Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Selective drought-induced decline of pine species in southeastern Spain

  • Published:
Climatic Change Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The negative impacts of severe drought on the growth and vigor of tree species and their relationship with forest decline have not been properly evaluated taking into account the differential responses to such stress of trees, sites and species. We evaluated these responses by quantifying the changes in radial growth of plantations of four pine species (Pinus sylvestris, Pinus nigra, Pinus pinaster, Pinus halepensis) which showed distinct decline and defoliation levels in southeastern Spain. We used dendrochronological methods, defoliation records, linear mixed models of basal area increment and dynamic factor analysis to quantify the responses of trees at the species and individual scales to site conditions and drought stress. In the region a temperature rise and a decrease in spring precipitation have led to drier conditions during the late twentieth century characterized by severe droughts in the 1990s and 2000s. As expected, the defoliation levels and the reductions in basal area increment were higher in those species more vulnerable to drought-induced xylem embolism (P. sylvestris) than in those more resistant (P. halepensis). Species adapted to xeric conditions but with high growth rates, such as P. pinaster, were also vulnerable to drought-induced decline. The reduction in basal area increment and the defoliation events occurred after consecutive severe droughts. A decrease in spring precipitation, which is the main driver of radial growth, is the most plausible cause of recent forest decline. The sharp growth reduction and widespread defoliation of the most affected pine plantations of Scots pine make their future persistence in drought-prone sites unlikely under the forecasted warmer and drier conditions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alavi G (1996) Radial stem growth of Picea abies in relation to spatial variation in soil moisture conditions. Scand J For Res 11:209–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allen CD, Macalady AK, Chenchouni H et al (2010) A global overview of drought and heat-induced tree mortality reveals emerging climate change risks for forests. For Ecol Manag 259:660–684

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andreu L, Gutiérrez E, Macias M, Ribas M, Bosch O, Camarero JJ (2007) Climate increases regional tree-growth variability in Iberian pine forests. Glob Change Biol 13:804–815

    Google Scholar 

  • Bigler C, Bräker OU, Bugmann H, Dobbertin M, Rigling A (2006) Drought as an inciting mortality factor in Scots pine stands of the Valais, Switzerland. Ecosystems 9:330–343

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biondi F, Waikul K (2004) DENDROCLIM2002: A C++ program for statistical calibration of climate signals in tree-ring chronologies. Comput Geosci 30:303–311

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boisvenue C, Running SW (2006) Impacts of climate change on natural forest productivity—evidence since the middle of the 20th century. Glob Change Biol 12:1–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Borghetti MS, Cinnirella S, Magnani F, Saracino A (1998) Impact of long-term drought on xylem embolism and growth in Pinus halepensis Mill. Trees 12:187–195

    Google Scholar 

  • Bréda N, Huc R, Granier A, Dreyer E (2006) Temperate forest trees and stands under severe drought: a review of ecophysiological responses, adaptation processes and long-term consequences. Ann For Sci 63:625–644

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burnham KP, Anderson DR (2002) Model Selection and Multimodel Inference: a Practical Information-Theoretic Approach. Springer, Heidelberg, Germany

    Google Scholar 

  • Camarero JJ, Lloret F, Corcuera L, Peñuelas J, Gil-Pelegrín, E (2004) Cambio global y decaimiento del bosque. In: Ecología del Bosque Mediterráneo en un Mundo Cambiante (ed Valladares F), pp. 397–423. Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, Madrid

  • Camarero JJ, Olano JM, Parras A (2010) Plastic bimodal xylogenesis in conifers from continental Mediterranean climates. New Phytol 185:471–480

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cook ER (1985) A time series analysis approach to tree-ring standardization. University of Arizona, Tucson, DS Thesis

    Google Scholar 

  • De Luis M, González-Hidalgo JS, Longares LA, Štepánek P (2009) Seasonal precipitation trends in the Mediterranean Iberian Peninsula in second half of 20th century. Int J Climatol 29:1312–1323

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dobbertin M (2005) Tree growth as indicator of tree vitality and of tree reaction to environmental stress: a review. Eur J For Res 124:319–333

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eilmann B, Zwifel R, Buchmann N, Fonti P, Rigling A (2009) Drought-induced adaptation of the xylem in Scots pine and pubescent oak. Tree Physiol 29:1011–1020

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eilmann B, Zweifel R, Buchmann N, Pannatier EG, Rigling A (2011) Drought alters timing, quantity, and quality of wood formation in Scots pine. J Exp Bot 62:2763–2771

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frich P, Alexander LV, Della-Marta P, Gleason P, Haylock M, Klein Tank AMG, Peterson T (2002) Observed coherent changes in climatic extremes during the second half of the twentieth century. Clim Res 19:193–212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fritts HC (1976) Tree Rings and Climate. Academic, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Galiano L, Martínez-Vilalta J, Lloret F (2010) Drought-Induced Multifactor Decline of Scots Pine in The Pyrenees and Potential Vegetation Change by the Expansion of Co-ocurring Oak species. Ecosystems 13:978–991

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grissino-Mayer HD (2001) Evaluating crossdating, accuracy: a manual and tutorial for the computer program COFECHA. Tree-Ring Res 57:205–221

    Google Scholar 

  • Grove AT, Rackham O (2001) The Nature of Mediterranean Europe: an Ecological History. Yale University Press, New Haven

    Google Scholar 

  • Gutiérrez E (1989) Dendroclimatological study of Pinus sylvestris L. in southern Catalonia (Spain). Tree-Ring Bull 49:1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Helama S, Salminen H, Timonen M, Varmola M (2008) Dendroclimatological analysis of seeded and thinned Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands at the coniferous timberline. New Forests 35:267–284

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heikkilä J, Nevalainen S, Tokola T (2002) Estimating defoliation in boreal coniferous forest by combining Landsat TM, aerial photographs and field data. For Ecol Manag 158:9–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hernández-Clemente R, Navarro-Cerrillo RM, Suárez L, Morales F, Zarco-Tejada P (2011) Assessing structural effects on PRI for stress detection in conifer forests. Remote Sens Environ 115:2360–2375

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holmes RL (1983) Computer-assisted quality control in tree-ring dating and measurement. Tree-Ring Bull 43:68–78

    Google Scholar 

  • Holmes RL (2001) Dendrochronology Program Library. Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, University of Arizona, Tucson

    Google Scholar 

  • Jump AS, Hunt JM, Peñuelas J (2006) Rapid climate change related growth decline at the southern range edge of Fagus sylvatica. Glob Change Biol 12:2163–2174

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klein T, Cohen S, Yakir D (2011) Hydraulic adjustments underlying drought resistance of Pinus halepensis. Tree Physiol 31:637–648

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linares JC, Camarero JJ, Carreira JA (2009) Interacting effects of changes in climate and forest cover on mortality and growth of the southernmost European fir forests. Glob Ecol Biogeogr 18:485–497

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linares JC, Camarero JJ, Carreira JA (2010a) Competition modulates the adaptation capacity of forests to climatic stress: insights from recent growth decline and death in relict stands of the Mediterranean fir Abies pinsapo. J Ecol 98:592–603

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linares JC, Delgado-Huertas A, Carreira JA (2010b) Climatic trends and different drought adaptive capacity and vulnerability in a mixed Abies pinsapo–Pinus halepensis forest. Clim Change 105:67–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindner M, Maroschek M, Netherer S et al (2010) Climate change impacts, adaptive capacity, and vulnerability of European forest ecosystems. For Ecol Manag 259:698–709

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Littell RC, Milliken GA, Stroup WW, Wolfinger RD, Schabenberger O (2006) SAS System for Mixed Models. SAS Inst, Cary, NC

    Google Scholar 

  • LUCDEME (2004) Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, Proyecto LUCDEME (Provincia de Almería-Baza) 1986–2004. Memorias y mapas de suelos E. 1:50.000. Madrid, Spain

  • Macias M, Andreu L, Bosch O, Camarero JJ, Gutiérrez E (2006) Increasing aridity is enhancing silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) water stress in its south-western distribution limit. Clim Change 79:289–313

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martínez-Vilalta J, Lopez BC, Adell N, Badiella L, Ninyerola M (2008) Twentieth century increase of Scots pine radial growth in NE Spain shows strong climate interactions. Glob Change Biol 14:2868–2881

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martínez-Vilalta J, Piñol J (2002) Drought-induced mortality and hydraulic architecture in pine populations of the NE Iberian Peninsula. For Ecol Manag 161:247–256

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martínez-Vilalta J, Sala A, Piñol J (2004) The hydraulic architecture of Pinaceae—a review. Plant Ecol 171:3–13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martínez-Vilalta J, Cochard H, Mencuccini M, Sterck F, Herrero A, Korhonen JFJ, Llorens P, Nikinmaa E, Nolè A, Poyatos R, Ripullone F, Sass-Klaassen U, Zweifel R (2009) Hydraulic adjustment of Scots pine across Europe. New Phytol 184:353–364

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McDowell N, Pockman WT, Allen CD et al (2008) Mechanisms of plant survival and mortality during drought: why do some plants survive while others succumb to drought? New Phytol 178:719–739

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell TD, Jones PD (2005) An improved method of constructing a database of monthly climate observations and associated high-resolution grids. Int J Climatol 25:693–712

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Montero G (1997) Breve descripción del proceso repoblador en España (1940–1995). Legno Celulosa Carta 4:35–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Montero G, Vallejo R, Ruiz-Peinado R (2007) Fototeca Forestal Española DGB-INIA. Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia. http://www.inia.es/fototeca. Madrid, Spain

  • Navarro-Cerrillo RM, Varo MA, Lanjeri S, Hernández Clemente R (2007) Cartografía de defoliación en los pinares de pino silvestre (Pinus sylvestris L.) y pino salgareño (Pinus nigra Arn.) en la Sierra de los Filabres. Ecosistemas 16:163–171

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliveras I, Martínez-Vilalta J, Jimenez-Ortiz T, Lledó MJ, Escarré A, Piñol J (2003) Hydraulic properties of Pinus halepensis, Pinus pinea and Tetraclinis articulata in a dune ecosystem of Eastern Spain. Plant Ecol 169:131–141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orwig DA, Abrams MD (1997) Variation in radial growth responses to drought among species, site, and canopy strata. Trees 11:474–484

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pasho E, Camarero JJ, De Luis M, Vicente-Serrano SM (2011) Spatial variability in large-scale and regional atmospheric drivers of Pinus halepensis growth in eastern Spain. Agric For Meteorol 151:1106–1119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pedersen BS (1998) The role of stress in the mortality of midwestern oaks as indicated by growth prior to death. Ecology 79:79–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pemán J, Navarro-Cerrillo RM (1998) Repoblaciones Forestales. Universitat de Lleida, Lleida, Spain

    Google Scholar 

  • Peñuelas J, Lloret F, Montoya R (2001) Severe drought effects on Mediterranean woody flora in Spain. Forest Sci 47:214–218

    Google Scholar 

  • Richardson DM (1998) Ecology and Biogeography of Pinus. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Richter K, Eckstein D, Holmes RL (1991) The dendrochronological signal of pine trees (Pinus spp.) in Spain. Tree-Ring Bull 51:1–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Sala A, Piper F, Hoch G (2010) Physiological mechanisms of drought-induced tree mortality are far from being resolved. New Phytol 186:274–281

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarris D, Christodoulakis D, Körner Ch (2007) Recent decline in precipitation and tree growth in the eastern Mediterranean. Glob Change Biol 13:1187–1200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarris D, Christodoulakis D, Körner Ch (2010) Impact of recent climatic change on growth of low elevation eastern Mediterranean forest trees. Clim Change 106:203–223

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Solberg S (2004) Summer drought: a driver for crown condition and mortality of Norway spruce in Norway. For Pathol 34:93–104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Szeicz JM, MacDonald GM (1994) Age dependent tree-ring growth responses of subarctic white spruce to climate. Can J For Res 24:120–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tardif J, Camarero JJ, Ribas M, Gutierrez E (2003) Spatiotemporal variability in tree growth in the Central Pyrenees: climatic and site influences. Ecol Monogr 73:241–257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • UN/ECE (1994) Manual on Methods and Criteria for Harmonised Sampling, Assessment, Monitoring and Analysis of the Effects of Air Pollution on Forests. Third ed. Programme Co-ordinating Centres, Hamburg and Prague

  • Vanderlinden K, Giráldez JV, Van Meirvenne M (2005) Soil water-holding capacity assessment in terms of the average annual water balance in Southern Spain. Vadose Zone J 4:317–328

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wells N, Goddard S, Hayes MJ (2004) A self-calibrating Palmer Drought Severity Index. J Climate 17:2335–2351

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wigley TML, Briffa KR, Jones PD (1984) On the average value of correlated time series, with applications in dendroclimatology and hydrometeorology. J Clim Appl Meterol 23:201–213

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yamaguchi DK (1991) A simple method for cross-dating increment cores from living trees. Can J For Res 21:414–416

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zuur AF, Tuck ID, Bailey N (2003) Dynamic factor analysis to estimate common trends in fisheries time series. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 60:542–552

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank the support of Junta de Andalucía, project GESBOME (P06-RNM-1890), project INTERBOS (CGL2008-04503-CO3-02) and a FPU grant (AP2007-04747, MCI, Spain) to the first author. We thank J. Bautista and A. Herrero for their help in the field and the support of Natural Park of Sierra de Baza and EGMASA. J.J. Camarero thanks ARAID and collaborative efforts within Globimed network. We thank R. Calama for his help with statistical analyses. We also thank Dr. S. Donner and three anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Investigación Forestal (CIFOR)- INIA, Carretera de la Coruña km. 7.5, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Raúl Sánchez-Salguero & Ángel Fernández-Cancio

  2. Depto. Ingeniería Forestal, Laboratorio de Dendrocronología, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, Crta. IV, km. 396, 14071, Córdoba, Spain

    Raúl Sánchez-Salguero & Rafael M. Navarro-Cerrillo

  3. ARAID, Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología, CSIC, Avda. Montaña, 1005, 50192, Zaragoza, Spain

    J. Julio Camarero

  4. Centro de Investigación Forestal (CIFOR)- I.N.I.A, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Dpto. Ecología y Genética Forestal, Carretera de la Coruña Km. 7.5, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Raúl Sánchez-Salguero

Authors
  1. Raúl Sánchez-Salguero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rafael M. Navarro-Cerrillo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. Julio Camarero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ángel Fernández-Cancio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Raúl Sánchez-Salguero.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

ESM 1

(DOC 445 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sánchez-Salguero, R., Navarro-Cerrillo, R.M., Camarero, J.J. et al. Selective drought-induced decline of pine species in southeastern Spain. Climatic Change 113, 767–785 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-011-0372-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-011-0372-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation