Skip to main content
SLU:s publikationsdatabas (SLUpub)

Forskningsartikel2022Vetenskapligt granskadÖppen tillgång

Initial oak regeneration responses to experimental warming along microclimatic and macroclimatic gradients

Meeussen, C.; De Pauw, K.; Sanczuk, P.; Brunet, J.; Cousins, S. A. O.; Gasperini, C.; Hedwall, P-O; Iacopetti, G.; Lenoir, J.; Plue, J.; Selvi, F.; Spicher, F.; Diez, J. Uria; Verheyen, K.; Vangansbeke, P.; De Frenne, P.

Sammanfattning

Quercus spp. are one of the most important tree genera in temperate deciduous forests in terms of biodiversity, economic and cultural perspectives. However, natural regeneration of oaks, depending on specific environmental conditions, is still not sufficiently understood. Oak regeneration dynamics are impacted by climate change, but these climate impacts will depend on local forest management and light and temperature conditions. Here, we studied germination, survival and seedling performance (i.e. aboveground biomass, height, root collar diameter and specific leaf area) of four oak species (Q. cerris, Q. ilex, Q. robur and Q. petraea). Acorns were sown across a wide latitudinal gradient, from Italy to Sweden, and across several microclimatic gradients located within and beyond the species' natural ranges. Microclimatic gradients were applied in terms of forest structure, distance to the forest edge and experimental warming. We found strong interactions between species and latitude, as well as between microclimate and latitude or species. The species thus reacted differently to local and regional changes in light and temperature ; in southern regions the temperate Q. robur and Q. petraea performed best in plots with a complex structure, whereas the Mediterranean Q. ilex and Q. cerris performed better in simply structured forests with a reduced microclimatic buffering capacity. The experimental warming treatment only enhanced height and aboveground biomass of Mediterranean species. Our results show that local microclimatic gradients play a key role in the initial stages of oak regeneration; however, one needs to consider the species-specific responses to forest structure and the macroclimatic context.

Nyckelord

climate change; edge influence; forest structure; temperate deciduous forests; transplant experiment; Quercus

Publicerad i

Plant Biology
2022, Volym: 24, nummer: 5, sidor: 745-757
Utgivare: WILEY

      SLU författare

      • Associerade SLU-program

      SLU Skogsskadecentrum

      Globala målen

      SDG15 Skydda, återställa och främja ett hållbart nyttjande av landbaserade ekosystem, hållbart bruka skogar, bekämpa ökenspridning, hejda och vrida tillbaka markförstöringen samt hejda förlusten av biologisk mångfald
      SDG13 Vidta omedelbara åtgärder för att bekämpa klimatförändringarna och dess konsekvenser

      UKÄ forskningsämne

      Skogsvetenskap
      Ekologi
      Klimatforskning

      Publikationens identifierare

      DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.13412

      Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

      https://res.slu.se/id/publ/116862