Zweifel Roman
Determinants of legacy effects in pine trees – implications from an irrigation-stop experiment
Project Number: Parcs Data Center 43773 / 4D CH-7108
Research Areas:
Disciplines:
Abstract:
? Tree responses to altered water availability range from immediate (e.g. stomatal regulation)
to delayed (e.g. crown size adjustment). The interplay of the different response times and processes,
and their effects on long-term whole-tree performance, however, is hardly understood.
? Here we investigated legacy effects on structures and functions of mature Scots pine in a
dry inner-Alpine Swiss valley after stopping an 11-yr lasting irrigation treatment. Measured
ecophysiological time series were analysed and interpreted with a system-analytic tree model.
? We found that the irrigation stop led to a cascade of downregulations of physiological and
morphological processes with different response times. Biophysical processes responded
within days, whereas needle and shoot lengths, crown transparency, and radial stem growth
reached control levels after up to 4 yr only. Modelling suggested that organ and carbon
reserve turnover rates play a key role for a tree’s responsiveness to environmental changes.
Needle turnover rate was found to be most important to accurately model stem growth
dynamics.
? We conclude that leaf area and its adjustment time to new conditions is the main determinant
for radial stem growth of pine trees as the transpiring area needs to be supported by a
proportional amount of sapwood, despite the growth-inhibiting environmental conditions.
Publications:
Zweifel et al. (2020): Determinants of legacy effects in pine trees - implications from an irrigation-stop experiment. New Phytologist (2020) 227: 1081–1096
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Last update: 4/1/22
Source of data: ProClim- Research InfoSystem (1993-2024)
Update the data of project: CH-7108
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