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Factors driving growth responses to drought in Mediterranean forests

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Abstract

We lack information regarding the main factors driving growth responses to drought in tree species with different vulnerability against this stressor and considering sites with contrasting climatic conditions. In this paper, we identify the main drivers controlling growth response to a multi-scalar drought index (Standardized Precipitation Index, SPI) in eight tree species (Abies alba, Pinus halepensis, Quercus faginea, Pinus sylvestris, Quercus ilex, Pinus pinea, Pinus nigra, Juniperus thurifera). We sampled forests growing across a pronounced climatic gradient under Mediterranean conditions in north-eastern Spain. To summarize the patterns of growth responses to drought, we used principal component analysis (PCA). To determine the main factors affecting growth responses to drought, correlation and regression analyses were carried out using a set of abiotic (climate, topography, soil type) and biotic (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, Enhanced Vegetation Index, tree-ring width, diameter at breast height) predictors and the PCs loadings as response variables. The PCA analysis detected two patterns of growth responses to drought corresponding to xeric and mesic sites, respectively. The regression analyses indicated that growth responses to drought in xeric forests were mainly driven by the annual precipitation, while in mesic sites the annual water balance was the most important driver. The management of Mediterranean forests under the forecasted warmer and drier conditions should focus on the main local factors modulating the negative impacts of drought on tree growth in xeric and mesic sites.

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Acknowledgments

Edmond Pasho thanks the financial support of the Albanian Ministry of Education and Science. This work has been supported by the research projects CGL2008-01189/BTE, CGL2008-04847-C02-01/BOS financed by the Spanish Commission of Science and Technology and FEDER, and EUROGEOSS (FP7-ENV-2008-1-226487) and ACQWA (FP7-ENV-2007-1- 212250) financed by the VII Framework Program of the European Commission. JJC thanks the support of ARAID.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología (CSIC), Avda. Montañana 1005, 50080, Zaragoza, Spain

    Edmond Pasho & Sergio M. Vicente-Serrano

  2. Faculty of Forestry Sciences, Agricultural University of Tirana, Kodër-Kamëz, 1029, Tirana, Albania

    Edmond Pasho

  3. ARAID, Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología (CSIC), Avda. Montañana 1005, 50080, Zaragoza, Spain

    J. Julio Camarero

  4. Departamento de Geografía y O.T., Universidad de Zaragoza, C/Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain

    Martín de Luis

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  1. Edmond Pasho
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  2. J. Julio Camarero
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  3. Martín de Luis
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  4. Sergio M. Vicente-Serrano
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Correspondence to Edmond Pasho.

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Communicated by A. Weiskittel.

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Pasho, E., Camarero, J.J., de Luis, M. et al. Factors driving growth responses to drought in Mediterranean forests. Eur J Forest Res 131, 1797–1807 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-012-0633-6

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