TY - JOUR

T1 - Drought-related mortality modifies mixing effects on light absorption and growth in mono-specific and mixed stands of Fagus sylvatica, Alnus glutinosa and Betula pendula.

AU - Plaga, Benjamin

AU - Bauhus, Jürgen

AU - Smith, Andy

AU - Gonzalez Pereira, Mario

AU - Forrester, David

PY - 2023/10/23

Y1 - 2023/10/23

N2 - Little is known about how drought-related mortality influences light absorption of surviving trees and consequent changes in tree species interactions. Here, we used the detailed tree-level light model (Maestra) in combination with measurements of tree dimensions, crown architectures and stand structures to examine experimental mixing effects of Fagus sylvatica, Alnus glutinosa and Betula pendula on light dynamics following a drought in Bangor, Wales. The experimental stands, planted in 2004, were composed of clusters with 1 – 3 species in different combinations. Droughts occurred in 2011 and 2014 during the growing seasons, and trees were measured in 2014 and 2015. Species mixing resulted, on average, in higher tree growth, absorption of photosynthetically active radiation (APAR) and light use efficiency (LUE) compared to the mean of the monocultures. An exception was the monoculture of Betula pendula which was the most productive species, and had higher growth, APAR or LUE than some mixtures. Drought-related mortality reduced stand basal area across all plots by an average of 8.3% and tree density by 11%. This moderate change in structure did not result in significant increases in individual tree APAR, LUE, or growth. From a management perspective, mortality might need to reduce stand density more strongly than it did in this study before light absorption or light-use efficiency are altered.

AB - Little is known about how drought-related mortality influences light absorption of surviving trees and consequent changes in tree species interactions. Here, we used the detailed tree-level light model (Maestra) in combination with measurements of tree dimensions, crown architectures and stand structures to examine experimental mixing effects of Fagus sylvatica, Alnus glutinosa and Betula pendula on light dynamics following a drought in Bangor, Wales. The experimental stands, planted in 2004, were composed of clusters with 1 – 3 species in different combinations. Droughts occurred in 2011 and 2014 during the growing seasons, and trees were measured in 2014 and 2015. Species mixing resulted, on average, in higher tree growth, absorption of photosynthetically active radiation (APAR) and light use efficiency (LUE) compared to the mean of the monocultures. An exception was the monoculture of Betula pendula which was the most productive species, and had higher growth, APAR or LUE than some mixtures. Drought-related mortality reduced stand basal area across all plots by an average of 8.3% and tree density by 11%. This moderate change in structure did not result in significant increases in individual tree APAR, LUE, or growth. From a management perspective, mortality might need to reduce stand density more strongly than it did in this study before light absorption or light-use efficiency are altered.

KW - light absorption

KW - light-use efficiency

KW - mixed-species forests

KW - Maestra model

KW - drought-related mortality

KW - tree allometry

U2 - 10.1093/forestry/cpad051

DO - 10.1093/forestry/cpad051

M3 - Article

JO - Forestry

JF - Forestry

SN - 0015-752X

ER -