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Pinus nigra anthropogenic treelines in the central Apennines show common pattern of tree recruitment

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Abstract

Treeline position, structure, and composition are shaped by natural and anthropogenic factors. At human-disturbed treelines, it is particularly difficult to disentangle the specific role of natural and anthropogenic drivers controlling tree recruitment dynamics following land abandonment. We tested for a possible common regeneration pattern of Pinus nigra Arn. at four upper treeline ecotones in the central Apennines (Italy). The sites were selected based on (1) the occurrence of natural encroachment of P. nigra above 1600 m a.s.l., and (2) the mountain top elevation higher than 2000 m a.s.l. We assessed structure and spatiotemporal patterns of P. nigra advancing regeneration using point and surface pattern analyses. We mapped, measured, and dated 845 trees sampled on a total surface area of 336 ha. P. nigra is the only tree species expanding at high altitude and features a scattered process that started 35–40 years ago, with a maximum recruitment frequency between 1995 and 2003. Pinus regeneration appeared over-dispersed along the slope at a scale range of 12–18 m. We found spatial segregation between saplings and young trees at intermediate distances (8–17 m) and small patches of young trees distributed along the treeline ecotone. The spatial pattern of P. nigra encroachment in the central Apennines revealed a replicable model independent of treeline topography and local disturbance histories.

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Acknowledgments

This research was partially financed by the Marche Polytechnic University through the project No. 4524/2009 ‘Spatiotemporal dynamics of forest vegetation and climate change in the Marche region’. We wish to thank the following institutions and people for providing sampling authorisation, logistic support, field and laboratory assistance: Monti Sibillini National Park, Gran Sasso-Monti della Laga National Park, Sirente-Velino Regional Park, and Bruno Petriccione, Francesco Renzaglia, Valeria Gallucci, Emidia Santini, Luca Bagnara, Matteo Giove, Andrea Cola, Simone Cingolani, Marco Altieri, Alessandro Vitali, Alan Crivellaro and Edoardo Piermattei.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, Via delle Brecce Bianche 10, 60131, Ancona, AN, Italy

    Alma Piermattei, Carlo Urbinati & Matteo Garbarino

  2. Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry, University of Padova, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020, Legnaro, PD, Italy

    Emanuele Lingua

  3. Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland

    Alma Piermattei

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  1. Alma Piermattei
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  2. Emanuele Lingua
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  3. Carlo Urbinati
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  4. Matteo Garbarino
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Correspondence to Matteo Garbarino.

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Handling Editor: Aaron R Weiskittel.

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Online Resource 1

Univariate spatial pattern analysis of Pinus trees, considering two age classes (A: saplings < 10 years; B: young trees > 15 years), using the pair correlation function g(r). Black lines indicate the pair correlation functions g(r), and the dotted line represents the expected value under the null model (heterogeneous Poisson); shaded areas encompass non-significant, i.e. random, distribution, and represent, points within the 2.5th and 97.5th percentile g(r) values of the 999 simulations Monte Carlo permutations. The inset graphs show the results of each site separately. (TIFF 8337 kb)

Online Resource 2

Map of spatial distribution of Pinus individuals at four treelines of the central Apennines: VET, SIR, SFR, and OCR. Size of points is proportional to the age class of trees. (TIFF 5155 kb)

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Piermattei, A., Lingua, E., Urbinati, C. et al. Pinus nigra anthropogenic treelines in the central Apennines show common pattern of tree recruitment. Eur J Forest Res 135, 1119–1130 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-016-0999-y

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