Comparison of inter- and intra-annual growth dynamics and drought response of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) along an altitudinal gradient

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Heinrich Spiecker
• Subject Area: Forestry
• Term: from 2013 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 241960553

The impact of anticipated global change on growth and productivity of Norway spruce and European beech is still discussed controversially. The analysis of inter- and intra-annual growth dynamics in different environmental conditions will provide detailed insight into the resilience and adaption potential of stem radial growth to climatic extreme events and environmental changes.This study will be based on the exploitation of already existing unique long dendrometer time series collected at three dendroecological field sites of the Institute for Forest Growth along an altitudinal gradient in south-western Germany. At the three field sites, stem radial displacement of beech and spruce sample trees has been recorded by automatic precision point dendrometers in high temporal resolution (every 15 minutes) since 1990 at an altitude of 1250 m and since 1997 in addition at 450 m and 750 m. At these sites meteorological and pedological parameters have been measured during this observation period. Complementary environmental data, including high resolution time series of tropospheric CO2 concentration measurements from the nearby environmental monitoring station "Schauinsland" of the German Federal Environmental Agency (Umweltbundesamt) will be available. For extension of the retrospective analyses, stem discs and increment cores of dendrometer trees and neighboring trees will be sampled at each of the three sites.The innovative approach of combining long-term dendrometer data with tree ring features such as ring width, cell structure, intra-annual density profiles and data from detailed studies on cambial activity and wood formation, provides a great opportunity to deepen our understanding and knowledge about the interactions of different environmental factors with the short-, medium- and long-term growth dynamics of the two important tree species in German forestry.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants