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Climatically controlled reproduction drives interannual growth variability in a temperate tree species
Author(s) -
HacketPain Andrew J.,
Ascoli Davide,
Vacchiano Giorgio,
Biondi Franco,
Cavin Liam,
Conedera Marco,
Drobyshev Igor,
Liñán Isabel Dorado,
Friend Andrew D.,
Grabner Michael,
Hartl Claudia,
Kreyling Juergen,
Lebourgeois François,
Levanič Tom,
Menzel Annette,
Maaten Ernst,
MaatenTheunissen Marieke,
Muffler Lena,
Motta Renzo,
Roibu CatalinConstantin,
Popa Ionel,
Scharnweber Tobias,
Weigel Robert,
Wilmking Martin,
Zang Christian S.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
ecology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.852
H-Index - 265
eISSN - 1461-0248
pISSN - 1461-023X
DOI - 10.1111/ele.13158
Subject(s) - reproduction , ecology , temperate climate , biology , dendrochronology , climate change , fagus sylvatica , temperate rainforest , ecosystem , beech , paleontology
Climatically controlled allocation to reproduction is a key mechanism by which climate influences tree growth and may explain lagged correlations between climate and growth. We used continent‐wide datasets of tree‐ring chronologies and annual reproductive effort in Fagus sylvatica from 1901 to 2015 to characterise relationships between climate, reproduction and growth. Results highlight that variable allocation to reproduction is a key factor for growth in this species, and that high reproductive effort (‘mast years’) is associated with stem growth reduction. Additionally, high reproductive effort is associated with previous summer temperature, creating lagged climate effects on growth. Consequently, understanding growth variability in forest ecosystems requires the incorporation of reproduction, which can be highly variable. Our results suggest that future response of growth dynamics to climate change in this species will be strongly influenced by the response of reproduction.