Abstract
(1) Background: Continuous monitoring of the tree stem increment throughout the year is crucial for the understanding of trees’ reactions to changes in meteorology, solar radiation and surface ozone and evaluating the adaptive capacity of prevailing tree species to recent environmental global changes; (2) Methods: Data on tree intra-annual sequences based on electronic dendrometer data of Picea abies (L.) Karst, Pinus sylvestris L., Betula pendula, and Betula pubescens, growing under different nutritional and humidity conditions in the north-eastern part of Lithuania, together with their stem sap flow intensity, common meteorology and O3 fluxes, were used to meet the objectives of the study; (3) Results: Stem shrinking/contraction during the day, due to transpiration, and the swelling/expansion during the night was significantly related to meteorology, sun activity and O3 flux intensity. These variations were negatively related to current time and temperature, but positively to precipitation and relative humidity. O3 fluxed through the stomata stimulated the shrinking process more intensively than it inhibited the swelling process, but only for pine and birch trees. Spruce trees demonstrated the highest sensitivity to O3 impact due to its significant effect on the stem swelling process. Pine trees were less sensitive to O3 damages and birch trees were the least sensitive. An over-moisture regime at measoeutrophic organic soil forest site increased the significance of the effect of O3 on the tree increment of the considered tree species; (4) Conclusion: The most intensive tree ring formation of Scots pine trees in relation to recent environmental changes indicated their high resiliencies and adaptations to a local specific condition. Reduced tree growth intensity and weak relationships between the birch tree radios increment and main meteorological parameters indicated the lowest adaptive capacity of this tree species to recent environmental changes.
Highlights
The growth of forests under changing environmental conditions has been extensively studied during recent decades [1]
Special attention is being paid to the effects of climate changes, which have become the main drivers of environmental changes owing to a significant rise in global mean surface temperatures and extreme weather events [2]
The investigation was conducted in the coniferous–deciduous forest in the northeastern part of Lithuania at the Aukstaitija Integrated monitoring station (IMS), which was established in Aukstaitija National Park (NP) in 1993 (Figure 1)
Summary
The growth of forests under changing environmental conditions has been extensively studied during recent decades [1]. Special attention is being paid to the effects of climate changes, which have become the main drivers of environmental changes owing to a significant rise in global mean surface temperatures and extreme weather events [2]. Their potential impacts and the risks to forest ecosystems are best studied and understood as they relate to wood production [3]. The accurate prediction of climate effects on forest ecosystems represents a critical research gap [15]
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