Leaf temperatures and environmental conditions predict daily stem radial variations in a temperate coniferous forest

Abstract Hourly‐resolved measurements of stem radial variations (SRVs) provide valuable insights into how climate‐induced changes in hydrological regimes affect tree water status and tree stem radial growth. However, while SRVs are easily measured at the individual tree level, currently no methods a...

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Main Authors: William A. Weygint, Jan U. H. Eitel, Andrew J. Maguire, Lee A. Vierling, Daniel M. Johnson, Colin S. Campbell, Kevin L. Griffin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2023-03-01
Series:Ecosphere
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4465
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author William A. Weygint
Jan U. H. Eitel
Andrew J. Maguire
Lee A. Vierling
Daniel M. Johnson
Colin S. Campbell
Kevin L. Griffin
author_facet William A. Weygint
Jan U. H. Eitel
Andrew J. Maguire
Lee A. Vierling
Daniel M. Johnson
Colin S. Campbell
Kevin L. Griffin
author_sort William A. Weygint
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Hourly‐resolved measurements of stem radial variations (SRVs) provide valuable insights into how climate‐induced changes in hydrological regimes affect tree water status and tree stem radial growth. However, while SRVs are easily measured at the individual tree level, currently no methods are available to monitor this phenomenon across broad regions at intra‐annual (daily to weekly) scales. Near‐surface (in situ) thermal remote sensing—with its sensitivity to plant water status—may provide an approach for monitoring intra‐annual SRVs, with the potential for scaling these approaches to the landscape level. Thus, we explored the suitability of in situ thermal remote sensing, in combination with other environmental data, to monitor SRVs in a coniferous forest of the North American Intermountain West. Specifically, we were interested in answering two main questions: Can we use in situ thermal remote sensing by itself and in combination with environmental variables (i.e., photoperiod, photosynthetically active radiation, and soil moisture) to predict (1) daily tree water status and (2) daily tree stem radial growth derived from SRVs? We used data collected by an environmental monitoring network in central Idaho over three growing seasons (2019–2021) to address these questions. Results showed that leaf temperature (TL) in combination with environmental variables explained up to three‐quarters of the SRV‐based variability in daily tree water status (in the form of tree water deficit [TWD]) and approximately one‐half of the variability in daily stem radial growth. The time of day when TL was acquired also appeared to change the strength, shape, and predictive power of the models, with acquisition times in the morning and evening showing stronger relationships with daily SRVs than other times of the day. Overall, these results highlight the promise of utilizing thermal remote sensing data to derive tree hydrological and growth status, and reveal key considerations (e.g., the time of data acquisition) for future observational and modeling efforts. This study also provides a benchmark against which to compare future efforts to test these observed relationships at coarser spatial scales.
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spelling doaj.art-ac93aa551dda49c0ae614929e76c59a72023-03-30T01:42:38ZengWileyEcosphere2150-89252023-03-01143n/an/a10.1002/ecs2.4465Leaf temperatures and environmental conditions predict daily stem radial variations in a temperate coniferous forestWilliam A. Weygint0Jan U. H. Eitel1Andrew J. Maguire2Lee A. Vierling3Daniel M. Johnson4Colin S. Campbell5Kevin L. Griffin6McCall Field Campus University of Idaho McCall Idaho USAMcCall Field Campus University of Idaho McCall Idaho USAJet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology Pasadena California USADepartment of Natural Resources and Society University of Idaho Moscow Idaho USAWarnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources University of Georgia Athens Georgia USAMETER Pullman Washington USADepartment of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology Columbia University New York New York USAAbstract Hourly‐resolved measurements of stem radial variations (SRVs) provide valuable insights into how climate‐induced changes in hydrological regimes affect tree water status and tree stem radial growth. However, while SRVs are easily measured at the individual tree level, currently no methods are available to monitor this phenomenon across broad regions at intra‐annual (daily to weekly) scales. Near‐surface (in situ) thermal remote sensing—with its sensitivity to plant water status—may provide an approach for monitoring intra‐annual SRVs, with the potential for scaling these approaches to the landscape level. Thus, we explored the suitability of in situ thermal remote sensing, in combination with other environmental data, to monitor SRVs in a coniferous forest of the North American Intermountain West. Specifically, we were interested in answering two main questions: Can we use in situ thermal remote sensing by itself and in combination with environmental variables (i.e., photoperiod, photosynthetically active radiation, and soil moisture) to predict (1) daily tree water status and (2) daily tree stem radial growth derived from SRVs? We used data collected by an environmental monitoring network in central Idaho over three growing seasons (2019–2021) to address these questions. Results showed that leaf temperature (TL) in combination with environmental variables explained up to three‐quarters of the SRV‐based variability in daily tree water status (in the form of tree water deficit [TWD]) and approximately one‐half of the variability in daily stem radial growth. The time of day when TL was acquired also appeared to change the strength, shape, and predictive power of the models, with acquisition times in the morning and evening showing stronger relationships with daily SRVs than other times of the day. Overall, these results highlight the promise of utilizing thermal remote sensing data to derive tree hydrological and growth status, and reveal key considerations (e.g., the time of data acquisition) for future observational and modeling efforts. This study also provides a benchmark against which to compare future efforts to test these observed relationships at coarser spatial scales.https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4465point dendrometerstem radial growththermal remote sensingtree growthtree water deficittree water status
spellingShingle William A. Weygint
Jan U. H. Eitel
Andrew J. Maguire
Lee A. Vierling
Daniel M. Johnson
Colin S. Campbell
Kevin L. Griffin
Leaf temperatures and environmental conditions predict daily stem radial variations in a temperate coniferous forest
Ecosphere
point dendrometer
stem radial growth
thermal remote sensing
tree growth
tree water deficit
tree water status
title Leaf temperatures and environmental conditions predict daily stem radial variations in a temperate coniferous forest
title_full Leaf temperatures and environmental conditions predict daily stem radial variations in a temperate coniferous forest
title_fullStr Leaf temperatures and environmental conditions predict daily stem radial variations in a temperate coniferous forest
title_full_unstemmed Leaf temperatures and environmental conditions predict daily stem radial variations in a temperate coniferous forest
title_short Leaf temperatures and environmental conditions predict daily stem radial variations in a temperate coniferous forest
title_sort leaf temperatures and environmental conditions predict daily stem radial variations in a temperate coniferous forest
topic point dendrometer
stem radial growth
thermal remote sensing
tree growth
tree water deficit
tree water status
url https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4465
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