Ecological, Typological Properties and Photosynthetic Activity (FAPAR) of Common Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) Ecosystems in Croatia
Background and purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the structural and functional properties of common beech forest ecosystems in Croatia across a wide macro-climatic gradient (Mediterranean, Alpine and Continental) and to gain insight into the ways they adapt to progressing short-term c...
Main Authors: | , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Croatian Forest Research Institute
2017-01-01
|
Series: | South-East European Forestry |
Online Access: | http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/270687 |
id |
doaj-98d3b1ba1eac404fa34ef21db35137ce |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-98d3b1ba1eac404fa34ef21db35137ce2020-11-24T21:06:38ZengCroatian Forest Research InstituteSouth-East European Forestry1847-64811849-08912017-01-0181676710.15177/seefor.17-04183599Ecological, Typological Properties and Photosynthetic Activity (FAPAR) of Common Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) Ecosystems in CroatiaIvan Pilaš0Ivan Medved1Jasna Medak2Melita Perčec Tadić3Damir Medak4Croatian Forest Research Institute, Division of Ecology, Cvjetno naselje 41, HR-10450 Jastrebarsko, CroatiaCroatian Forest Research Institute, Division of Ecology, Cvjetno naselje 41, HR-10450 Jastrebarsko, CroatiaCroatian Forest Research Institute, Division of Ecology, Cvjetno naselje 41, HR-10450 Jastrebarsko, CroatiaMeteorological and Hydrological Service, Grič 3, HR-10000 Zagreb, CroatiaUniversity of Zagreb, Faculty of Geodesy, Kačićeva 26, HR-10000 Zagreb, CroatiaBackground and purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the structural and functional properties of common beech forest ecosystems in Croatia across a wide macro-climatic gradient (Mediterranean, Alpine and Continental) and to gain insight into the ways they adapt to progressing short-term climatic extremes and anomalies. Material and Methods: Research was undertaken by integration of the expert based, country scale typological delineation of 13 beech ecosystem types, climatic and topographic grids and indices of ecosystem performances such as the JRC FAPAR (Fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation). Results: This study reveals preferential environmental conditions for beech ecosystem types together with limiting conditions in three margins of the beech distribution area: highest altitudinal zone, south-eastern continental Pannonian zone and the Mediterranean. The results show that the common beech can adapt to a very wide range of environmental conditions: annual mean temperatures from 2.1oC to 13.5oC, annual precipitation from 739 mm to 3444 mm, and altitudinal range from 20.3 m up to 1576 m above sea level. FAPAR reveals some new insight into the adaptive potential and response mechanisms of the common beech to emerging climate change. Conclusion: The common beech has great potential to adapt to increasing spring warming by a preterm shift of phenology onset and retain relatively stable productivity during the phenology peak in July and August, unrelated to external climatic forcing. These findings indicate that the flexibility of phenological timing, especially during springtime, present one of the important mechanisms of adaptation and resilience of the common beech.http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/270687 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Ivan Pilaš Ivan Medved Jasna Medak Melita Perčec Tadić Damir Medak |
spellingShingle |
Ivan Pilaš Ivan Medved Jasna Medak Melita Perčec Tadić Damir Medak Ecological, Typological Properties and Photosynthetic Activity (FAPAR) of Common Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) Ecosystems in Croatia South-East European Forestry |
author_facet |
Ivan Pilaš Ivan Medved Jasna Medak Melita Perčec Tadić Damir Medak |
author_sort |
Ivan Pilaš |
title |
Ecological, Typological Properties and Photosynthetic Activity (FAPAR) of Common Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) Ecosystems in Croatia |
title_short |
Ecological, Typological Properties and Photosynthetic Activity (FAPAR) of Common Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) Ecosystems in Croatia |
title_full |
Ecological, Typological Properties and Photosynthetic Activity (FAPAR) of Common Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) Ecosystems in Croatia |
title_fullStr |
Ecological, Typological Properties and Photosynthetic Activity (FAPAR) of Common Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) Ecosystems in Croatia |
title_full_unstemmed |
Ecological, Typological Properties and Photosynthetic Activity (FAPAR) of Common Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) Ecosystems in Croatia |
title_sort |
ecological, typological properties and photosynthetic activity (fapar) of common beech (fagus sylvatica l.) ecosystems in croatia |
publisher |
Croatian Forest Research Institute |
series |
South-East European Forestry |
issn |
1847-6481 1849-0891 |
publishDate |
2017-01-01 |
description |
Background and purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the structural and functional properties of common beech forest ecosystems in Croatia across a wide macro-climatic gradient (Mediterranean, Alpine and Continental) and to gain insight into the ways they adapt to progressing short-term climatic extremes and anomalies.
Material and Methods: Research was undertaken by integration of the expert based, country scale typological delineation of 13 beech ecosystem types, climatic and topographic grids and indices of ecosystem performances such as the JRC FAPAR (Fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation).
Results: This study reveals preferential environmental conditions for beech ecosystem types together with limiting conditions in three margins of the beech distribution area: highest altitudinal zone, south-eastern continental Pannonian zone and the Mediterranean. The results show that the common beech can adapt to a very wide range of environmental conditions: annual mean temperatures from 2.1oC to 13.5oC, annual precipitation from 739 mm to 3444 mm, and altitudinal range from 20.3 m up to 1576 m above sea level. FAPAR reveals some new insight into the adaptive potential and response mechanisms of the common beech to emerging climate change.
Conclusion: The common beech has great potential to adapt to increasing spring warming by a preterm shift of phenology onset and retain relatively stable productivity during the phenology peak in July and August, unrelated to external climatic forcing. These findings indicate that the flexibility of phenological timing, especially during springtime, present one of the important mechanisms of adaptation and resilience of the common beech. |
url |
http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/270687 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT ivanpilas ecologicaltypologicalpropertiesandphotosyntheticactivityfaparofcommonbeechfagussylvaticalecosystemsincroatia AT ivanmedved ecologicaltypologicalpropertiesandphotosyntheticactivityfaparofcommonbeechfagussylvaticalecosystemsincroatia AT jasnamedak ecologicaltypologicalpropertiesandphotosyntheticactivityfaparofcommonbeechfagussylvaticalecosystemsincroatia AT melitapercectadic ecologicaltypologicalpropertiesandphotosyntheticactivityfaparofcommonbeechfagussylvaticalecosystemsincroatia AT damirmedak ecologicaltypologicalpropertiesandphotosyntheticactivityfaparofcommonbeechfagussylvaticalecosystemsincroatia |
_version_ |
1716765145515950080 |