ENSO and NAO affect long-term leaf litter dynamics and stoichiometry of Scots pine and European beech mixedwoods
Journal
Global Change Biology
Journal Volume
25
Journal Issue
9
Pages
3070-3090
Date Issued
2019
Author(s)
Gonz?lez de Andr?s, Ester
Blanco, Juan A.
Imbert, J. Bosco
Lo, Yueh-Hsin
Castillo, Federico J.
Abstract
Litterfall dynamics (production, seasonality and nutrient composition) are key factors influencing nutrient cycling. Leaf litter characteristics are modified by species composition, site conditions and water availability. However, significant evidence on how large-scale, global circulation patterns affect ecophysiological processes at tree and ecosystem level remains scarce due to the difficulty in separating the combined influence of different factors on local climate and tree phenology. To fill this gap, we studied links between leaf litter dynamics with climate and other forest processes, such as tree-ring width (TRW) and intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE) in two mixtures of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in the south-western Pyrenees. Temporal series (18 years) of litterfall production and elemental chemical composition were decomposed following the ensemble empirical mode decomposition method and relationships with local climate, large-scale climatic indices, TRW and Scots pine's iWUE were assessed. Temporal trends in N:P ratios indicated increasing P limitation of soil microbes, thus affecting nutrient availability, as the ecological succession from a pine-dominated to a beech-dominated forest took place. A significant influence of large-scale patterns on tree-level ecophysiology was explained through the impact of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on water availability. Positive NAO and negative ENSO were related to dry conditions and, consequently, to early needle shedding and increased N:P ratio of both species. Autumn storm activity appears to be related to premature leaf abscission of European beech. Significant cascading effects from large-scale patterns on local weather influenced pine TRW and iWUE. These variables also responded to leaf stoichiometry fallen 3 years prior to tree-ring formation. Our results provide evidence of the cascading effect that variability in global climate circulation patterns can have on ecophysiological processes and stand dynamics in mixed forests. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Subjects
ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD); Fagus sylvatica; leaf litter; nutrient cycling; nutrient limitation; Pinus sylvestris; Pyrenees; stoichiometry; structural equation model (SEM)
Other Subjects
coniferous tree; deciduous tree; decomposition; ecophysiology; El Nino-Southern Oscillation; global change; leaf litter; mixed forest; North Atlantic Oscillation; numerical model; nutrient cycling; nutrient limitation; stoichiometry; Pyrenees; Fagus; Fagus sylvatica; Pinus sylvestris; beech; ecosystem; El Nino; Scots pine; tree; Ecosystem; El Nino-Southern Oscillation; Fagus; Pinus sylvestris; Trees
Type
journal article