Abstract
Key message
Tree growth shows a non-linear response to temperature. Under climate change, this leads to a consistent increase of high basal area increments only at the highest elevations.
Abstract
Forest dynamics and particularly tree growth rates are considerably affected by temperature. Hence, global warming is expected to have large impacts on the growth and distribution of trees, especially at the cold distribution limit. While the influence of interannual temperature variability on tree growth has been described intensely, only few studies have analyzed how growth rates of trees decline along a fine-scale temperature gradient close to treeline. We compiled temporally and spatially highly resolved long-term air and soil temperature variables (degree-day sum, growing season length, and growing season mean temperature) at three study sites comprising nine elevation gradients in the Swiss Alps. These temperature variables were paired with basal area increment data of the four major treeline species growing along these transects. Close to treeline, basal area increment of all species depended primarily on degree-day sums or growing season length, rather than on growing season mean temperature. While basal area increment was best explained by combining air temperature of the current and previous growing seasons, the importance of soil temperature for tree growth was site-specific. When moving down from upper treeline, the temperature–growth relationship was strongly non-linear, showing a rapid decrease of temperature limitation and an increasing importance of factors other than temperature. Over the last 50 years, temperatures have increased substantially at all sites, with isotherms moving upward 160–260 m in elevation. The threshold dependence of growth to temperature that we identified has led to an increase of high basal area increments over time, which, however, was consistent throughout the population only at the highest elevations.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.
References
Alvarez-Uria P, Körner C (2007) Low temperature limits of root growth in deciduous and evergreen temperate tree species. Funct Ecol 21:211–218. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2435.2007.01231.x
Barbaroux C, Breda N (2002) Contrasting distribution and seasonal dynamics of carbohydrate reserves in stem wood of adult ring-porous sessile oak and diffuse-porous beech trees. Tree Physiol 22:1201–1210. https://doi.org/10.1093/treephys/22.17.1201
Bates D, Mächler M, Bolker BM, Walker SC (2015) Fitting linear mixed-effects models using lme4. J Stat Softw 67:1–48. https://doi.org/10.18637/jss.v067.i01
Becker M (1989) The role of climate on present and past vitality of silver fir forests in the Vosges-mountains of northeastern France. Can J For Res Revue 19:1110–1117. https://doi.org/10.1139/x89-168
Blanchet J, Marty C, Lehning M (2009) Extreme value statistics of snowfall in the Swiss Alpine region. Water Resour Res. https://doi.org/10.1029/2009WR007916
Bouriaud O, Leban JM, Bert D, Deleuze C (2005) Intra-annual variations in climate influence growth and wood density of Norway spruce. Tree Physiol 25:651–660
Bunn AG (2008) A dendrochronology program library in R (dplR). Dendrochronologia 26:115–124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dendro.2008.01.002
CH2011 (2011) Swiss Climate Change Scenarios CH2011, ZĂĽrich, C2SM, MeteoSwiss, ETH, NCCR Climate and OcCC
Duncan R (1989) An evaluation of errors in tree age estimates based on increment cores in kahikatea (Dacrycarpus dacrydioides). N Z Nat Sci 16:1–37
Elkin C, Gutierrez AG, Leuzinger S, Manusch C, Temperli C, Rasche L, Bugmann H (2013) A 2 °C warmer world is not safe for ecosystem services in the European Alps. Glob Change Biol 19:1827–1840. https://doi.org/10.1111/Gcb.12156
Fritts HC (1976) Tree rings and climate. Academic Press, London
Gehrig-Fasel J, Guisan A, Zimmermann NE (2007) Tree line shifts in the Swiss Alps: climate change or land abandonment? J Veg Sci 18:571–582. https://doi.org/10.1658/1100-9233
Gehrig-Fasel J, Guisan A, Zimmermann NE (2008) Evaluating thermal treeline indicators based on air and soil temperature using an air-to-soil temperature transfer model. Ecol Model 213:345–355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2008.01.003
Harsch MA, Bader MY (2011) Treeline form—a potential key to understanding treeline dynamics. Glob Ecol Biogeogr 20:582–596. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1466-8238.2010.00622.x
Hoch G, Körner C (2003) The carbon charging of pines at the climatic treeline: a global comparison. Oecologia 135:10–21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-002-1154-7
Hoch G, Richter A, Körner C (2003) Non-structural carbon compounds in temperate forest trees. Plant Cell Environ 26:1067–1081. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.0016-8025.2003.01032.x
Holmes RL (1983) Computer-assisted quality control in tree-ring dating and measurement. Tree Ring Bull 43:69–78
Holtmeier F-K (2009) Mountain timberlines: ecology, patchiness, and dynamics. Springer, Dordrecht
Holtmeier F-K, Broll G (2005) Sensitivity and response of northern hemisphere altitudinal and polar treelines to environmental change at landscape and local scales. Glob Ecol Biogeogr 14:395–410. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1466-822X.2005.00168.x
IPCC (2013) Climate change 2013: the physical science basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Cambridge. Cambridge University Press, New York
Jochner M, Bugmann H, Nötzli M, Bigler C (2017) Among-tree variability and feedback effects result in different growth responses to climate change at the upper treeline in the Swiss Alps. Ecol Evol. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.3290
Kagawa A, Sugimoto A, Maximov TC (2006) Seasonal course of translocation, storage and remobilization of C-13 pulse-labeled photoassimilate in naturally growing Larix gmelinii saplings. New Phytol 171:793–804. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2006.01780.x
Kimmins JP (2004) Forest ecology: a foundation for sustainable forest management and environmental ethics in forestry. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River
King G, Fonti P, Nievergelt D, Büntgen U, Frank D (2013a) Climatic drivers of hourly to yearly tree radius variations along a 6 degrees C natural warming gradient. Agric For Meteorol 168:36–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2012.08.002
King G, Gugerli F, Fonti P, Frank DC (2013b) Tree growth response along an elevational gradient: climate or genetics? Oecologia 173:1587–1600. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-013-2696-6
Kollas C, Randin CF, Vitasse Y, Korner C (2014) How accurately can minimum temperatures at the cold limits of tree species be extrapolated from weather station data? Agric For Meteorol 184:257–266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2013.10.001
Körner C (1998) A re-assessment of high elevation treeline positions and their explanation. Oecologia 115:445–459. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004420050540
Körner C (2012) Alpine treelines: functional ecology of the global high elevation tree limits. Springer, Basel
Körner C, Paulsen J (2004) A world-wide study of high altitude treeline temperatures. J Biogeogr 31:713–732. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2699.2003.01043.x
Körner C, Basler D, Hoch G et al (2016) Where, why and how? Explaining the low-temperature range limits of temperate tree species. J Ecol 104:1076–1088. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.12574
Lenoir J, Svenning JC (2015) Climate-related range shifts—a global multidimensional synthesis and new research directions. Ecography 38:15–28. https://doi.org/10.1111/ecog.00967
Lenz A, Hoch G, Körner C (2013) Early season temperature controls cambial activity and total tree ring width at the alpine treeline. Plant Ecol Divers 6:365–375. https://doi.org/10.1080/17550874.2012.711864
Lenz A, Vitasse Y, Hoch G, Körner C (2014) Growth and carbon relations of temperate deciduous tree species at their upper elevation range limit. J Ecol 102:1537–1548. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.12307
Leonelli G, Pelfini M, Di Cella UM (2009) Detecting climatic treelines in the Italian Alps: the influence of geomorphological factors and human impacts. Phys Geogr 30:338–352. https://doi.org/10.2747/0272-3646.30.4.338
Li X, Liang E, Gričar J, Rossi S, Čufar K, Ellison AM (2017) Critical minimum temperature limits xylogenesis and maintains treelines on the southeastern Tibetan Plateau. Sci Bull 62:804–812. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scib.2017.04.025
McMahon SM, Parker GG, Miller DR (2010) Evidence for a recent increase in forest growth. Proc Natl Acad Sci 107:3611–3615. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0912376107
Motta R, Nola P (2001) Growth trends and dynamics in sub-alpine forest stands in the Varaita Valley (Piedmont, Italy) and their relationships with human activities and global change. J Veg Sci 12:219–230. https://doi.org/10.2307/3236606
Oren R, Schulze E-D, Werk KS, Meyer J, Schneider BU, Heilmeier H (1988) Performance of two Picea abies (L.) Karst. stands at different stages of decline. Oecologia 75:25–37. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00378810
Paulsen J, Körner C (2014) A climate-based model to predict potential treeline position around the globe. Alpine Bot 124:1–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00035-014-0124-0
Paulsen J, Weber UM, Körner C (2000) Tree growth near treeline: abrupt or gradual reduction with altitude? Arctic Antarct Alpine Res 32:14–20. https://doi.org/10.2307/1552405
Pregitzer KS, King JS, Burton AJ, Brown SE (2000) Responses of tree fine roots to temperature. New Phytol 147:105–115. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1469-8137.2000.00689.x
R Core Team (2016) R: a language and environment for statistical computing. http://www.R-project.org
Rebetez M, Reinhard M (2008) Monthly air temperature trends in Switzerland 1901–2000 and 1975–2004. Theoret Appl Climatol 91:27–34. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-007-0296-2
Rickebusch S, Lischke H, Bugmann H, Guisan A, Zimmermann NE (2007) Understanding the low-temperature limitations to forest growth through calibration of a forest dynamics model with tree-ring data. For Ecol Manag 246:251–263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2007.04.030
Rossi S, Deslauriers A, Anfodillo T, Carraro V (2007) Evidence of threshold temperatures for xylogenesis in conifers at high altitudes. Oecologia 152:1–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-006-0625-7
Rossi S, Deslauriers A, Griçar J et al (2008) Critical temperatures for xylogenesis in conifers of cold climates. Glob Ecol Biogeogr 17:696–707. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1466-8238.2008.00417.x
Salzer MW, Larson ER, Bunn AG, Hughes MK (2014) Changing climate response in near-treeline bristlecone pine with elevation and aspect. Environ Res Lett 9:114007. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/9/11/114007
Seo JW, Eckstein D, Jalkanen R, Rickebusch S, Schmitt U (2008) Estimating the onset of cambial activity in Scots pine in northern Finland by means of the heat-sum approach. Tree Physiol 28:105–112. https://doi.org/10.1093/treephys/28.1.105
Sitch S, Smith B, Prentice IC et al (2003) Evaluation of ecosystem dynamics, plant geography and terrestrial carbon cycling in the LPJ dynamic global vegetation model. Glob Change Biol 9:161–185. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2486.2003.00569.x
Swisstopo (2012) Geological vector datasets 1:25,000. Swiss Federal Office of Topography swisstopo, Wabern
Tranquillini W (1979) Physiological ecology of the alpine timberline: tree existence at high altitudes with special reference to the European alps. Springer, Berlin
Vittoz P, Rulence B, Largey T, Freléchoux F (2008) Effects of climate and land-use change on the establishment and growth of Cembran pine (Pinus cembra L.) over the altitudinal treeline ecotone in the central Swiss Alps. Arctic Antarct Alpine Res 40:225–232. https://doi.org/10.1657/1523-0430
Wang Y, Pederson N, Ellison AM, Buckley HL, Case BS, Liang E, Julio Camarero J (2016) Increased stem density and competition may diminish the positive effects of warming at alpine treeline. Ecology 97:1668–1679. https://doi.org/10.1890/15-1264.1
White MA, Running SW, Thornton PE (1999) The impact of growing-season length variability on carbon assimilation and evapotranspiration over 88 years in the eastern US deciduous forest. Int J Biometeorol 42:139–145. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004840050097
Wilmking M, Juday GP, Barber VA, Zald HSJ (2004) Recent climate warming forces contrasting growth responses of white spruce at treeline in Alaska through temperature thresholds. Glob Change Biol 10:1724–1736. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2004.00826.x
Acknowledgements
This research was funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (project number C13.0056) in the context of the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action “Enhancing the resilience capacity of SENSitive mountain FORest ecosystems under environmental change (SENSFOR)” (project number ES1203). We thank Flavian Tschurr, Alexander Eichenberger, Marius Rüetschi, and Lukas Wunderle for their help in the field campaigns and processing of the samples and Maaike Bader for helpful comments on the manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
MJ: design of the study; acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of data for the study; writing of the manuscript and revising it; final approval of the version to be published; agrees to be accountable for all aspects of the study. HB: substantial contributions to the conception of the study, analysis and interpretation of data; revising the manuscript and approving the final version to be published; agrees to be accountable for all aspects of the study. MN: contributions to the acquisition and analysis of data; revising the manuscript and approving the final version to be published; agrees to be accountable for all aspects of the study. CB: design and conception of the study; acquisition, analysis and interpretation of data for the study; revising the manuscript; final approval of the version to be published; agrees to be accountable for all aspects of the study.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no competing financial interest.
Additional information
Communicated by E. Liang.
Electronic supplementary material
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jochner, M., Bugmann, H., Nötzli, M. et al. Tree growth responses to changing temperatures across space and time: a fine-scale analysis at the treeline in the Swiss Alps. Trees 32, 645–660 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-017-1648-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-017-1648-x