@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}
}
@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{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{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}
}