Тип публикации: статья из журнала
Год издания: 2016
Идентификатор DOI: 10.1016/j.agrformet.2015.11.011
Ключевые слова: CLIMATE CHANGE, DENDROCHRONOLOGIA, TREE RING, GLOBAL WARMING, SHRUB
Аннотация: The long-term persistence of Mediterranean high mountain flora is challenged by global warming. Understanding plant responses to different climatic drivers along altitudinal gradients is necessary in order to predict the response of Mediterranean mountain systems to the ongoing increase in drought intensity and severity. We selecteПоказать полностьюd the prostrate shrub Juniperus sabina L. as a model species and explored its growth response to climatic variability over the last six decades through dendrochronological methods at four sites along a 750 m altitudinal gradient. Secondary growth was maximal at lower altitudes, where growing seasons are longer. Water availability was the main factor controlling secondary growth variability along the whole gradient, although the timing and strength of climatic variables affecting growth shifted with altitude. Earlier and stronger signals were detected in lower sites, where a combination with late summer signals suggested the existence of a second growth pulse in response to longer growing seasons. J. sabina adjusted its secondary growth to the changing climatic conditions by shifting the timing of its climatic response to favorable climatic windows, with earlier responses to spring rainfall in lower sites and an expanded growing season at the highest site during the second half of the study period. Our results show that at least some Mediterranean plants can grow faster at the drier edge of their range even under intense climate pressure, indicating that the response to drought stress may be highly idiosyncratic. The plastic nature of J. sabina secondary growth combined with its role as a nurse plant in Mediterranean mountains may be key to maintaining the high diversity levels of these particular ecosystems
Журнал: Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
Номера страниц: 35-45
ISSN журнала: 01681923
Место издания: Амстердам
Издатель: Elsevier B.V.