Abstract
The forests of the Republic of Moldova are composed predominantly by mesophilous deciduous tree species, the most valuable specie are oaks, located at the limit of their natural area. The growth and survival of forests, especially in the peripheral and transition areas of ecosystems, such as the oaks stands of country, also depend on the variety of the thermal and pluviometric regime, which has changed over the last decades in the context of climate aridization. The estimation of the mesophilic tree species exposure to regional climate aridization is shown by the simultaneous use of a set of eco-metric indices: Forest Aridity Index (FAI), De Martonne Index (IM), Ellenberg Coefficient (EQ), and Beech Tolerance Index (QBTI). For areas occupied by oaks (within 2 major natural reserves from central part of Moldova), have been indicated FAI values equal to 6.5-7.5; IM values between 30.0-35.0; EQ values ranging from 30.0-38.0; and QBTI values around 15.0 units, favourable for the mesophilic oak forests development. This fact indicates that during the vegetation period of mesophilic trees, in the central part of the Republic of Moldova, in more arid conditions of development, through modification of oak sensitivity to the water deficit, changes will occur in the compositional structure of ecosystems and the chorology of species. The study results are of particular interest in the sustainable management of the national forestry sector.
Highlights
The relationships between climatic conditions and vegetation have been addressed in numerous global and regional studies so far, in particular, in the context of current climate change, modifications that will change the zonal and altitudinal distribution of different species
To determine the complex relationship between climate conditions of studied areas and distribution of oaks, study was based on a set of climatic indices: Forest Aridity Index – FAI; DeMartonne Index – IM; Ellenberg Quotient – EQ and Beech tolerance index - QBTI
The IM values during the years 1891-2016, vary within the limits 10-30, which shows that summers in the central part of the country are characterized by climatic conditions similar to the steppe area
Summary
The relationships between climatic conditions and vegetation have been addressed in numerous global and regional studies so far, in particular, in the context of current climate change, modifications that will change the zonal and altitudinal distribution of different species. The forests of the Republic of Moldova are predominant by deciduous species (97.8%), of which the oaks are dominant 39.6%, followed by acacia - 36.1%, ash - 4.6%, hornbeam - 2.6%, poplars - 1.6%, Maria Nedealcov, Ala Donica, Nicolae Grigoraș other deciduous species - 13.4% and softwoods - 2.1%. The most valuable tree stands of the forest fund are the oaks; from their total area - 27% come from the seed and 73% from the shoots, which influences their productivity, 43% being of superior productivity and 57% of inferior productivity. The process of acacia expanding areas, in the last period, economically convenient, has reduced the importance of indigenous species, some of them being at their area’ limits, like oak, beech, maple, etc. It is remind that the central and eastern mesophilic forests from the North and the center of our country are at the South-Eastern limit of its natural area (Fig. 1) and the dry years from the beginning of the third millennium may lead to a diminution of mesophilous forests (Fagus sylvatica, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur), which will tend to retreat to the center of the area (central Europe), in favor of the thermophilous forests with Quercus pubescens from the South of the country (Ecosistemele: evaluarea vulnerabilităților..., 2010)
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