Forests 2017, 8(12), 490; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8120490
Warming Effects on Pinus sylvestris in the Cold–Dry Siberian Forest–Steppe: Positive or Negative Balance of Trade?
Tatiana A. Shestakova 1,2,*
, Jordi Voltas 1, Matthias Saurer 3, Rolf T. W. Siegwolf 4 and Alexander V. Kirdyanov 5,6
, Jordi Voltas 1, Matthias Saurer 3, Rolf T. W. Siegwolf 4 and Alexander V. Kirdyanov 5,61
Department of Crop and Forest Sciences—AGROTECNIO Center, University of Lleida, Avda. Rovira Roure 191, 25198 Lleida, Spain
2
Mathematical Methods and IT Department, Siberian Federal University, St. L. Prushinskoy 2, 660075 Krasnoyarsk, Russia
3
Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
4
Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
5
Sukachev Institute of Forest, Akademgorodok 50/28, 660036 Krasnoyarsk, Russia
6
Institute of Ecology and Geography, Siberian Federal University, Pr. Svobodny 82, 660041 Krasnoyarsk, Russia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 10 November 2017 / Revised: 1 December 2017 / Accepted: 5 December 2017 / Published: 7 December 2017
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Isotope Application in Forest Growth Assessment)
Abstract
Understanding climate change impacts on drought-prone forests is a critical issue. We investigated ring-width and stable isotopes (Δ13C and δ18O) in two Pinus sylvestris stands of the cold–dry Siberian forest–steppe growing under contrasting climatic trends over the last 75 years. Despite regional warming, there was increasing precipitation during the growing period at the southern site (MIN) but increasing water deficit (WD) at the northern site (BER). Intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEi) increased similarly (ca. 22%) in response to warming and rising atmospheric CO2. However, the steady increase in WUEi was accompanied by divergent growth patterns since 1980: increasing basal area increment (BAI) in MIN (slope = 0.102 cm2 year−2) and decreasing BAI in BER (slope = −0.129 cm2 year−2). This suggests that increased precipitation, mediated by CO2 effects, promoted growth in MIN, whereas intensified drought stress led to decreased carbon gain and productivity in BER. When compared to warm–dry stands of eastern Spain, the WUEi dependence on WD was three-fold greater in Siberia. Conversely, BAI was more affected by the relative impact of water stress within each region. These results indicate contrasting future trajectories of P. sylvestris forests, which challenge forecasting growth and carbon sequestration in cold–dry areas. View Full-TextKeywords:
climate warming; dendroecology; drought stress; forest–steppe; Scots pine; Central Siberia; stable isotopes; tree rings
▼
Figures
Figure 1
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited (CC BY 4.0).
Share & Cite This Article
MDPI and ACS Style
Shestakova, T.A.; Voltas, J.; Saurer, M.; Siegwolf, R.T.W.; Kirdyanov, A.V. Warming Effects on Pinus sylvestris in the Cold–Dry Siberian Forest–Steppe: Positive or Negative Balance of Trade? Forests 2017, 8, 490.
Note that from the first issue of 2016, MDPI journals use article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.