Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Drought-induced decline and mortality of silver fir differ among three sites in Southern France

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Annals of Forest Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Context

In the Mediterranean area, numerous decline and mortality processes have been reported during recent decades, affecting forest dynamics. They are likely due to increases in summer drought severity and therefore especially affect drought-sensitive species, such as silver fir (Abies alba Mill.).

Aims and methods

To understand the relationships between tree growth, crown condition and mortality probability, radial growth trends of healthy, declining (showing crown damages) and dead trees were compared using tree-ring analysis. Factors involved in determining this mortality were also examined at the plot and tree level using altitudinal gradients on three contrasted sites in southeastern France.

Results

Individuals with higher inter-annual variability in growth were more prone to dieback. At two sites, dead trees displayed lower growth rates over their entire lifetime, while, on the last site, their juvenile growth rate was higher. Trees with crown damage had higher growth rates than healthy trees on one site, and their radial growth trends over time always differed from those of dead trees. Mortality and crown damage were little related to altitude, but strongly differed between sites and among plots underlining the importance of local edaphic and topographic conditions.

Conclusion

These results suggest that the relationships among mortality probability, crown condition and growth can differ among sites, and highlight the impact of soil conditions and the need to assess them in tree mortality studies.

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.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen CD, Macalady AK, Chenchouni H, Bachelet D, McDowell N, Vennetier M, Kitzberger T, Rigling A, Breshears DD, Hogg EH, Gonzalez P, Fensham R, Zhang Z, Castro J, Demidova N, Lim J-H, Allard G, Running SW, Semerci A, Cobb N (2010) A global overview of drought and heat-induced tree mortality reveals emerging climate change risks for forests. For Ecol Manage 259:660–684

    Google Scholar 

  • Becker M (1987) Bilan de santé actuel et rétrospectif du sapin (Abies alba Mill.) dans les Vosges. Etude écologique et dendrochronologique. Ann For Sci 44:379–402

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bigler C, Bugmann H (2003) Growth-dependent tree mortality models based on tree rings. Can J For Res 33:210–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bigler C, Veblen TT (2009) Increased early growth rates decrease longevities of conifers in subalpine forests. Oikos 118:1130–1138. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0706.2009.17592.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biondi F, Qeadan F (2008) Inequality in paleorecords. Ecology 89:1056–1067

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bréda 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 63:625–644. doi:10.1051/forest:2006042

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bunn A (2008) A dendrochronology program library in R (dplR). Dendrochronologia 26:115–124. doi:10.1016/j.dendro.2008.01.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cailleret M (2011) Causes fonctionnelles du dépérissement et de la mortalité du sapin pectiné en Provence. Thèse de doctorat de l’Université d’Aix-Marseille III

  • Cailleret M, Davi H (2011) Effects of climate on diameter growth of co-occurring Fagus sylvatica and Abies alba along an altitudinal gradient. Trees 25:265–276. doi:10.1007/s00468-010-0503-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chao KJ, Phillips OL, Gloor E, Monteagudo A, Torres-Lezama A, Vasquez-Martinez R (2008) Growth and wood density predict tree mortality in Amazon forests. J Ecol 96:281–292. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2745.2007.01343.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cook ER (1987) The decomposition of tree-ring series for environmental studies. Tree-Ring Bulletin 47:37–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Coomes DA, Allen R (2007) Mortality and tree-size distributions in natural mixed-age forests. J Ecol 95:27–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deslauriers A, Rossi S, Anfodillo T, Saracino A (2008) Cambial activity, wood formation and temperature thresholds in two contrasting years at high altitude in southern Italy. Tree Physiol 28:863–871

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dobbertin M, Brang P (2001) Crown defoliation improves tree mortality models. For Eco Manage 14:271–284

    Google Scholar 

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

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dreyer E, Fichter J, Bonneau M (1994) Nutrient content and photosynthesis of young yellowing Norway spruce trees (Picea abies L. Karst.) following calcium and magnesium fertilisation. Plant Soil 160:67–78

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Durand-Gillmann M, Cailleret M, Boivin T, Nageleisen LM, Davi H (2012) Individual vulnerability factors of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) to parasitism by two contrasting biotic agents: mistletoe (Viscum album L. ssp. abietis) and bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) during a decline process. Ann For Sci. doi:10.1007/s13595-012-0251-y

  • Esper J, Cook ER, Krusic PJ, Peters K, Schweingruber FH (2003) Tests of the RCS method for preserving low-frequency variations in long tree-ring chronologies. Tree Ring Res 59:81–98

    Google Scholar 

  • Girard F, Vennetier M, Guibal F, Corona C, Ouarmim S, Herrero A (2012) Pinus halepensis Mill. crown development and fruiting declined with repeated drought in Mediterranean France. Eur J Forest Res 131:919–931. doi:10.1007/s10342-011-0565-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Granier A (1981) Etude des relations entre la section du bois d’aubier et la masse foliaire chez le Douglas (Pseudotsuga menziesii Mirb. Franco). Ann For Sci 38:503–512

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoch G, Richter A, Körner C (2003) Non-structural carbon compounds in temperate forest trees. Plant Cell Environ 26:1067–1081

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holmes RL (1994) Dendrochronology program manual. Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, Tucson

    Google Scholar 

  • Issartel J, Coiffard C (2011) Extreme longevity in trees: live slow, die old? Oecologia 165:1–5

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kaufmann MR (1996) To live fast or not: growth, vigor, longevity of old-growth ponderosa pine and lodgepole pines. Tree Physiol 16:139–144

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Limousin JM, Rambal S, Ourcival JM, Rocheteau A, Joffre R, Rodriguez-Cortina R (2009) Long-term transpiration change with rainfall decline in a Mediterranean Quercus ilex forest. Global Change Biol. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2486.2009.01852.x

  • Linares JC, Camarero JJ (2011) Growth patterns and sensitivity to climate predict silver fir decline in the Spanish Pyrenees. Eur J For Res. doi:10.1007/s10342-011-0572-7

  • Linares JC, Delgado-Huertas A, Camarero JJ, Merino J, Carreira JA (2009) Competition and drought limit the response of water-use efficiency to rising atmospheric carbon dioxide in the Mediterranean fir Abies pinsapo. Oecologia 161:611–624. doi:10.1007/s00442-009-1409-7

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Loehle C (1988) Tree life history strategies: the role of defenses. Can J For Res 18:209–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manion PD (1981) Tree disease concepts. Prentice-Hall, Inc, Englewood Cliffs

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin GL, Ek AR (1984) A comparison of competition measures and growth models for predicting plantation red pine diameter and height growth. For Sci 30:731–743

    Google Scholar 

  • Mc Dowell N (2011) Mechanisms linking drought, hydraulics, carbon metabolism, and vegetation mortality. Plant Physiol 155:1051–1059

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nourtier M, Cailleret M, Yingge X, Chanzy A, Davi H (2012) Transpiration of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) during and after drought in relation to soil properties in a Mediterranean mountain area. Ann For Sci. doi:10.1007/s13595-012-0229-9

  • Pedersen BS (1998) The role of stress in the mortality of Midwestern oaks as indicated by growth prior to death. Ecology 79:79–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robakowski P, Wyka T, Samardakiewicz S, Kierzkowski D (2004) Growth, photosynthesis, and needle structure of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) under different canopies. For Ecol Manag 201:211–227. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2004.06.029

    Google Scholar 

  • Somot S, Sevault F, Déqué M, Crépon M (2008) 21st century climate change scenario for the Mediterranean using a coupled atmosphere–ocean regional climate model. Global Planet Change 63:112–126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suarez ML, Ghermandi L, Kitzeberger (2004) Factors predisposing episodic drought-induced tree mortality in Nothofagus—site, climatic sensitivity and growth trends. J Ecol 92:954–966

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsopelas P, Angelopoulos A, Economou A, Soulioti N (2004) Mistletoe (Viscum album) in the forest of Mount Parnis, Greece. For Ecol Manag 202:59–65

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Mantgem PJ, Stephenson NL, Byrne JC, Daniels LD, Franklin JF, Fulé PZ, Harmon ME, Larson AJ, Smith JM, Taylor AH, Veblen TT (2009) Widespread increase of tree mortality rates in the Western United States. Science 323:521–524

    Google Scholar 

  • Zweifel R, Zimmermann L, Zeugin F, Newbery DM (2006) Intraannual radial growth and water relations of trees: implications towards a growth mechanism. J Exp Bot 57:1445–1459. doi:10.1093/jxb/erj125

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank N. Mariotte, W. Brunetto, F. Courdier, S. Rachedi and A. Fourrier for their contribution to field measurements and dendrochronological analyses. We are also grateful to anonymous reviewers and to the editors for valuable suggestions during the review process.

Funding

M.C. received a Ph.D. student grant from the French Research National Agency (ANR), which also supported research funding in the frame of the DRYADE project (ANR-06-VULN-004).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. UR629, Écologie des Forêts Méditerranéennes, INRA, Domaine Saint Paul, Site Agroparc, 84914, Avignon, France

    Maxime Cailleret, Annabelle Amm, Marion Durand-Gillmann & Hendrik Davi

  2. UMR1114, Environnement Méditerranéen et Modélisation des AgroHydrosystèmes, INRA, Domaine Saint Paul, Site Agroparc, 84914, Avignon, France

    Marie Nourtier

  3. Forest Ecology group, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, Department of Environmental Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH, Universitätstrasse 16, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland

    Maxime Cailleret

Authors
  1. Maxime Cailleret
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Marie Nourtier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Annabelle Amm
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Marion Durand-Gillmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Hendrik Davi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maxime Cailleret.

Additional information

Handling Editor: Nathalie Breda

Contribution of the co-authors

All co-authors contributed to field measurements. Maxime Cailleret performed data analysis and wrote the manuscript. Marie Nourtier, Annabelle Amm and Marion Durand-Gillmann contributed to the revision and amelioration of the manuscript. Hendrik Davi wrote the manuscript and supervised the whole project.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Fig. S1

Location of the study sites (DOC 350 kb)

Table S1

Coefficients of the best general linear models between sapwood area and diverse tree parameters (basal area, cambial age, altitude and distance/diameter ratio competition index) for trees growing on Mont Ventoux, Issole and Vésubie. Models were chosen using a stepwise algorithm minimising the AIC (AIC Ventoux = 5,698; AIC Issole = 1,575.8; AIC Vésubie = 548.9). Statistical significance as *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001; °p < 0.1; NS not significant (DOC 36 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cailleret, M., Nourtier, M., Amm, A. et al. Drought-induced decline and mortality of silver fir differ among three sites in Southern France. Annals of Forest Science 71, 643–657 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-013-0265-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-013-0265-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation