Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Know Your Neighbours: Drought Response of Norway Spruce, Silver Fir and Douglas Fir in Mixed Forests Depends on Species Identity and Diversity of Tree Neighbourhoods

  • Published:
Ecosystems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Norway spruce is a widely cultivated species in Central Europe; however, it is highly susceptible to droughts, which are predicted to become more frequent in the future. A solution to adapt spruce forests to droughts could be the conversion to mixed-species stands containing species which are less sensitive to drought and do not increase the drought stress in spruce. Here we assessed the drought response of spruce and the presumably more drought-tolerant silver fir and Douglas fir in mixed-conifer stands. We measured tree ring widths of 270 target trees, which grew in mixed and mono-specific neighbourhoods in 18 managed stands in the Black Forest, to quantify the complementarity effects caused by species interactions on growth during the extreme drought event of 2003 and for a number of years with “normal” growth and climatic conditions. Mixed-species neighbourhoods did not significantly affect tree ring growth in normal years. However, during the drought, silver fir benefitted from mixing, while Douglas fir was more drought-stressed in the mixture. The drought response of spruce was dependent on the density and species composition of the neighbourhood, showing both positive and negative mixing effects. Mixed stands containing these tree species could improve adaptation to drought because the risks of extreme events are spread across species, and the performance of individual species is improved. Our knowledge about specific species interactions needs to be improved to manage tree mixtures more effectively with regard to the participating species and stand density.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adams HD, Luce CH, Breshears DD, Allen CD, Weiler M, Hale VC, Smith AMS, Huxman TE. 2012. Ecohydrological consequences of drought- and infestation-triggered tree die-off. Insights and hypotheses. Ecohydrology 5:145–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderegg WRL, Flint A, C-y Huang, Flint L, Berry JA, Davis FW, Sperry JS, Field CB. 2015. Tree mortality predicted from drought-induced vascular damage. Nat Geosci 8:367–71.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bates D, Mächler M, Bolker B, Walker S. 2015. Fitting linear mixed-effects models using lme4. J Stat Softw 67:1–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bauhus J, Forrester D, Gardiner B, Jactel H, Vallejo R, Pretzsch H. 2017. Ecological stability of mixed-species forests. In: Pretzsch H, Forrester DI, Bauhus J, Eds. Mixed-species forests ecology and management. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Binkley D, Dunkin KA, DeBell D, Ryan MG. 1992. Production and nutrient cycling in mixed plantations of Eucalyptus and Albizia in Hawaii. For Sci 38:393–408. http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/saf/fs/1992/00000038/00000002/art00015.

  • BMEL. 2014. Der Wald in Deutschland—Ausgewählte Ergebnisse der Bundeswaldinventur, pp 1–54.

  • Boden S, Kahle H-P, Kv Wilpert, Spiecker H. 2014. Resilience of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst) growth to changing climatic conditions in Southwest Germany. For Ecol Manag 315:12–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bouriaud O, Popa I. 2009. Comparative dendroclimatic study of Scots pine, Norway spruce, and silver fir in the Vrancea Range, Eastern Carpathian Mountains. Trees 23:95–106.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brassard BW, Chen HYH, Bergeron Y, Paré D. 2011. Differences in fine root productivity between mixed- and single-species stands. Funct Ecol 25:238–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brassard BW, Chen HYH, Cavard X, Laganière J, Reich PB, Bergeron Y, Paré D, Yuan Z, Chen H. 2013. Tree species diversity increases fine root productivity through increased soil volume filling. J Ecol 101:210–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bréda N, Huc R, Granier A, Dreyer E. 2006. Temperate forest trees and stands under severe drought. A review of ecophysiological responses, adaptation processes and long-term consequences. Ann For Sci 63:625–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brus DJ, Hengeveld GM, Walvoort DJJ, Goedhart PW, Heidema AH, Nabuurs GJ, Gunia K. 2011. Statistical mapping of tree species over Europe. Eur J For Res 1:145–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Callaway RM, Walker LR. 1997. Competition and facilitation: a synthetic approach to interactions in plant communities. Ecology 78:1958–65. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2265936.

  • Charpentier A. 2011. On the return period of the 2003 heat wave. Clim Change 109:245–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ciais P, Reichstein M, Viovy N, Granier A, Ogée J, Allard V, Aubinet M, Buchmann N, Bernhofer C, Carrara A, Chevallier F, de Noblet N, Friend AD, Friedlingstein P, Grünwald T, Heinesch B, Keronen P, Knohl A, Krinner G, Loustau D, Manca G, Matteucci G, Miglietta F, Ourcival JM, Papale D, Pilegaard K, Rambal S, Seufert G, Soussana JF, Sanz MJ, Schulze ED, Vesala T, Valentini R. 2005. Europe-wide reduction in primary productivity caused by the heat and drought in 2003. Nature 437:529–33.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cook E, Kairiūkštis L. 1990. Methods of dendrochronology. Applications in the environmental science. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers; International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • del Rio M, Schutze G, Pretzsch H. 2014. Temporal variation of competition and facilitation in mixed species forests in Central Europe. Plant Biol (Stuttg) 16:166–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Desplanque C, Rolland C, Schweingruber FH. 1999. Influence of species and abiotic factors on extreme tree ring modulation. Trees 13:218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deutscher Wetterdienst. 2013. REGNIE: Regionalisierte Niderschläge Verfahrensbeschreibung und Nutz eranleitung. REGNIE: Verfahrensbeschreibung und Nutzeranleitung.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feliksik E, Wilczyński S. 2009. The effect of climate on tree-ring chronologies of native and nonnative tree species growing under homogenous site conditions. Geochronometria 33:49–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Finch O-D, Szumelda A. 2007. Introduction of Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) into Western Europe. Epigaeic arthropods in intermediate-aged pure stands in northwestern Germany. For Ecol Manag 242:260–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forrester DI. 2015. Transpiration and water-use efficiency in mixed-species forests versus monocultures: effects of tree size, stand density and season. Tree Physiol 35:289–304.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Forrester DI, Albrecht AT. 2014. Light absorption and light-use efficiency in mixtures of Abies alba and Picea abies along a productivity gradient. For Ecol Manag 328:94–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forrester DI, Bauhus J. 2016. A review of processes behind diversity—productivity relationships in forests. Curr For Rep 2:45–61.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Forrester DI, Bonal D, Dawud S, Gessler A, Granier A, Pollastrini M, Grossiord C, Finn J. 2016. Drought responses by individual tree species are not often correlated with tree species diversity in European forests. J Appl Ecol 53:1725–34.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Forrester DI, Kohnle U, Albrecht AT, Bauhus J. 2013. Complementarity in mixed-species stands of Abies alba and Picea abies varies with climate, site quality and stand density. For Ecol Manag 304:233–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ForstBW. 2016. ForstBW Praxis Zuwachstabelle.

  • Fritts HC. 1976. Tree rings and climate. London (NY): Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Füssel H-M, Kristensen P, Jol A, Marx A, Hildén M. 2017. Climate change, impacts and vulnerability in Europe 2016. An indicator-based report. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grissino-Mayer HD. 2001. Evaluating crossdating accuracy: A manual and tutorial for the computer program COFECHA. Tree Ring Res. 57(2):205–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanewinkel M, Cullmann DA, Schelhaas M-J, Nabuurs G-J, Zimmermann NE. 2013. Climate change may cause severe loss in the economic value of European forest land. Nat Clim Change 3:203–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harper JL. 1977. Population biology of plants. London (NY): Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holmes RL. 1983. Computer-assited quality control in tree-ring dating and measurements. Tree Ring Bull 43:69–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Höltermann A, Klingenstein F, Ssymank A. 2008. Naturschutzfachliche Bewertung der Douglasie aus Sicht des Bundesamt für Naturschutz (BfN). LWF (Hrsg.) Die Douglasie- Perspektiven im Klimawandel. LWF Wissen 59:74–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • IPCC. 2014. Climate change 2013—the physical science basis. Intergovernmental panel on climate change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jactel H, Bauhus J, Boberg J, Bonal D, Castagneyrol B, Gardiner B, Gonzalez-Olabarria JR, Koricheva J, Meurisse N, Brockerhoff EG. 2017. Tree diversity drives forest stand resistance to natural disturbances. Curr For Rep 3:223–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jose S, Williams R, Zamora D. 2006. Belowground ecological interactions in mixed-species forest plantations. For Ecol Manag 233:231–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kahle H-P, Spiecker H, Aldinger E, Michiels HG. 2008. Auswirkungen extrem warmer und trockener Witterungsbedingungen auf das Wachstum von Fichten und Buchen in verschiedenen Höhenlagen im Südschwarzwald. Berichte Freiburger Forstliche Forschung Heft 76:34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelty MJ. 2006. The role of species mixtures in plantation forestry. For Ecol Manage 233:195–204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knoke T, Ammer C, Stimm B, Mosandl R. 2008. Admixing broadleaved to coniferous tree species. A review on yield, ecological stability and economics. Eur J For Res 127:89–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Köstler JN, Brückner E, Bibelriether H. 1968. Die Wurzeln der Waldbäume. Untersuchungenzur Morphologie der Waldbäume in Mitteleuropa. Hamburg und Berlin: Verlag Paul Parey.

    Google Scholar 

  • Le Maire G, Nouvellon Y, Christina M, Ponzoni FJ, Gonçalves JLM, Bouillet J-P, Laclau J-P. 2013. Tree and stand light use efficiencies over a full rotation of single- and mixed-species Eucalyptus grandis and Acacia mangium plantations. For Ecol Manag 288:31–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lebourgeois F. 2007. Climatic signal in annual growth variation of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) and spruce (Picea abies Karst.) from the French Permanent Plot Network (RENECOFOR). Ann For Sci 64:333–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lebourgeois F, Gomez N, Pinto P, Mérian P. 2013. Mixed stands reduce Abies alba tree-ring sensitivity to summer drought in the Vosges mountains, western Europe. For Ecol Manag 303:61–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lévesque M, Rigling A, Bugmann H, Weber P, Brang P. 2014. Growth response of five co-occurring conifers to drought across a wide climatic gradient in Central Europe. Agric For Meteorol 197:1–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liang J, Crowther TW, Picard N, Wiser S, Zhou M, Alberti G, Schulze E-D, McGuire AD, Bozzato F, Pretzsch H, de-Miguel S, Paquette A, Herault B, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Barrett CB, Glick HB, Hengeveld GM, Nabuurs G-J, Pfautsch S, Viana H, Vibrans AC, Ammer C, Schall P, Verbyla D, Tchebakova N, Fischer M, Watson JV, Chen HYH, Lei X, Schelhaas M-J, Lu H, Gianelle D, Parfenova EI, Salas C, Lee E, Lee B, Kim HS, Bruelheide H, COOMES DA, Piotto D, Sunderland T, Schmid B, Gourlet-Fleury S, Sonke B, Tavani R, Zhu J, Brandl S, Vayreda J, Kitahara F, Searle EB, Neldner VJ, Ngugi MR, Baraloto C, Frizzera L, Balazy R, Oleksyn J, Zawila-Niedzwiecki T, Bouriaud O, Bussotti F, Finer L, Jaroszewicz B, Jucker T, Valladares F, Jagodzinski AM, Peri PL, Gonmadje C, Marthy W, O’Brien T, Martin EH, Marshall AR, Rovero F, Bitariho R, Niklaus PA, Alvarez-Loayza P, Chamuya N, Valencia R, Mortier F, Wortel V, Engone-Obiang NL, Ferreira LV, Odeke DE, Vasquez RM, Lewis SL, Reich PB. 2016. Positive biodiversity-productivity relationship predominant in global forests. Science (New York, N.Y.) 354.

  • Lintunen A. 2013. Crown architecture and its role in species interactions in mixed boreal forests. Diss For. https://doi.org/10.14214/df.165.

  • Lloret F, Keeling EG, Sala A. 2011. Components of tree resilience: effects of successive low-growth episodes in old ponderosa pine forests. Oikos 120:1909–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loreau M, Hector A. 2001. Partitioning selection and complementarity in biodiversity experiments. Nature 412:72–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maliva R, Missimer TM. 2012. Arid lands water evaluation and management. Berlin (NY): Springer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Meining SV, Wilpert Kv, Schäffer J, Hartmann P, Schumacher J, Delb JR, Hug R, Hölscher A, Agustin N. 2013. Waldzustandsbericht 2013. Forstliche Versuchs- und Forschungsanstalt Baden-Württemberg. Hrsg.:65.

  • Messier CC, Puettmann KJ, Coates KD. 2013. Managing forests as complex adaptive systems. Building resilience to the challenge of global change. Abingdon: Earthscan from Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Möhring B, Leefken G, Gutsche C. 2008. Economic valuation of beech forests Ergebnisse angewandter Forschung zur Buche, Beiträge aus der. Ergebnisse angewandter Forschung zur Buche, Beiträge aus der NW-FVA 3:327–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nyssen B, Schmidt UE, Muys B, van der Lei PB, Pyttel P. 2016. The history of introduced tree species in Europe in a nutshell. In: Vítková L, Krumm F, Eds. Introduced tree species in European forests. Opportunities and challenges. Joensuu: European Forest Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orwig DA, Abrams MD. 1997. Variation in radial growth responses to drought among species, site, and canopy strata. Trees 11:474.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pinto PE, Gégout J-C, Hervé J-C, Dhôte J-F. 2008. Respective importance of ecological conditions and stand composition on Abies alba Mill. dominant height growth. For Ecol Manag 255:619–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Podrázský V. 2015. Potential of Douglas-fir as a partial substitute for Norway spruce—review of the newest Czech literature. Beskydy 8:55–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pretzsch H, Block J, Dieler J, Dong PH, Kohnle U, Nagel J, Spellmann H, Zingg A. 2010. Comparison between the productivity of pure and mixed stands of Norway spruce and European beech along an ecological gradient. Ann For Sci 67:712.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pretzsch H, Rötzer T, Matyssek R, Grams TEE, Häberle K-H, Pritsch K, Kerner R, Munch J-C. 2014. Mixed Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica [L.]) stands under drought. From reaction pattern to mechanism. Trees 28:1305–21.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pretzsch H, Schutze G, Uhl E. 2013. Resistance of European tree species to drought stress in mixed versus pure forests: evidence of stress release by inter-specific facilitation. Plant Biol (Stuttg) 15:483–95.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • R Core Team. 2014. R: A language and environment for statistical computing. Vienna, Austria: R Foundation for Statistical Computing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rais A, van de Kuilen J-WG, Pretzsch H. 2014. Growth reaction patterns of tree height, diameter, and volume of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco) under acute drought stress in Southern Germany. Eur J For Res 133:1043–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reif A, Brucker von U, Kratzer R, Schmiedinger A, Bauhus J. 2010. Waldbewirtschaftung in zeiten des Klimawandels. Synergien und Konfliktpotenziale zwischen Forstwirtschaft und Naturschutz. Naturschutz und Landschaftsplanung 9:261–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richards AE, Forrester DI, Bauhus J, Scherer-Lorenzen M. 2010. The influence of mixed tree plantations on the nutrition of individual species: a review. Tree Physiol 30:1192–208.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schmalfuss N, Vitikova L. 2016. Douglas fir in Freiburg City Forest: an introduced tree species in the light of multifunctional management objectives. In: Vítková L, Krumm F, Eds. Introduced tree species in European forests. Opportunities and challenges. Joensuu: European Forest Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sohn JA, Gebhardt T, Ammer C, Bauhus J, Häberle K-H, Matyssek R, Grams TEE. 2013. Mitigation of drought by thinning. Short-term and long-term effects on growth and physiological performance of Norway spruce (Picea abies). For Ecol Manag 308:188–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sohn JA, Saha S, Bauhus J. 2016. Potential of forest thinning to mitigate drought stress. A meta-analysis. For Ecol Manag 380:261–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spiecker H, Hansen J, Klimo E, Skovsgaard JP, Sterba H, von Teuffel K. 2004. Norway spruce conversion. Options and consequences. Leiden: Brill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas FM, Bögelein R, Werner W. 2015. Interaction between Douglas fir and European beech: investigations in pure and mixed stands = Wechselwirkungen zwischen Douglasie und Rotbuche: Untersucheungen an Rein- und Mischbeständen. Forstarchiv: forstwissenschaftliche Fachzeitschrift 86:83–91.

  • van der Maaten-Theunissen Marieke, Kahle H-P, van der Maaten Ernst. 2013. Drought sensitivity of Norway spruce is higher than that of silver fir along an altitudinal gradient in southwestern Germany. Ann For Sci 70:185–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van der Plas F, Manning P, Allan E, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Verheyen K, Wirth C, Zavala MA, Hector A, Ampoorter E, Baeten L, Barbaro L, Bauhus J, Benavides R, Benneter A, Berthold F, Bonal D, Bouriaud O, Bruelheide H, Bussotti F, Carnol M, Castagneyrol B, Charbonnier Y, Coomes D, Coppi A, Bastias CC, Muhie Dawud S, de Wandeler H, Domisch T, Finer L, Gessler A, Granier A, Grossiord C, Guyot V, Hattenschwiler S, Jactel H, Jaroszewicz B, Joly F-X, Jucker T, Koricheva J, Milligan H, Muller S, Muys B, Nguyen D, Pollastrini M, Raulund-Rasmussen K, Selvi F, Stenlid J, Valladares F, Vesterdal L, Zielinski D, Fischer M. 2016. Jack-of-all-trades effects drive biodiversity-ecosystem multifunctionality relationships in European forests. Nat Commun 7:11109.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vitali V, Büntgen U, Bauhus J. 2017. Silver fir and Douglas fir are more tolerant to extreme droughts than Norway spruce in south-western Germany. Glob Change Biol 23:5108–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiedemann EEG. 1942. Der gleichaltrige Fichten-Buchen-Mischbestand: Mitteilungen der Preussischen Versuchsanstalt für Waldwirtschaft. Hannover: Schaper.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zang C, Hartl-Meier C, Dittmar C, Rothe A, Menzel A. 2014. Patterns of drought tolerance in major European temperate forest trees: climatic drivers and levels of variability. Glob Change Biol 20:3767–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported through a KLIMOPASS Grant (No. 4500354096/23) provided by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Environment, Climate and Energy to Jürgen Bauhus. The authors thank the generous support of ForstBW, the competent forestry districts and foresters without whom the project would have not been possible. Further thanks go to Dr. Rüdiger Unseld, Thomas Weich, Audrey Louy, Clara Arranz and Raphaële Piché for their support of field work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Forest Sciences, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacherstr. 4, 79106, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

    Valentina Vitali & Jürgen Bauhus

  2. Swiss Federal Institute of Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland

    David I. Forrester

Authors
  1. Valentina Vitali
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. David I. Forrester
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jürgen Bauhus
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Valentina Vitali.

Additional information

Authors contributions

V.V. developed the study design, performed research, analysed data and wrote the paper. D.F. contributed to methods and models development and co-wrote the paper. J.B. conceived the study idea, developed the study design and co-wrote the paper.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOCX 1511 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Vitali, V., Forrester, D.I. & Bauhus, J. Know Your Neighbours: Drought Response of Norway Spruce, Silver Fir and Douglas Fir in Mixed Forests Depends on Species Identity and Diversity of Tree Neighbourhoods. Ecosystems 21, 1215–1229 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-017-0214-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-017-0214-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation