Declining Growth Response of Siberian Spruce to Climate Variability on the Taiga–Tundra Border in the Putorana Mountains (Northwest Siberia)

Global warming is most pronounced at high latitudes where temperatures increase twice as fast as the global average. Boreal forest growth is generally limited by low temperatures, so elevated temperature is supposed to enhance biomass production and carbon sequestration. A large amount of evidence h...

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Main Authors: Peter Fleischer, Viliam Pichler, Ján Merganič, Erika Gömöryová, Marián Homolák
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-01-01
Series:Forests
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/1/131
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author Peter Fleischer
Viliam Pichler
Ján Merganič
Erika Gömöryová
Marián Homolák
Peter Fleischer
author_facet Peter Fleischer
Viliam Pichler
Ján Merganič
Erika Gömöryová
Marián Homolák
Peter Fleischer
author_sort Peter Fleischer
collection DOAJ
description Global warming is most pronounced at high latitudes where temperatures increase twice as fast as the global average. Boreal forest growth is generally limited by low temperatures, so elevated temperature is supposed to enhance biomass production and carbon sequestration. A large amount of evidence has recently shown inconsistent responses of tree growth derived from annual tree rings to increasing temperature. We studied Siberian spruce growth in the remote and isolated Putorana Mts, Western Siberia in populations at its natural distribution limit. Tree ring cores were sampled along vertical transect in 100, 200 and 350 m a.s.l. as the aim was to identify the tree growth rate at different altitudes. Detailed sampling site descriptions served to identify possible factors controlling the growth rate in extremely heterogeneous environments. Monthly climate data for the period 1900–2020 were extracted from the gridded CRU database. Tree ring chronologies confirmed long-lasting limited growth, and despite high year-to-year ring width variability, synchronous growth at vertical study sites dominantly controlled by climate. The positive tree ring growth response to summer temperature was significant for most of the 20th century but dramatically changed in recent decades, when unusually warm summers were reported. There was no, or even a negative growth rate correlation with precipitation, which indicates a sufficient water supply at the study sites. Elevated temperature in this region with a continental climate might turn the study localities to water-limited areas with many negative consequences on tree growth and related ecosystem services.
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spelling doaj.art-94e81c7ce34f41c0aa330e644b93ed342023-11-23T13:48:21ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072022-01-0113113110.3390/f13010131Declining Growth Response of Siberian Spruce to Climate Variability on the Taiga–Tundra Border in the Putorana Mountains (Northwest Siberia)Peter Fleischer0Viliam Pichler1Ján Merganič2Erika Gömöryová3Marián Homolák4Peter Fleischer5Faculty of Forestry, Technical University in Zvolen, T. G. Masaryka, 960 01 Zvolen, SlovakiaFaculty of Forestry, Technical University in Zvolen, T. G. Masaryka, 960 01 Zvolen, SlovakiaFaculty of Forestry, Technical University in Zvolen, T. G. Masaryka, 960 01 Zvolen, SlovakiaFaculty of Forestry, Technical University in Zvolen, T. G. Masaryka, 960 01 Zvolen, SlovakiaFaculty of Forestry, Technical University in Zvolen, T. G. Masaryka, 960 01 Zvolen, SlovakiaFaculty of Forestry, Technical University in Zvolen, T. G. Masaryka, 960 01 Zvolen, SlovakiaGlobal warming is most pronounced at high latitudes where temperatures increase twice as fast as the global average. Boreal forest growth is generally limited by low temperatures, so elevated temperature is supposed to enhance biomass production and carbon sequestration. A large amount of evidence has recently shown inconsistent responses of tree growth derived from annual tree rings to increasing temperature. We studied Siberian spruce growth in the remote and isolated Putorana Mts, Western Siberia in populations at its natural distribution limit. Tree ring cores were sampled along vertical transect in 100, 200 and 350 m a.s.l. as the aim was to identify the tree growth rate at different altitudes. Detailed sampling site descriptions served to identify possible factors controlling the growth rate in extremely heterogeneous environments. Monthly climate data for the period 1900–2020 were extracted from the gridded CRU database. Tree ring chronologies confirmed long-lasting limited growth, and despite high year-to-year ring width variability, synchronous growth at vertical study sites dominantly controlled by climate. The positive tree ring growth response to summer temperature was significant for most of the 20th century but dramatically changed in recent decades, when unusually warm summers were reported. There was no, or even a negative growth rate correlation with precipitation, which indicates a sufficient water supply at the study sites. Elevated temperature in this region with a continental climate might turn the study localities to water-limited areas with many negative consequences on tree growth and related ecosystem services.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/1/131boreal forestsPutorana plateauclimate changetree ringsdivergent growthgrowth periodicity and synchronicity
spellingShingle Peter Fleischer
Viliam Pichler
Ján Merganič
Erika Gömöryová
Marián Homolák
Peter Fleischer
Declining Growth Response of Siberian Spruce to Climate Variability on the Taiga–Tundra Border in the Putorana Mountains (Northwest Siberia)
Forests
boreal forests
Putorana plateau
climate change
tree rings
divergent growth
growth periodicity and synchronicity
title Declining Growth Response of Siberian Spruce to Climate Variability on the Taiga–Tundra Border in the Putorana Mountains (Northwest Siberia)
title_full Declining Growth Response of Siberian Spruce to Climate Variability on the Taiga–Tundra Border in the Putorana Mountains (Northwest Siberia)
title_fullStr Declining Growth Response of Siberian Spruce to Climate Variability on the Taiga–Tundra Border in the Putorana Mountains (Northwest Siberia)
title_full_unstemmed Declining Growth Response of Siberian Spruce to Climate Variability on the Taiga–Tundra Border in the Putorana Mountains (Northwest Siberia)
title_short Declining Growth Response of Siberian Spruce to Climate Variability on the Taiga–Tundra Border in the Putorana Mountains (Northwest Siberia)
title_sort declining growth response of siberian spruce to climate variability on the taiga tundra border in the putorana mountains northwest siberia
topic boreal forests
Putorana plateau
climate change
tree rings
divergent growth
growth periodicity and synchronicity
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/1/131
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