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The Potential for Future Shifts in Tree Species Distribution Provided by Dispersal and Ecological Niches: A Comparison between Beech and Oak in Europe

Author

Listed:
  • Maximilian Axer

    (Chair of Silviculture, Institute of Silviculture and Forest Protection, Technical University of Dresden, 01737 Dresden, Germany)

  • Robert Schlicht

    (Chair of Forest Biometrics and Forest Systems Analysis, Institute of Forest Growth and Forest Computer Sciences, Technical University of Dresden, 01737 Tharandt, Germany)

  • Rico Kronenberg

    (Chair of Meteorology, Institute of Hydrology and Meteorology, Technical University of Dresden, 01737 Tharandt, Germany)

  • Sven Wagner

    (Chair of Silviculture, Institute of Silviculture and Forest Protection, Technical University of Dresden, 01737 Dresden, Germany)

Abstract

(1) Due to global warming, distribution ranges of temperate tree species are shifting northwards and upslope to cooler areas. Shifts in distribution first become visible through changes in regeneration dynamics. However, the future distribution of tree species in the face of rapid climate change depends not only on the climatic suitability of the tree species, but also on its ability to disperse into new habitats. The aim of the study was therefore to examine how the distribution of European beech and European oak shifts and how species can spread from fragmented seed trees. (2) In order to investigate the shift in distribution of beech and oak, the bioclimatic envelopes of the old trees and different size classes of the natural regeneration were compared. Subsequently, a simulation of the potential distribution for the present climate, as well as for the climate for the reference period 2091–2100, for three different representative concentration pathways (RCP) scenarios was determined. In order to determine which of these areas can actually be colonised, a dispersal potential for the species was determined using a quantile regression, taking habitat fragmentation into account. (3) The results of the present study demonstrate range shifts of the tree species regeneration distribution ( B0, B1 and B2 ) compared to the overstorey distribution (OST). While oak regeneration shows an expansion of its distribution in the cold-wet range, beech regeneration shows a reduction of its distribution in the dry-warm range. As the dispersal potential of oak exceeds that of beech, it is expected that oak will be better able to spread from fragmented seed trees. However, the results also indicate that many areas, despite climatic suitability, cannot be colonised due to too large dispersal distances. (4) For the forest management, this results in an important planning tool for future tree species composition, as climatic suitability, habitat connectivity and dispersal ability are taken into account.

Suggested Citation

  • Maximilian Axer & Robert Schlicht & Rico Kronenberg & Sven Wagner, 2021. "The Potential for Future Shifts in Tree Species Distribution Provided by Dispersal and Ecological Niches: A Comparison between Beech and Oak in Europe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-20, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:23:p:13067-:d:688005
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Laura Gray & Andreas Hamann, 2013. "Tracking suitable habitat for tree populations under climate change in western North America," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 117(1), pages 289-303, March.
    2. García-Valdés, Raúl & Gotelli, Nicholas J. & Zavala, Miguel A. & Purves, Drew W. & Araújo, Miguel B., 2015. "Effects of climate, species interactions, and dispersal on decadal colonization and extinction rates of Iberian tree species," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 309, pages 118-127.
    3. Detlef Vuuren & Jae Edmonds & Mikiko Kainuma & Keywan Riahi & Allison Thomson & Kathy Hibbard & George Hurtt & Tom Kram & Volker Krey & Jean-Francois Lamarque & Toshihiko Masui & Malte Meinshausen & N, 2011. "The representative concentration pathways: an overview," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 109(1), pages 5-31, November.
    4. Sagnard, Fabrice & Pichot, Christian & Dreyfus, Philippe & Jordano, Pedro & Fady, Bruno, 2007. "Modelling seed dispersal to predict seedling recruitment: Recolonization dynamics in a plantation forest," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 203(3), pages 464-474.
    5. Niklaus E. Zimmermann & Mitja Skudnik & Maria Rizzo & Karl Mellert & Wolfgang Falk & Maria Naumann & Holger Veit & Thomas Gschwandtner & Ulrich Ulmer & Signe Normand & Eliane S. Meier & Andrej Breznik, 2013. "Potential Future Ranges of Tree Species in the Alps," Chapters, in: Gillian Cerbu & Marc Hanewinkel & Giacomo Al. Gerosa & Robert Jandl (ed.), Management Strategies to Adapt Alpine Space Forests to Climate Change Risks, IntechOpen.
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    1. Liepiņa, Agnese Anta & Matisons, Roberts & Bičkovskis, Kārlis & Brūmelis, Guntis & Jansons, Āris, 2025. "Radial growth models for Pedunculate Oak in the Baltics, Latvia," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 506(C).

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