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Oak decline induced by mistletoe, competition and climate change: a case study from central Europe
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SYSNO ASEP 0467097 Document Type J - Journal Article R&D Document Type Journal Article Subsidiary J Článek ve WOS Title Oak decline induced by mistletoe, competition and climate change: a case study from central Europe Author(s) Doležal, Jiří (BU-J) RID, ORCID
Lehečková, Eliška (BU-J)
Sohar, Kristina (BU-J) ORCID
Altman, Jan (BU-J) RID, ORCIDNumber of authors 4 Source Title Preslia. - : Česká botanická společnost - ISSN 0032-7786
Roč. 88, č. 3 (2016), s. 323-346Number of pages 24 s. Language eng - English Country CZ - Czech Republic Keywords dendrometers ; moving response function ; growth–climate relationships Subject RIV EH - Ecology, Behaviour R&D Projects DF12P01OVV005 GA MK - Ministry of Culture (MK) UT WOS 000387096200001 EID SCOPUS 84990036943 Annotation It is predicted that rising temperatures and extreme summer droughts will adversely affect the growth of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) and contribute to local population decline. Furthermore, such oaksmay become prone to infestation with mistletoe (Loranthus europaeus) and competition from neighbouring trees. We tested these predictions in the warm, south-eastern part of the Czech Republic, a drought-prone area where oaks die prematurely. We compared the radial growth patterns of eight categories of oaks differing in age (younger or older than 60 years), presence of neighbouring trees (solitary versus grouped) and infestation with mistletoe (infested versus healthy), and their responses to variation in both annual and intra-annual temperature (T) and precipitation (P).We analysed long-term data from tree rings and detailed dendrometer records of daily increments using moving correlations and regression trees. Oak growth is affected by (i) dry and cold winters, resulting in root damage and water shortages during summer, (ii) a cool and wet March–April, hampering the onset of earlywood growth, and (iii) a hot and dry May–July period, reducing latewood formation. Latewood width increases when February P > 55 mm, March T > 3.3 °C, April P < 60 mm, May P > 50 mm, June T < 19 °C and August P > 40 mm. Latewood width decreases with tree age, mistletoe infestation and competiton from neighbouring trees. Grouped trees that compete for soil water are more prone to June–July droughts but less harmed by cold springs than solitary oaks. These results provide support for the crucial role of climate change (decline in rainfall and increase in summer temperatures over the last three decades) and biotic interactions (mistletoe hemiparasites, inter-tree competition) in oak growth and population decline. Workplace Institute of Botany Contact Martina Bartošová, martina.bartosova@ibot.cas.cz, ibot@ibot.cas.cz, Tel.: 271 015 242 ; Marie Jakšová, marie.jaksova@ibot.cas.cz, Tel.: 384 721 156-8 Year of Publishing 2017
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