Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Response of Pinus sylvestris L. to recent climatic events in the French Mediterranean region

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Trees Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Exceptional climatic events from 2003 to 2005 (scorching heat and drought) affected the whole of the vegetation in the French Mediterranean region and in particular the Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), one of the most important forest tree species in this area. To understand its response to these extreme conditions, we investigated its radial growth, branch length growth, architectural development and reproduction for the period 1995–2005, and linked these variables to climatic parameters. We used four plots situated in southeastern France and presenting different levels of site quality and potential forest productivity. The results show that: (1) the climatic episode 2003–2005 was highly detrimental to the growth (bole and branches), crown development, and cone production but favored the production of male flowers; (2) these variables depend on climatic factors of both the current and previous years; (3) the 2003 scorching heat impact was strong but was mainly apparent from 2004; it was part of a 6-year-long unfavorable cycle beginning in 2000, characterized by high minimum and maximum temperatures and very dry springs; (4) in spite of a significant effect of site quality, the Scots pine’s response to extreme climatic conditions was homogeneous in the French Mediterranean area; and (5) the stress induced by poor site conditions generally resulted in the same consequences for tree growth, architecture, and reproduction as in unfavorable climatic conditions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amato S, Vinzi V (2003) Bootstrap-based Q kh² for the selection of components and variables in PLS regression. Chemometr intell Lab Syst 68:5–16

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beniston M, Diaz HF (2004) The 2003 heat wave as an example of summers in a greenhouse climate? Observations and climate model simulations for Basel Switzerland. Glob Planet Change 44:73–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bigler C, Bräker OU, Bugman H, Dobbertin M, Rigling A (2006) Drought as an inciting mortality factor in Scots pine stands of the Valais, Switzerland. Ecosystems (N Y, Print) 9:330–343. doi:10.1007/s10021-005-0126-2

    Google Scholar 

  • Breda N, Huc R, Granier A, Dreyer E (2006) Temperate forest trees and stands under severe drought: a review of ecophysiological responses, adaptation processes and long-term consequences. Ann For Sci 63(6):625–644. doi:10.1051/forest:2006042

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Butzer KW (2005) Environmental history in the Mediterranean world: cross-disciplinary investigation of cause-and-effect for degradation and soil erosion. J Archaeol Sci 32(12):1773–1800. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2005.06.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calamassi R (1996) Geographic variation and bud dormancy in beech seedlings (Fagus sylvatica L). Ann Sci 53(5):967–979. doi:10.1051/forest:19960505

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caraglio Y, Pimont F, Rigolot E (2007) Pinus halepensis Mill. architectural analysis for fuel modelling. In: Lovreglio R, Leone V (eds) MEDPINE 3. Conservation, regeneration and restoration of Mediterranean pines and their ecosystems, pp 43–60

  • Cramer RDI, Bunce JD, Paterson DE, Frank IE (1988) Crossvalidation, bootstrapping, and partial least square compared with multiple regression in conventional QSAR studies. Quant Struct Act Relat 7:18–25. doi:10.1002/qsar.19880070105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cruiziat P, Cochard H, Ameglio T (2002) Hydraulic architecture of trees: main concepts and results. Ann Sci 59(7):723–752. doi:10.1051/forest:2002060

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Damesin C (2003) Respiration and photosynthesis characteristics of current-year stems of Fagus sylvatica: from the seasonal pattern to an annual balance. New Phytol 158(3):465–475. doi:10.1046/j.1469-8137.2003.00756.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Debazac EF (1966) Les modalités de la croissance en longueur chez les pins. In: Mémoires de la Société botanique de France, Colloque “Physiologie de l’arbre”, pp 1–14

  • Dobbertin M (2005) Tree growth as indicator of tree vitality and of tree reaction to environmental stress: a review. Eur J For Res 124:319–333. doi:10.1007/s10342-005-0085-3

    Google Scholar 

  • Falusi M, Calamassi R (1990) Bud dormancy in beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). Effect of chilling and photoperiod on dormancy release of beach seedlings. Tree Physiol 6(4):429–438

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fritts HC, Swetnam TW (1989) Dendroecology: a tool for evaluating variations in past and present forest environments. Utility Air Regulatory Group, Acid Deposition Committee, Washington DC, p 61

  • Good P (1994) Permutation tests. Springer, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Guiot J, Goeury C (1996) PPPBase, a software for statistical analysis of paleoecological and paleoclimatological data. Dendrochronologia 14:295–300

    Google Scholar 

  • Hesselbjerg-Christiansen J, Hewitson B (2007) Regional Climate Projection. In: IPCC (2007) Climate change 2007: the physical science basis. Contribution of working group I to the fourth assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change. Solomon S Qin D, Manning M, Chen Z, Marquis M, Averyt KB Tignor M Miller HL (eds) Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 872–887

  • Holst J, Barnard R, Brandes E, Buchmann N, Gessler A, Jaeger L (2008) Impacts of summer water limitation on the carbon balance of a Scots pine forest in the southern upper Rhine plain. Agric For Meteorol 148:1815–1826. doi:10.1016/j.agrformet.2008.06.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Junttila O (1986) Effects of temperature on shoot growth in northern provenances of Pinus sylvestris L. Tree Physiol 1:185–192

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Landmann G, Bréda N, Houllier F, Dreyer E, Flot JL (2003) Sécheresse et canicule de l’été 2003: quelles conséquences pour les forêts françaises? Rev For LV-4:299–308

    Google Scholar 

  • Le Houérou HN (2005) The Isoclimatic Mediterranean Biomes: bioclimatology, diversity and phytogeography. Copymania publication, Montpellier, p 840

  • Luterbacher J, Dietrich D, Xoplaki E, Grosjean M, Wanner H (2004) European seasonal and annual temperature variability, trends, and extremes since 1500. Science 303:1499–1503. doi:10.1126/science.1093877

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Makela A, Vanninen P (1998) Impacts of size and competition on tree form and distribution of aboveground biomass in Scots pine. Can J For Res 28(2):216–227. doi:10.1139/cjfr-28-2-216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Niinemets Ü, Lukjanova A (2003) Needle longevity, shoot growth and branching frequency in relation to site fertility and within-canopy light condition in Pinus sylvestris. Ann Sci 60:195–208. doi:10.1051/forest:2003012

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orshan G (1989) Plant pheno-morphological studies in mediterranean type ecosystems. Kluwer, Dordrecht

    Google Scholar 

  • Pauly H, Belrose V (2005) La santé des forêts françaises: actualités de l’année 2004 - Sécheresse et canicule de l’été 2003: observation en 2004 des conséquences sur les peuplements forestiers adultes. Rapport Ministère de L’Agriculture, de l’Alimentation, de la Pêche et de la Ruralité, Département Santé des Forêts, Paris, p 11

  • Peter G, Klinkhamer L, Jong DTJ (1997) Size-dependent allocation to male and female reproduction. In: J Plant resource allocation, Bazzaz FA (eds), Academic Press, San Diego, pp 211–226

  • Philippe G, Baldet P, Héois B, Ginisty C (2006) Reproduction sexuée des conifères et production de semences en vergers à graines. Cemagref Collection Synthèse, Antony

    Google Scholar 

  • Pichler P, Oberhuber W (2007) Radial growth response of coniferous forest trees in an inner Alpine environment to heat-wave in 2003. For Ecol Manag 242:688–699

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Price RA, Liston A, Strauss SH (1998) Phylogeny and systematics of Pinus. In: Richardson DM (ed) Ecology and biogeography of Pinus. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 49–68

    Google Scholar 

  • R_Development_Core_Team (2004) R: a language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing

  • Rebetez M, Dobbertin M (2004) Climate change may already threaten Scots pine stands in the Swiss Alps. Theor Appl Climat 79:1–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rebetez M, Mayer H, Dupont O, Schindler D, Gartner K, Kropp JP, Menzel A (2006) Heat and drought 2003 in Europe: a climate synthesis. Ann For Sci 63:569–577

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ripert C, Vennetier M (2002) Guide Technique du Forestier Méditerranéen Français. Chapitre 2 bis: Evaluation des potentialités forestières. Cemagref Edition, Aix en Provence

    Google Scholar 

  • Schar C, Vidale PL, Lûthi D, Frei C, Hâberli C, Liniger MA, Appenzeller C (2004) The role of increasing temperature variability for European summer heat waves. Nature 427:332–336

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Serre F (1976) Les rapports de la croissance et du climat chez le Pin d’Alep (Pinus halepensis Mill.) II. L’allongement des pousses et des aiguilles, et le climat. Discussion générale. Oecol Plant 11:201–224

    Google Scholar 

  • Tessier L (1984) Dendroclimatologie et Ecologie de Pinus sylvestris L. et Quercus pubescens Willd. dans le sud-est de la France. Université de Droit, d’Economie et des Sciences d’ Aix-Marseille, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques de St-Jérôme, Laboratoire de Botanique Historique et Palynologie, Thèse de Doctorat d’Etat mention Sciences

  • Tessier L (1989) Spatio-temporal analysis of climate–tree–ring relationships. New Phytol 111:517–529

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vennetier M, Ripert C, Maille E, Blanc L, Torre F, Roche P, Tatoni T, Brun JJ (2008) A new bioclimatic model calibrated with flora for Mediterranean forest areas. Ann For Sci 65:711

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vennetier M, Thabeet A, Gadbin-Henry C, Ripert C, Prevosto B, Borgniet L, Vila B, Guibal F, Ray R, Buron, Zanetti C (2009). Conséquences de la canicule et de la sécheresse 2003 sur les pins méditerranéens. In: Landman G Landeau S (eds) “Sécheresse et canicule 2003. Contribution des dispositifs de suivi et d’observation des forêts à la quantification des effets immédiats et à court terme”, QUAE, Paris (in press)

  • Vila B, Vennetier M, Ripert C, Chandioux O, Liang E, Guibal F, Torre F (2008) Has global change induced opposite trends in radial growth of Pinus sylvestris and Pinus halepensis at their bioclimatic limit? The example of the Sainte-Baume forest (south-east France). Ann For Sci 65:709

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wold S (1995) PLS for multivariate linear modeling. In: chemometric methods in molecular design. Waterbeemd VD (ed) Weinheim, Germany, pp 195–218

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. IMEP, Université Paul Cézanne, boite 441 Avenue Escadrille Normandie Niemen, 13397, Marseille Cedex 20, France

    Ali Thabeet

  2. CEMAGREF, 3275 Route de Cézanne CS 40061, 13182, Aix-en-Provence, France

    Ali Thabeet & Michel Vennetier

  3. Université Paul Cézanne, boite 441 Avenue Escadrille Normandie Niemen, 13397, Marseille Cedex 20, France

    Claude Gadbin-Henry, Nicole Denelle & Maurice Roux

  4. CIRAD, UMR AMAP, 34000, Montpellier, France

    Yves Caraglio

  5. Université de Provence, Case 4, 3, Place Victor Hugo, 13331, Marseille Cedex 03, France

    Bruno Vila

Authors
  1. Ali Thabeet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Michel Vennetier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Claude Gadbin-Henry
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Nicole Denelle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Maurice Roux
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Yves Caraglio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Bruno Vila
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bruno Vila.

Additional information

Communicated by R. Matyssek.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Thabeet, A., Vennetier, M., Gadbin-Henry, C. et al. Response of Pinus sylvestris L. to recent climatic events in the French Mediterranean region. Trees 23, 843–853 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-009-0326-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-009-0326-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation