Variation in the masting of common beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in northern Europe over two centuries (1800-2001)

Abstract

Records of beech masting for Germany, Denmark, The Netherlands, England and Sweden over the past two centuries have been collected from published research. They have been converted to a common five-point scale to permit comparison between masting in different countries and different years. Very good masts occurred in both Germany and Denmark in 1888, 1909 and 1918. Good/very good masts occurred in at least three of the countries in 1909, 1918, 1926, 1948, 1956 and 1976. The number of very poor years which occurred in Europe during the last two centuries is very much greater, with 71 since 1900. Moderate mast years are more likely to occur in only one or two of the countries at a time and have the effect of a partial depletion of resources within the tree, which distorts the masting pattern for following years. There is a presumption for an inherent biennial masting pattern, constrained by the internal resources of the tree, which is then strongly affected by climatic conditions.