CLIMATIC AND ECOLOGICAL CONSTRAINTS IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF EUROPEAN BEECH (FAGUS SYLVATICA) AT THE EASTERN LIMIT (SCIENTIFIC RESERVE "PLAIUL FAGULUI")

Abstract

For the Republic of Moldova, the European beech forests (Fagus sylvatica specie) represent their most eastern areal in the spatial distribution, in Europe. During the last century there have been unfavorable changes in the climate conditions for the development of beech forests in Moldova. The summer mean temperature has increased, while the annual rainfall showed a decreasing trend. Therefore, on the basis of the beech climate tolerance index (QBTI), it was determined that the limit of drought tolerance, in temporal and spatial aspect, clarify beech death phenomena. The data obtained were compared with the state of vitality of the beech crowns within "Plaiul Fagului Reserve", which in the last years is unsatisfactory, largely due to this phenomenon.