@article{FeichtingerEilmannBuchmannetal.2015, author = {Feichtinger, Linda M. and Eilmann, Britta and Buchmann, Nina and Rigling, Andreas}, title = {Trait-specific responses of Scots pine to irrigation on a short vs long time scale}, series = {Tree Physiology}, volume = {35}, journal = {Tree Physiology}, number = {00}, publisher = {Heron}, address = {Victoria, BC}, issn = {1758-4469 (Online)}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpu114}, pages = {1 -- 12}, year = {2015}, language = {en} } @article{EilmannBuchmannSiegwolfetal.2010, author = {Eilmann, Britta and Buchmann, Nina and Siegwolf, Rolf and Saurer, Matthias and Cherubini, Paolo and Rigling, Andreas}, title = {Fast response of Scots pine to improved water availability reflected in tree-ring width and δ13C}, series = {Plant, Cell and Environment}, volume = {33}, journal = {Plant, Cell and Environment}, number = {8}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {1365-3040 (Online)}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-3040.2010.02153.x}, pages = {1351 -- 1360}, year = {2010}, abstract = {Drought-induced forest decline, like the Scots pine mortality in inner-Alpine valleys, will gain in importance as the frequency and severity of drought events are expected to increase. To understand how chronic drought affects tree growth and tree-ring δ13C values, we studied mature Scots pine in an irrigation experiment in an inner-Alpine valley. Tree growth and isotope analyses were carried out at the annual and seasonal scale. At the seasonal scale, maximum δ13C values were measured after the hottest and driest period of the year, and were associated with decreasing growth rates. Inter-annual δ13C values in early- and latewood showed a strong correlation with annual climatic conditions and an immediate decrease as a response to irrigation. This indicates a tight coupling between wood formation and the freshly produced assimilates for trees exposed to chronic drought. This rapid appearance of the isotopic signal is a strong indication for an immediate and direct transfer of newly synthesized assimilates for biomass production. The fast appearance and the distinct isotopic signal suggest a low availability of old stored carbohydrates. If this was a sign for C-storage depletion, an increasing mortality could be expected when stressors increase the need for carbohydrate for defence, repair or regeneration.}, language = {en} } @article{EilmannZweifelBuchmannetal.2011, author = {Eilmann, Britta and Zweifel, Roman and Buchmann, Nina and Graf Pannatier, Elisabeth and Rigling, Andreas}, title = {Drought alters timing, quantity, and quality of wood formation in Scots pine}, series = {Journal of Experimental Botany}, volume = {62}, journal = {Journal of Experimental Botany}, number = {8}, publisher = {Oxford University Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {1460-2431 (Online)}, doi = {10.1093/jxb/erq443}, pages = {2763 -- 2771}, year = {2011}, language = {en} } @article{EilmannZweifelBuchmannetal.2009, author = {Eilmann, Britta and Zweifel, Roman and Buchmann, Nina and Fonti, Patrick and Rigling, Andreas}, title = {Drought-induced adaptation of the xylem in Scots pine and pubescent oak}, series = {Tree Physiology}, volume = {29}, journal = {Tree Physiology}, number = {8}, publisher = {Heron}, address = {Victoria, BC}, issn = {0829-318X (Print)}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpp035}, pages = {1011 -- 1020}, year = {2009}, language = {en} } @article{FeichtingerEilmannBuchmannetal.2014, author = {Feichtinger, Linda M. and Eilmann, Britta and Buchmann, Nina and Rigling, Andreas}, title = {Growth adjustments of conifers to drought and to century-long irrigation}, series = {Forest Ecology and Management}, volume = {2014}, journal = {Forest Ecology and Management}, number = {334}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {1872-7042 (Online)}, doi = {10.1016/j.foreco.2014.08.008}, pages = {96 -- 105}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Our knowledge on tree responses to drought is mainly based on short-term manipulation experiments which do not capture any possible long-term adjustments in this response. Therefore, historical water channels in inner-Alpine dry valleys were used as century-long irrigation experiments to investigate adjustments in tree growth to contrasting water supply. This involved quantifying the tree-ring growth of irrigated and non-irrigated (control) Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in Valais (Switzerland), as well as European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) and black pine (Pinus nigra Arnold) in Vinschgau (Italy). Furthermore, the adjustments in radial growth of Scots pine and European larch to an abrupt stop in irrigation were analyzed. Irrigation promoted the radial growth of all tree species investigated compared to the control: (1) directly through increased soil water availability, and (2) indirectly through increased soil nutrients and humus contents in the irrigated plots. Irrigation led to a full elimination of growth responses to climate for European larch and black pine, but not for Scots pine, which might become more sensitive to drought with increasing tree size in Valais. For the control trees, the response of the latewood increment to water availability in July/August has decreased in recent decades for all species, but increased in May for Scots pine only. The sudden irrigation stop caused a drop in radial growth to a lower level for Scots pine or similar level for larch compared to the control for up to ten years. However, both tree species were then able to adjust to the new conditions and subsequently grew with similar (Scots pine) or even higher growth rates (larch) than the control. To estimate the impact of climate change on future forest development, the duration of manipulation experiments should be on longer time scales in order to capture adjustment processes and feedback mechanisms of forest ecosystems.}, language = {en} }