Pine ecosystem response to warming along North-South climatic transect in Europe: presentation of research project

• Main Author: Breymeyer, Alicja
• Other Authors: Polish Academy of Sciences. Institute of Ecology
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Polish Academy of Sciences. Institute of Ecology. Publishing Office 2003
• Subjects: pine forest response to warming; transect studies; macroecology; Norway; Arctic; Arctic and Alpine Research
• Online Access: https://rcin.org.pl/dlibra/publication/edition/117561/content

Pages 403-411 : illustrations 27 cm Bibliographical references (pages 410-411) An attempt was made to evaluate the response of the ecosystem to changes of climate in ten pine forest stands. It was assumed that the ecosystem response to environmental change can be evaluated by examining differences in ecosystem structures and would be measured through the change in the rates of ecosystem processes. The changes of structures and rates are registered along the longest, N-S transect available on the European Continent above 50° N. This transect is within the belt crossing Northern Scandinavia (Norway and Finland up to 70°N), the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) and Eastern Poland (from 50°N). The transect covers 20 degrees of latitude and is more than 2000 km long. The difference in average annual temperature (long-term measurements) between the two extreme sites exceeds 9° C, and there is a regular southward increase of average site temperature. Precipitation does not show any regular pattern of change along the transect. Average site elevation is 86 m a.s.l., and the average forest age 110 years. All sites are dominated by an overstory of Scots pine, and in the Braun-Blanquet classification they all belong to Vaccinio-Piceetea class of forests, which are common in Europe. During four years of study (1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000) four expeditions to the transect were organized. The following studies were conducted on each site: the origin and structure as well as physical and chemical features of soils; tree stand age, height, basal area, biomass and carbon content; vertical and horizontal structure of ground vegetation, its diversity, biomass and carbon content; litter fall, its decomposition and accumulation; and radial growth of trees. Strony 403-411 : ilustracje 27 cm Bibliografia na stronach 410-411 An attempt was made to evaluate the response of the ecosystem to changes of climate in ten pine forest stands. It was assumed that the ecosystem response to environmental change can be ...