The impact of warming climate on Himalayan silver fir growth along an elevation gradient in the Mt. Everest region

Gaire NP, Zaw Z, Bräuning A, Grießinger J, Sharma B, Rana P, Bhandari S, Basnet S, Fan ZX (2023)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2023

Journal

Agricultural and Forest Meteorology Elsevier Masson

Book Volume: 339

Article Number: 109575

DOI: 10.1016/j.agrformet.2023.109575

Abstract

The impacts of rapid climate change in the Himalayan region on growth and sensitivity of tree species across their entire elevation distribution range are not well understood. This study investigates the growth and climate sensitivity of the endemic species Himalayan silver fir (Abies spectabilis, D.Don) along an elevation gradient in the sub-alpine belt in the Mt. Everest region. We developed tree ring-width chronologies, spanning 98 to 310 years, from six sites along an elevation gradient (3400–4100 m a.s.l.). The growth of Himalayan silver fir is primarily limited by low temperatures during the growing season and moisture availability during spring. Significant positive correlations were found between tree growth and mean, minimum and maximum temperatures for most parts of the vegetation period except spring. In contrast, significant positive correlations are apparent for precipitation, self-calibrated Palmer drought severity index (scPDSI), and standardized precipitation-evapotranspiration index (SPEI) during the spring season (March–May) at most of the elevations except for the upper treeline site. Thus, low summer temperatures are the primary limiting factor at all investigated elevations, while moisture supply during spring triggers growth variations at low- to mid-elevations. The long-term growth trends of A. spectabilis have decreased at low- to mid-elevation sites but increased at the treeline during the period 1981–2011. Warming and intensified moisture stress during spring could have negative effects on tree growth, potentially resulting in growth decline and forest dieback at middle and low elevations. These findings emphasize the importance of understanding the vulnerability of forests at middle and low elevations to future climate change.

Authors with CRIS profile

Achim Bräuning Lehrstuhl für Geographie (Physische Geographie) Jussi Grießinger Institut für Geographie

Involved external institutions

Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) CN China (CN) Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) NP Nepal (NP) Indiana State University US United States (USA) (US) Universität Greifswald DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Gaire, N.P., Zaw, Z., Bräuning, A., Grießinger, J., Sharma, B., Rana, P.,... Fan, Z.X. (2023). The impact of warming climate on Himalayan silver fir growth along an elevation gradient in the Mt. Everest region. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2023.109575

MLA:

Gaire, Narayan Prasad, et al. "The impact of warming climate on Himalayan silver fir growth along an elevation gradient in the Mt. Everest region." Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 339 (2023).

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