Declining Radial Growth in Major Western Carpathian Tree Species: Insights from Three Decades of Temperate Forest Monitoring

Author:

Rybar Jergus12ORCID,Sitková Zuzana1ORCID,Marcis Peter12,Pavlenda Pavel1,Pajtík Jozef1ORCID

Affiliation:

1. National Forest Centre, Forest Research Institute, T.G. Masaryka 22, 960 01 Zvolen, Slovakia

2. Faculty of Forestry, Technical University in Zvolen, T.G. Masaryka 24, 96001 Zvolen, Slovakia

Abstract

This study investigates the radial growth response of five key European forest tree species, i.e., Fagus sylvatica, Picea abies, Abies alba, Quercus petraea, and Pinus sylvestris, to dry years in the West Carpathians, Slovakia. Utilizing data from ICP Forests Level I plots, we identified species-specific growth declines, particularly in Pinus sylvestris and Fagus sylvatica, with milder radial growth declines for Quercus petraea and Picea abies. Abies alba exhibited a growth peak in the mid-2000s, followed by a decline in the end of the observed period. Elevation emerged as the only significant environmental predictor, explaining 3.5% of growth variability during dry periods, suggesting a potential mitigating effect. The scope of this study was limited by the complex interplay of ecological factors that influence tree growth, which vary across the ICP Forests Level I monitoring sites. Nonetheless, our findings enhance the understanding of species-specific growth responses and offer insights for the climate-smart management of temperate forests under changing conditions.

Funder

Slovak Research and Development Agency

National Forest Centre and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic

Publisher

MDPI AG

Subject

Plant Science,Ecology,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

Reference71 articles.

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