@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} } @article{WeemstraEilmannSassKlaassenetal.2013, author = {Weemstra, Monique and Eilmann, Britta and Sass-Klaassen, Ute G. W. and Sterck, Frank J.}, title = {Summer droughts limit tree growth across 10 temperate species on a productive forest site}, series = {Forest Ecology and Management}, volume = {2013}, journal = {Forest Ecology and Management}, number = {306}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0378-1127 (Print)}, doi = {doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2013.06.007}, pages = {142 -- 149}, year = {2013}, language = {en} } @article{EilmanndeVriesdenOudenetal.2013, author = {Eilmann, Britta and de Vries, Sven M. G. and den Ouden, Jan and Mohren, Godefridus M. J. and Sauren, Pascal and Sass-Klaassen, Ute G. W.}, title = {Origin matters! Difference in drought tolerance and productivity of coastal Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.)) provenances}, series = {Forest Ecology and Management}, volume = {2013}, journal = {Forest Ecology and Management}, number = {302}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {1872-7042 (Online)}, doi = {doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2013.03.031}, pages = {133 -- 143}, year = {2013}, language = {en} } @article{EilmannSterckWegneretal.2014, author = {Eilmann, Britta and Sterck, Frank J. and Wegner, L. and de Vries, Sven M. G. and von Arx, G. and Mohren, Godefridus M. J. and den Ouden, Jan and Sass-Klaassen, Ute G. W.}, title = {Wood structural differences between northern and southern beech provenances growing at a moderate site}, series = {Tree Physiology}, volume = {34}, journal = {Tree Physiology}, number = {8}, publisher = {Oxford University Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {1758-4469 (Online)}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpu069}, pages = {882 -- 893}, year = {2014}, language = {en} } @article{EilmannRigling2012, author = {Eilmann, Britta and Rigling, Andreas}, title = {Tree-growth analyses to estimate tree species' drought tolerance}, series = {Tree Physiology}, volume = {32}, journal = {Tree Physiology}, number = {2}, editor = {Abrams, Marc}, publisher = {Oxford University Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0829-318X (Print)}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tps004}, pages = {178 -- 187}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Climate change is challenging forestry management and practices. Among other things, tree species with the ability to cope with more extreme climate conditions have to be identified. However, while environmental factors may severely limit tree growth or even cause tree death, assessing a tree species' potential for surviving future aggravated environmental conditions is rather demanding. The aim of this study was to find a tree-ring-based method suitable for identifying very drought-tolerant species, particularly potential substitute species for Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in Valais. In this inner-Alpine valley, Scots pine used to be the dominating species for dry forests, but today it suffers from high drought-induced mortality. We investigate the growth response of two native tree species, Scots pine and European larch (Larix decidua Mill.), and two non-native species, black pine (Pinus nigra Arnold) and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii Mirb. var. menziesii), to drought. This involved analysing how the radial increment of these species responded to increasing water shortage (abandonment of irrigation) and to increasingly frequent drought years. Black pine and Douglas fir are able to cope with drought better than Scots pine and larch, as they show relatively high radial growth even after irrigation has been stopped and a plastic growth response to drought years. European larch does not seem to be able to cope with these dry conditions as it lacks the ability to recover from drought years. The analysis of trees' short-term response to extreme climate events seems to be the most promising and suitable method for detecting how tolerant a tree species is towards drought. However, combining all the methods used in this study provides a complete picture of how water shortage could limit species.}, language = {en} } @article{WegnervonArxSassKlaassenetal.2013, author = {Wegner, Lena and von Arx, Georg and Sass-Klaassen, Ute G. W. and Eilmann, Britta}, title = {ROXAS - an efficient and accurate tool to detect vessels in diffuse-porous species}, series = {IAWA Journal / International Association of Wood Anatomists}, volume = {34}, journal = {IAWA Journal / International Association of Wood Anatomists}, number = {4}, publisher = {Brill}, address = {Leiden}, issn = {0928-1541 (Print)}, doi = {10.1163/22941932-00000034}, pages = {425 -- 432}, year = {2013}, 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{FontiEilmannGarciaGonzalezetal.2009, author = {Fonti, Patrick and Eilmann, Britta and Garc{\´i}a-Gonz{\´a}lez, Ignacio and von Arx, Georg}, title = {Expeditious building of ring-porous earlywood vessel chronologies without loosing signal information}, series = {Trees : structure and function}, volume = {23}, journal = {Trees : structure and function}, number = {3}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Berlin}, issn = {0931-1890 (Print)}, doi = {10.1007/s00468-008-0310-z}, pages = {665 -- 671}, year = {2009}, language = {en} } @article{EilmannWeberRiglingetal.2006, author = {Eilmann, Britta and Weber, Pascale and Rigling, Andreas and Eckstein, Dieter}, title = {Growth reactions of Pinus sylvestris L. and Quercus pubescens Willd. to drought years at a xeric site in Valais, Switzerland}, series = {Dendrochronologia}, volume = {23}, journal = {Dendrochronologia}, number = {3}, issn = {1612-0051 (Online)}, doi = {doi:10.1016/j.dendro.2005.10.002}, pages = {121 -- 132}, year = {2006}, language = {en} } @article{RiglingElkinDobbertinetal.2012, author = {Rigling, Andreas and Elkin, Ch{\´e} and Dobbertin, Matthias and Eilmann, Britta and Giuggiola, Arnaud and Wohlgemuth, Thomas and Bugmann, Harald}, title = {Wald und Klimawandel in der inneralpinen Trockenregion Visp}, series = {Schweizerische Zeitschrift f{\"u}r Forstwesen}, volume = {163}, journal = {Schweizerische Zeitschrift f{\"u}r Forstwesen}, number = {12}, publisher = {Schweizerischer Forstverein}, address = {Z{\"u}rich}, issn = {2235-1469 (Online)}, doi = {10.3188/szf.2012.0481}, pages = {481 -- 492}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Der Temperaturanstieg der vergangenen Jahrzehnte war in Gebirgsregionen besonders ausgepr{\"a}gt. Sollte sich dieser Temperaturtrend im 21. Jahrhundert fortsetzen, dann d{\"u}rf-ten sich auch die H{\"a}ufigkeit und Intensit{\"a}t von Niederschl{\"a}-gen und Trockenperioden ver{\"a}ndern, was die Waldwirtschaft vor grosse Herausforderungen stellen wird. Trockenheit ist ein entscheidender Faktor f{\"u}r die Wald{\"o}kosysteme der inner-alpinen T{\"a}ler, wo seit Jahren trockenheitsbedingtes Baum-sterben festgestellt wird. Der vorliegende Beitrag hat zum Ziel, die Sensitivit{\"a}t der verschiedenen Wald{\"o}kosysteme ge-gen{\"u}ber Klimawandel und alternative, teilweise extreme Bewirtschaftungsvarianten in der Region Visp zu testen. Me-thodische Ans{\"a}tze wie Monitoring, Feldexperimente und dy-namische Modellierung wurden kombiniert, und es wurden verschiedene {\"O}kosystemleistungen ber{\"u}cksichtigt, so Holz-produktion, Schutz vor Naturgefahren, Kohlenstoffspeiche-rung und Aspekte der Biodiversit{\"a}t. Die Resultate deuten da-rauf hin, dass auf den Trockenstandorten der Tieflagen die einheimischen Baumarten an ihre physiologischen Grenzen stossen und l{\"a}ngerfristig {\"u}ber alternative Baumarten nach-gedacht werden sollte. In den mittleren Lagen d{\"u}rften Tro-ckenheit und Schadinsekten wie die Borkenk{\"a}fer die zuk{\"u}nf-tige Waldentwicklung steuern. In den Hochlagen hingegen werden sich die W{\"a}lder ausdehnen und besser wachsen als heute. Alle untersuchten {\"O}kosystemleistungen werden ge-bietsweise starken Ver{\"a}nderungen unterworfen sein. Die dis-kutierten Bewirtschaftungsvarianten scheinen dazu geeignet, die Wasserverf{\"u}gbarkeit der Best{\"a}nde, haupts{\"a}chlich in tief-eren Lagen, zu erh{\"o}hen und dadurch die Widerstandskraft der B{\"a}ume gegen{\"u}ber Trockenperioden vor{\"u}bergehend zu st{\"a}rken. Es ist aber davon ausgehen, dass nur verh{\"a}ltnism{\"a}s-sig starke Eingriffe wesentliche Effekte erzielen k{\"o}nnen. Die Verkn{\"u}pfung von Umweltmonitoring, Feldexperimenten und Modellierung unter Miteinbezug von {\"O}kosystemleistungen ist vielversprechend, da sie eine differenzierte Absch{\"a}tzung des zuk{\"u}nftigen Landschaftswandels und seiner Effekte auf die Waldleistungen erm{\"o}glicht.}, language = {de} } @article{WeberRiglingEilmannetal.2008, author = {Weber, Pascale and Rigling, Andreas and Eilmann, Britta and Mayer, Phillip and Wohlgemuth, Thomas and Dobbertin, Matthias}, title = {Verj{\"u}ngung und Konkurrenz der Flaumeiche im Wallis}, series = {Informationsblatt Wald}, journal = {Informationsblatt Wald}, number = {22}, issn = {1661-5859 (Online)}, pages = {1 -- 3}, year = {2008}, language = {de} } @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{LevesqueSiegwolfEilmannetal.2014, author = {L{\´e}vesque, Mathieu and Siegwolf, Rolf and Eilmann, Britta and Saurer, Matthias and Rigling, Andreas}, title = {Increased water-use efficiency does not lead to enhanced tree growth under xeric and mesic conditions}, series = {New Phytologist}, volume = {203}, journal = {New Phytologist}, number = {1}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {1469-8137 (Online)}, doi = {10.1111/nph.12772}, pages = {94 -- 109}, year = {2014}, language = {en} } @article{EilmannDobbertinRigling2013, author = {Eilmann, Britta and Dobbertin, Matthias and Rigling, Andreas}, title = {Growth response of Scots pine with different crown transparency status to drought release}, series = {Annals of Forest Science}, volume = {70}, journal = {Annals of Forest Science}, number = {7}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Cham}, issn = {1286-4560 (Print)}, doi = {10.1007/s13595-013-0310-z}, pages = {685 -- 693}, year = {2013}, language = {en} } @article{LevesqueSaurerSiegwolfetal.2013, author = {L{\´e}vesque, Mathieu and Saurer, Matthias and Siegwolf, Rolf and Eilmann, Britta and Brang, Peter and Bugmann, Harald and Rigling, Andreas}, title = {Drought response of five conifer species under contrasting water availability suggests high vulnerability of Norway spruce and European larch}, series = {Global Change Biology}, volume = {19}, journal = {Global Change Biology}, number = {10}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {1365-2486 (Online)}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.12268}, pages = {3184 -- 3199}, year = {2013}, language = {en} } @article{RiglingBiglerEilmannetal.2012, author = {Rigling, Andreas and Bigler, Christof and Eilmann, Britta and Feldmeyer-Christe, Elisabeth and Gimmi, Urs and Ginzler, Christian and Graf, Ulrich and Mayer, Phillip and Vacchiano, Giorgio and Weber, Pascal and Wohlgemuth, Thomas and zweifel, Roman and Dobbertin, Matthias}, title = {Driving factors of a vegetation shift from Scots pine to pubescent oak in dry Alpine forests}, series = {Global Change Biology}, volume = {19}, journal = {Global Change Biology}, number = {1}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {1354-1013 (Print)}, doi = {10.1111/gcb.12038}, pages = {229 -- 240}, year = {2012}, abstract = {An increasing number of studies have reported on forest declines and vegetation shifts triggered by drought. In the Swiss Rhone valley (Valais), one of the driest inner-Alpine regions, the species composition in low elevation forests is changing: The sub-boreal Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) dominating the dry forests is showing high mortality rates. Concurrently the sub-Mediterranean pubescent oak (Quercus pubescens Willd.) has locally increased in abundance. However, it remains unclear whether this local change in species composition is part of a larger-scale vegetation shift. To study variability in mortality and regeneration in these dry forests we analysed data from the Swiss national forest inventory (NFI) on a regular grid between 1983 and 2003, and combined it with annual mortality data from a monitoring site. Pine mortality was found to be highest at low elevation (below 1000 m a.s.l.). Annual variation in pine mortality was correlated with a drought index computed for the summer months prior to observed tree death. A generalized linear mixed-effects model indicated for the NFI data increased pine mortality on dryer sites with high stand competition, particularly for small-diameter trees. Pine regeneration was low in comparison to its occurrence in the overstorey, whereas oak regeneration was comparably abundant. Although both species regenerated well at dry sites, pine regeneration was favoured at cooler sites at higher altitude and oak regeneration was more frequent at warmer sites, indicating a higher adaptation potential of oaks under future warming. Our results thus suggest that an extended shift in species composition is actually occurring in the pine forests in the Valais. The main driving factors are found to be climatic variability, particularly drought, and variability in stand structure and topography. Thus, pine forests at low elevations are developing into oak forests with unknown consequences for these ecosystems and their goods and services.}, language = {en} } @article{StojnicSassKlaassenOrlovicetal.2013, author = {Stojnic, Srdjan and Sass-Klaassen, Ute G. M. and Orlovic, Sasa and Matovic, Bratislav and Eilmann, Britta}, title = {Plastic growth response of European beech provenances to dry site conditions}, volume = {34}, number = {4}, publisher = {Brill}, address = {Leiden}, issn = {0928-1541 (Print)}, doi = {10.1163/22941932-00000038}, pages = {475 -- 484}, year = {2013}, language = {en} } @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} } @book{Hallmann2015, author = {Hallmann, Willi}, title = {(Meine) Erinnerungen an Jesco von Puttkamer : zusammengestellt anl{\"a}sslich des Todes von Jesco von Puttkamer am 27. Dezember 2012}, publisher = {Pro BUSINESS digital printing Deutschlang GmbH}, address = {Berlin}, isbn = {978-3-86460-271-9 ; 3-86460-271-8}, pages = {178 Seiten}, year = {2015}, language = {de} } @article{FontivonArxGarciaGonzalezetal.2010, author = {Fonti, Patrick and von Arx, Georg and Garc{\´i}a-Gonz{\´a}lez, Ignacio and Eilmann, Britta and Sass-Klaassen, Ute G. W. and G{\"a}rtner, Holger and Eckstein, Dieter}, title = {Studying global change through investigation of the plastic responses of xylem anatomy in tree rings}, series = {New Phytologist}, volume = {185}, journal = {New Phytologist}, number = {1}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {1469-8137 (Online)}, doi = {10.1111/j.1469-8137.2009.03030.x}, pages = {42 -- 53}, year = {2010}, abstract = {Variability in xylem anatomy is of interest to plant scientists because of the role water transport plays in plant performance and survival. Insights into plant adjustments to changing environmental conditions have mainly been obtained through structural and functional comparative studies between taxa or within taxa on contrasting sites or along environmental gradients. Yet, a gap exists regarding the study of hydraulic adjustments in response to environmental changes over the lifetimes of plants. In trees, dated tree-ring series are often exploited to reconstruct dynamics in ecological conditions, and recent work in which wood-anatomical variables have been used in dendrochronology has produced promising results. Environmental signals identified in water-conducting cells carry novel information reflecting changes in regional conditions and are mostly related to short, sub-annual intervals. Although the idea of investigating environmental signals through wood anatomical time series goes back to the 1960s, it is only recently that low-cost computerized image-analysis systems have enabled increased scientific output in this field. We believe that the study of tree-ring anatomy is emerging as a promising approach in tree biology and climate change research, particularly if complemented by physiological and ecological studies. This contribution presents the rationale, the potential, and the methodological challenges of this innovative approach.}, language = {en} } @article{DobbertinEilmannBleuleretal.2010, author = {Dobbertin, Matthias and Eilmann, Britta and Bleuler, Peter and Giuggiola, Arnaud and Graf Pannatier, Elisabeth and Landolt, Werner and Schleppi, Patrick and Rigling, Andreas}, title = {Effect of irrigation on needle morphology, shoot and stem growth in a drought-exposed Pinus sylvestris forest}, series = {Tree Physiology}, volume = {30}, journal = {Tree Physiology}, number = {3}, publisher = {Oxford University Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {1758-4469 (Online)}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpp123}, pages = {346 -- 360}, year = {2010}, abstract = {In Valais, Switzerland, Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris L.) are declining, mainly following drought. To assess the impact of drought on tree growth and survival, an irrigation experiment was initiated in 2003 in a mature pine forest, approximately doubling the annual precipitation. Tree crown transparency (lack of foliage) and leaf area index (LAI) were annually assessed. Seven irrigated and six control trees were felled in 2006, and needles, stem discs and branches were taken for growth analysis. Irrigation in 2004 and 2005, both with below-average precipitation, increased needle size, area and mass, stem growth and, with a 1-year delay, shoot length. This led to a relative decrease in tree crown transparency (-14\%) and to an increase in stand LAI (+20\%). Irrigation increased needle length by 70\%, shoot length by 100\% and ring width by 120\%, regardless of crown transparency. Crown transparency correlated positively with mean needle size, shoot length and ring width and negatively with specific leaf area. Trees with high crown transparency (low growth, short needles) experienced similar increases in needle mass and growth with irrigation than trees with low transparency (high growth, long needles), indicating that seemingly declining trees were able to 'recover' when water supply became sufficient. A simple drought index before and during the irrigation explained most of the variation found in the parameters for both irrigated and control trees.}, 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{EgliAyerPeteretal.2010, author = {Egli, Simon and Ayer, Fran{\c{c}}ois and Peter, Martina and Eilmann, Britta and Rigling, Andreas}, title = {Is forest mushroom productivity driven by tree growth? Results from a thinning experiment}, series = {Annals of Forest Science}, volume = {67}, journal = {Annals of Forest Science}, number = {5}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Paris}, issn = {1286-4560 (Print)}, doi = {10.1051/forest/2010011}, pages = {509}, year = {2010}, abstract = {• Most of the edible forest mushrooms are mycorrhizal and depend on carbohydrates produced by the associated trees. Fruiting patterns of these fungi are not yet fully understood since climatic factors alone do not completely explain mushroom occurrence. • The objective of this study was to retrospectively find out if changing tree growth following an increment thinning has influenced the diversity patterns and productivity of associated forest mushrooms in the fungus reserve La Chan{\´e}az, Switzerland. • The results reveal a clear temporal relationship between the thinning, the growth reaction of trees and the reaction of the fungal community, especially for the ectomycorrhizal species. The tree-ring width of the formerly suppressed beech trees and the fruit body number increased after thinning, leading to a significantly positive correlation between fruit body numbers and tree-ring width. • Fruit body production was influenced by previous annual tree growth, the best accordance was found between fruit body production and the tree-ring width two years previously. • The results support the hypothesis that ectomycorrhizal fruit body production must be linked with the growth of the associated host trees. Moreover, the findings indicate the importance of including mycorrhizal fungi as important players when discussing a tree as a carbon source or sink.}, language = {en} } @article{RiglingEilmannKoechlietal.2010, author = {Rigling, Andreas and Eilmann, Britta and Koechli, Roger and Dobbertin, Matthias}, title = {Mistletoe-induced crown degradation in Scots pine in a xeric environment}, volume = {30}, number = {7}, publisher = {Oxford University Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {1758-4469 (Online)}, doi = {10.1093/treephys/tpq038}, pages = {845 -- 832}, year = {2010}, abstract = {Increasing Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) mortality has been recently observed in the dry inner valleys of the European Alps. Besides drought, infection with pine mistletoe (Viscum album ssp. austriacum) seems to play an important role in the mortality dynamics of Scots pines, but how mistletoes promote pine decline remains unclear. To verify whether pine mistletoe infection weakens the host via crown degradation, as observed for dwarf mistletoes, we studied the negative effects of pine mistletoe infestation on the photosynthetic tissues and branch growth of pairs of infested and non-infested branches. Pine mistletoe infection leads to crown degradation in its host by reducing the length, the radial increment, the ramification, the needle length and the number of needle years of the infested branches. This massive loss in photosynthetic tissue results in a reduction in primary production and a subsequent decrease in carbohydrate availability. The significant reduction in needle length due to mistletoe infection is an indication for a lower water and nutrient availability in infested branches. Thus, mistletoe infection might lead to a decrease in the availability of water and carbohydrates, the two most important growth factors, which are already shortened due to the chronic drought situation in the area. Therefore, pine mistletoe increases the risk of drought-induced mortality of its host when growing in a xeric environment.}, language = {en} }