Trees are mostly affected by drought in their growth
The drought mainly affects the growth of trees, not so much the greenness and the ability to produce seeds. This is the conclusion reached in a study in which researchers from the Public University of Navarra have participated.
In collaboration with the Institute of Ecology of the Pyrenees and the Polytechnic University of Madrid, five tree species representative of forests in different climatic zones of Spain have been studied: fir, red pine, beech, art and pine pine (Beech and red pine have been studied in Aizpurgi, Navarre). They analyzed the greenness of the canopy through satellite images, measured the growth of the trunks through the growth rings, and measured the production of seeds and fruits to analyze their response to drought.
The results show that drought reduces trunk growth to a greater extent than greening or seed production. In relation to the latter, it has been observed that in species of more humid environments (fir, beech and red pine), the lack of water increases the production of seeds, while in arid areas (art and pine pine) it decreases significantly.
The analysis also shows that growth, greenness and reproduction are not directly interdependent, but that their relationships are conditioned by climatic conditions. Thus, changes in temperature and precipitation affect physiological processes in trees simultaneously and sometimes in the opposite manner.
On the other hand, the researchers warn that although in some cases the drought favors seed production, the accumulated effects may jeopardize other vital processes, with long-term consequences for the survival and regeneration of forest species.
The work has been published in the journal Forest Ecosystems.
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