Reversible Impacts of a Cold Spell on Forest Cover, Tree Growth and Carbohydrates in Mediterranean Pine and Oak Forests

Jesús Julio Camarero; Michele Colangelo; Cristina Valeriano; Manuel Pizarro

doi:10.3390/f14040678

journal article Open Access Mar 25, 2023

Reversible Impacts of a Cold Spell on Forest Cover, Tree Growth and Carbohydrates in Mediterranean Pine and Oak Forests

Jesús Julio Camarero

Michele Colangelo

Cristina Valeriano

Manuel Pizarro

Forests Vol. 14 No. 4 pp. 678 · MDPI AG

View at Publisher Save 10.3390/f14040678

Abstract

Climate extremes such as cold spells are becoming more frequent as climate variability increases. However, few studies have evaluated the impacts of winter cold spells on forest cover, tree growth and leaf and sapwood non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) concentrations. We analyzed changes in tree cover using remote sensing data and compared the radial growth of coexisting and defoliated Pinus halepensis trees and non-defoliated P. halepensis and Pinus pinaster trees. We also compared NSC concentrations in leaves and sapwood of defoliated and non-defoliated P. halepensis and Quercus ilex trees. In January 2021, a rapid drop in temperatures led to minimum values (−21.3 °C) in eastern Spain and triggered canopy defoliation in several planted (P. halepensis) and native (Q. ilex) tree species. The cold spell led to a decrease in forest cover in the most defoliated stands and reduced radial growth of defoliated P. halepensis and sapwood NSC concentrations in P. halepensis and Q. ilex, particularly starch. Prior to the cold spell, defoliated P. halepensis trees significantly (p < 0.05) grew more (2.73 ± 1.70 mm) in response to wetter winter conditions than non-defoliated P. halepensis (2.29 ± 1.08 mm) and P. pinaster (1.39 mm) trees. Those P. halepensis individuals which grew faster at a young age were less resilient to the winter cold spell in later years. The study stands showed a high recovery capacity after the cold spell, but the Mediterranean drought-avoiding P. halepensis was the most affected species.

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References

Details

Published: Mar 25, 2023
Vol/Issue: 14(4)
Pages: 678
License: View

Authors

J

Jesús Julio Camarero

Pyrenean Institute of Ecology (IPE-CSIC), Avda. Montañana 1005, E-50059 Zaragoza, Spain

M

Michele Colangelo

Pyrenean Institute of Ecology (IPE-CSIC), Avda. Montañana 1005, E-50059 Zaragoza, Spain; School of Agriculture, Forest, Food and Environment Sciencies, Università della Basilicata, Viale dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy

C

Cristina Valeriano

Pyrenean Institute of Ecology (IPE-CSIC), Avda. Montañana 1005, E-50059 Zaragoza, Spain

M

Manuel Pizarro

Pyrenean Institute of Ecology (IPE-CSIC), Avda. Montañana 1005, E-50059 Zaragoza, Spain

Funding

Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation Award: TED2021-129770B-C21

Cite This Article

Jesús Julio Camarero, Michele Colangelo, Cristina Valeriano, et al. (2023). Reversible Impacts of a Cold Spell on Forest Cover, Tree Growth and Carbohydrates in Mediterranean Pine and Oak Forests. Forests, 14(4), 678. https://doi.org/10.3390/f14040678

Reversible Impacts of a Cold Spell on Forest Cover, Tree Growth and Carbohydrates in Mediterranean Pine and Oak Forests

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