FORKAST

BAVARIAN RESEARCH ASSOCIATION "CLIMATIC IMPACTS ON ECOSYSTEMS AND CLIMATIC ADAPTATION STRATEGIES"

TP3 Short-term impacts and long-term consequences of extreme climatic years on forest ecosystems in Bavaria

The length of recovering reaction of the european beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and the sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Mattuschka) Liebl.) on extreme drought events are investigated after the strongest droughts of the 20th century. For the dendrochronological analysis of intra-annual data following parameters were collected on selected edaphic dry sites: width of annual growth ring, variability of wood density, variation in content of C14-isotopes and other wood anatomic parameters. Not only dominant tree species but also species growing in the understory are analysed to make a statement about their vitality and surviving chances. The analysis should give evidence about the mentioned tree species under higher intensity and frequency of drought events which can be expected in future. The question to study is if they have a long term surviving perspective on extremely dry sites or if a fundamentally conversion of tree species composition is required. Moreover, the recorded data-set builds the basis of forest growth modelling for other research cooperation partners.

Grant-aided by:
Bavarian State Ministry for Science, Research and Arts