primarily include increasing air temperatures and changes in the precipitation distribution during the growing season, significantly affect the provision of forest ecosystem services. GCC also increases forest ecosystems' vulnerability to abiotic and biotic stressors. Therefore, forest adaptation measures promoting tree/ecosystem resistance, resilience, vitality, growth, stability, and sustainability of material and energy fluxes are necessary to ensure secure and sustainable producing and non-producing forest functions.

New original research and review papers devoted to "carbon forestry" worldwide will be appreciated and are encouraged to be published in this Special Issue.

Potential topics include, for instance:

  • Adaptation strategy;
  • Anatomical/Physiological/ Morphological adaptability;
  • Carbon sequestration;
  • GCC mitigation;
  • Multiple ecosystem services;
  • Resource use;
  • Resilience/Resistance of tree species;
  • Sustainable forest management.

Dr. Jakub Černý
Prof. Dr. Petr Maděra
Dr. Zdeněk Patočka
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • forest management
  • forest growth and productivity
  • sustainable silviculture
  • forest adaptation
  • tree resilience
  • physiological traits
  • forest acclimation
  • resource use
  • carbon sequestration
  • global climate change

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 7660 KiB  
Article
Interrelationships and Environmental Influences of Photosynthetic Capacity and Hydraulic Conductivity in Desert Species Populus pruinosa
by Jinlong Zhang, Juntuan Zhai, Jie Wang, Jianhua Si, Jingwen Li, Xiaokang Ge and Zhijun Li
Forests 2024, 15(7), 1094; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15071094 - 24 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1002
Abstract
An improved understanding of the mechanisms underlying plant adaptation to habitat heterogeneity can be achieved by clarifying the climate-driving factors of the hydraulic and photosynthetic traits of different populations. With a focus on Populus pruinosa Schrenk, which is the predominant tree species in [...] Read more.
An improved understanding of the mechanisms underlying plant adaptation to habitat heterogeneity can be achieved by clarifying the climate-driving factors of the hydraulic and photosynthetic traits of different populations. With a focus on Populus pruinosa Schrenk, which is the predominant tree species in the desert riparian forests of the Tarim Basin, Xinjiang, this study investigated the hydraulic and photosynthetic trait relationships and their interactions with environmental factors in 11 P. pruinosa populations using a Pearson correlation analysis, plant trait networks, a redundancy analysis, and a least squares linear regression analysis. The results showed that the degree of variation in the hydraulic traits was higher than that in the photosynthetic traits. The net photosynthetic rate (Pn) showed a significantly positive correlation with leaf-specific conductivity (Kl) and the Huber value (Hv). The Hv exhibited a significantly positive correlation with the water-use efficiency and Kl, and the branch–leaf mass ratio significantly affected the hydraulic traits. The groundwater depth (GD) in natural P. pruinosa forest habitats ranged from 3.4 to 7.9 m. With an increase in the annual average temperature, the hydraulic conductivity of the xylem significantly increased; with an increase in GD, Pn and Kl significantly decreased. The temperature annual range, temperature seasonality (standard deviation), min temperature of the coldest month, and GD were significantly correlated with the diameter and average path length of the overall trait network parameters, and these environmental factors affected the coordination of the functional traits of P. pruinosa. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tree Growth and Physiological Properties under Ongoing Global Climate Change)
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22 pages, 4704 KiB  
Article
Effects of Climate Change on Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Growth across Europe: Decrease of Tree-Ring Fluctuation and Amplification of Climate Stress
by Jakub Brichta, Václav Šimůnek, Lukáš Bílek, Zdeněk Vacek, Josef Gallo, Stanisław Drozdowski, José Alfredo Bravo-Fernández, Bill Mason, Sonia Roig Gomez, Vojtěch Hájek, Stanislav Vacek, Václav Štícha, Pavel Brabec and Zdeněk Fuchs
Forests 2024, 15(1), 91; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15010091 - 3 Jan 2024
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2714
Abstract
From an economic perspective, Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is one of Europe’s most important tree species. It is characterized by its wide ecological adaptability across its natural range. This research aimed to evaluate the forest structure, productivity and especially radial growth [...] Read more.
From an economic perspective, Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is one of Europe’s most important tree species. It is characterized by its wide ecological adaptability across its natural range. This research aimed to evaluate the forest structure, productivity and especially radial growth of heterogenous pine stands in 16 research plots in the Czech Republic, Poland, Spain and Great Britain. The study assessed the tree-ring formation and its relationship to climate change for each country, using 163 dendrochronological samples. The stand volume of mature pine forest ranged between 91 and 510 m3 ha−1, and the carbon sequestration in the tree biomass was 40–210 t ha−1. The stands had a prevailing random distribution of trees, with a high vertical structure close to selection forests (forest stands with typical very diverse height, diameter and age structure). Spectral analyses showed a substantial decrease in fluctuations in the tree-ring index and a loss in natural growth cyclicity in the last thirty years. The results also evinced that mean air temperature was the most important factor influencing the radial growth compared to precipitation totals. Pine thrives in precipitation-stable locations, as shown by the results from Great Britain. The conclusions of this study confirm the fundamental effect of ongoing global climate change on the dynamics and growth of pine forests in Europe. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tree Growth and Physiological Properties under Ongoing Global Climate Change)
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22 pages, 3395 KiB  
Article
Different Adaptive Potential of Norway Spruce Ecotypes in Response to Climate Change in Czech Long-Term Lowland Experiment
by Václav Šimůnek, Jan Stejskal, Jaroslav Čepl, Jiří Korecký, Zdeněk Vacek, Stanislav Vacek, Lukáš Bílek and Michal Švanda
Forests 2023, 14(9), 1922; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14091922 - 21 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1311
Abstract
As a result of climate change, Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) is dying across Europe. One of the primary reasons for this is the cultivation of unsuitable spruce provenances and ecotypes. This study deals with the growth and genetics of the [...] Read more.
As a result of climate change, Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) is dying across Europe. One of the primary reasons for this is the cultivation of unsuitable spruce provenances and ecotypes. This study deals with the growth and genetics of the ecotypes of Norway spruce, the most important tree species of the Czech Republic. At the study site, namely Cukrák, an experimental site was established in 1964 to plant three basic spruce ecotypes: low-elevation (LE), medium-elevation (ME) and high-elevation (HE) ecotype. A dendrometric inventory, dendrochronological sampling and genetic analyses were carried out on individual trees in 45 to 46 years old spruce stands. The ME ecotype was the most productive in terms of its carbon sequestration potential, while the HE ecotype had the lowest radial growth. All ecotypes exhibited a noteworthy negative correlation between tree-ring growth and seasonal temperature, annual temperature, previous year September to current year August temperature, June to July temperature, as well as individual monthly temperatures from previous May to current August. The relationship of annual and seasonal precipitation to growth was significant only for the LE and ME ecotypes, but precipitation from previous year September to current year August and precipitation from current June to July were the most significant for all ecotypes, where the ME had the highest r value. The HE ecotype does not adapt well to a dry climate and appears to be unsuitable compared to the other ecotypes under the studied conditions. This study also documented intra-population genetic variation within years of low growth, as evidenced by significant clonal heritability. The selection of the appropriate spruce ecotypes is essential for the stability and production of future stands and should become an important pillar of forest adaptation to climate change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tree Growth and Physiological Properties under Ongoing Global Climate Change)
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Review

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28 pages, 2920 KiB  
Review
Silver Fir (Abies alba Mill.): Review of Ecological Insights, Forest Management Strategies, and Climate Change’s Impact on European Forests
by Michal Bledý, Stanislav Vacek, Pavel Brabec, Zdeněk Vacek, Jan Cukor, Jakub Černý, Richard Ševčík and Kateřina Brynychová
Forests 2024, 15(6), 998; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15060998 - 7 Jun 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1738
Abstract
The silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) is among the most valuable conifers in Europe for ecological and economic reasons. Throughout the course of history, primarily in the 20th century, its share in stands has been declining due to ill-suited management practices, especially [...] Read more.
The silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) is among the most valuable conifers in Europe for ecological and economic reasons. Throughout the course of history, primarily in the 20th century, its share in stands has been declining due to ill-suited management practices, especially clear-cut management, air pollution (SO2 and NOX emissions), and wildlife-induced damage. This literature review compiles findings from 338 scientific papers. It describes futures for silver fir and its distribution, ecological requirements, threats and diseases, seed production and nurseries, and forest management practices with emphasis on ongoing climate change. Based on recent knowledge of fir ecology and population dynamics, small-scale shelterwood and selection management have been introduced in fir stands, which have also stabilized them. Fir is an essential species for maintaining high stability and biodiversity, especially on planosols and in waterlogged habitats. Owing to its shade tolerance and environmental plasticity, it can coexist very well with many tree species in mixtures, which can increase the productive potential of stands within the natural range in Europe. The average stand volume of mature fir stands ranges from 237–657 m3 ha−1. For its successful natural regeneration, it is essential to reduce cloven-hoofed game and thus prevent bud browsing damage. The attractiveness of fir in terms of heavy browsing is the highest of all conifers (52% damage). On the other hand, fir is a species relatively resistant to bark stripping and the spread of secondary rot compared with Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.). Under global climate change, fir is expected to shift to higher elevations with sufficient precipitation, while in the southern part of its natural range or at lower elevations, outside water-influenced habitats, it is likely to decline. Climate change is intricately linked to the heightened prevalence of forest pathogens with significant damage potential in Europe, necessitating careful consideration and strategic adaptation within management practices of fir forests. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tree Growth and Physiological Properties under Ongoing Global Climate Change)
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