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Interaction between beech and spruce trees in temperate forests affects water use, root water uptake pattern and
Laura Kinzinger1, Judith Mach2, Simon Haberstroh1
1Chair of Ecosystem Physiology, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee, 79110 Freiburg, Germany.
Tree Physiology
|December 9, 2023
Summary
Forest species like beech and spruce dynamically adjust water use based on neighbors. European beech increased water flux, while Norway spruce decreased it, showing adaptable water strategies in mixed forests.
Area of Science:
- Forest ecology
- Plant physiology
- Hydrology
Background:
- Species interactions significantly impact forest water fluxes.
- Tree responses to interspecific competition in water use remain poorly understood.
- Dynamic water-use adjustments by trees with neighbors are crucial for ecosystem function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how Fagus sylvatica (European beech) and Picea abies (Norway spruce) interactively adjust water-use strategies.
- To analyze the effects of interspecific competition on aboveground structural characteristics and water fluxes.
- To understand the plasticity of tree water use in response to neighboring species and environmental conditions.
Main Methods:
- Continuous in situ isotope spectroscopy of xylem and soil water to track water sources and uptake depths.
- Monitoring of sap flow and aboveground structural characteristics (crown area).
- High time-resolution analysis of xylem water stable isotopes (δ2H) to assess water source dynamics.
Main Results:
- Picea abies showed reduced sap flow (-14.5%) and crown area in mixed stands compared to spruce-dominated sites.
- Fagus sylvatica exhibited increased water fluxes (+13.3%) in mixed stands compared to beech-dominated sites.
- Trees demonstrated significant plasticity in water source utilization, with Fagus sylvatica shifting to deeper soil layers in mixed stands.
Conclusions:
- Forest trees exhibit dynamic and species-specific water-use plasticity in response to interspecific competition.
- Understanding these water-use adjustments is vital for predicting forest ecosystem responses to climate change, including water scarcity and precipitation variability.
- Interspecific competition influences water uptake depth and water flux, highlighting the importance of species composition in forest hydrology.
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