Growth variability of two native pine species on Corsica as a function of elevation

Häusser M, Szymczak S, Garel E, Santoni S, Huneau F, Bräuning A (2019)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2019

Journal

Dendrochronologia Elsevier

Book Volume: 54

Pages Range: 49-55

DOI: 10.1016/j.dendro.2019.02.002

Abstract

Located in the western Mediterranean basin, the island of Corsica (France) is expected to be strongly affected by climate change. With its diverse topography and altitudinal gradients from sea level to 2700 m asl, it hosts two pine species, i.e. Pinus pinaster in lower areas and P. nigra ssp. laricio in higher regions up to the upper tree line. However, the growth performance of these two dominant forest tree species along different elevation belts is still unknown, so it is not clear how climate change will affect their distribution. The relationships between tree age, elevation, and growth performance were evaluated using growth trajectories derived from tree-ring analysis of pines in different age classes at 13 sites across the island, ranging from sea level to 1600 m asl. Results show that the growth performance of both species under the same environmental conditions is very similar. For both species, we found that growth rates change over time, whereby trees younger than 50 years grew faster than older trees. We also found that P. pinaster is becoming common at higher elevation sites, indicating a migration upslope.

Authors with CRIS profile

Martin Häusser Institut für Geographie Sonja Szymczak Institut für Geographie Achim Bräuning Lehrstuhl für Geographie (Physische Geographie)

Involved external institutions

Università di Corsica Pasquale Paoli

France (FR)

How to cite

APA:

Häusser, M., Szymczak, S., Garel, E., Santoni, S., Huneau, F., & Bräuning, A. (2019). Growth variability of two native pine species on Corsica as a function of elevation. Dendrochronologia, 54, 49-55. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dendro.2019.02.002

MLA:

Häusser, Martin, et al. "Growth variability of two native pine species on Corsica as a function of elevation." Dendrochronologia 54 (2019): 49-55.

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