Nitrogen deposition is the most important environmental driver of growth of pure, even-aged and managed European forests

Sophia Etzold, Marco Ferretti, Gert Jan Reinds, Svein Solberg, Arthur Gessler, Peter Waldner, Marcus Schaub, David Simpson, Sue Benham, Karin Hansen, Morten Ingerslev, Mathieu Jonard, Per Erik Karlsson, Antti-Jussi Lindroos, Aldo Marchetto, Miklos Manninger, Henning Meesenburg, Päivi Merilä, Pekka Nöjd, Pasi RautioTanja G.M. Sanders, Walter Seidling, Mitja Skudnik, Anne Thimonier, Arne Verstraeten, Lars Vesterdal, Monika Vejpustkova, Wim de Vries

Onderzoeksoutput: Bijdrage aan tijdschriftA1: Web of Science-artikelpeer review

1 Downloads (Pure)

Uittreksel

Changing environmental conditions may substantially interact with site quality and forest stand characteristics, and impact forest growth and carbon sequestration. Understanding the impact of the various drivers of forest growth is therefore critical to predict how forest ecosystems can respond to climate change. We conducted a continental-scale analysis of recent (1995–2010) forest volume increment data (ΔVol, m3 ha−1 yr−1), obtained from ca. 100,000 coniferous and broadleaved trees in 442 even-aged, single-species stands across 23 European countries. We used multivariate statistical approaches, such as mixed effects models and structural equation modelling to investigate how European forest growth respond to changes in 11 predictors, including stand characteristics, climate conditions, air and site quality, as well as their interactions. We found that, despite the large environmental gradients encompassed by the forests examined, stand density and age were key drivers of forest growth. We further detected a positive, in some cases non-linear effect of N deposition, most pronounced for beech forests, with a tipping point at ca. 30 kg N ha−1 yr−1. With the exception of a consistent temperature signal on Norway spruce, climate-related predictors and ground-level ozone showed much less generalized relationships with ΔVol. Our results show that, together with the driving forces exerted by stand density and age, N deposition is at least as important as climate to modulate forest growth at continental scale in Europe, with a potential negative effect at sites with high N deposition.
Oorspronkelijke taalEngels
TijdschriftForest Ecology and Management
Volume458
ISSN0378-1127
DOI's
PublicatiestatusGepubliceerd - 2020

Beleidsmatig

  • bosbescherming

Geografische lijst

  • Europa

Vingerafdruk

Bekijk de onderzoeksthema's van 'Nitrogen deposition is the most important environmental driver of growth of pure, even-aged and managed European forests'. Samen vormen ze een unieke vingerafdruk.

Dit citeren