D-STRESS-CH-Drought STress REsponse of Scots pineS: linking Carbon allocation and Hydraulic pathways

• Research unit: COST
• Project number: C12.0100

Key words (English)

wood anatomy; plant-water relation; plant hydraulic; dendrochronology; Pinus sylvestris

Research programs (English)

COST-Action FP1106 - STReESS - Studying Tree Responses to extreme Events: a SynthesiS

Short description (English)

Climate change will likely increase drought stress with consequences on forest productivity and tree mortality. While drought broadly impacts formation and functioning of water conducting cells, plant-level hydraulic architecture, carbon allocation and tree fitness, the relative importance and intertwined roles of these mechanisms is debated. Unifying expertise in tree-ring anatomy, plant-water relations, and growth-climate interactions, D-STRESS-CH will quantify how prolonged drought affects hydraulic functioning and carbon allocation. We will: (Task 1) relate water use and storage to fluctuating environmental conditions to quantify hydrological limitations; (Task 2) attribute variability in water use and productivity to xylem architecture acclimation; and (Task 3) quantify tracheid functionality under contrasting drought regimes to advance mechanistic understanding of hydraulic failure. D-STRESS-CH, situated at the Pfynwald Pinus sylvestris irrigation experiment, will capitalize upon a unique long-term, large-scale, and data rich framework and notably catch tree response when 10 years of irrigation end. The exceptional research setting and interdisciplinary approach will foster understanding of xylem functioning and limitation under drought. Congruent with the STReESS COST Action goal, D-STRESS-CH forms an ideal basis to improve eco-physiological models, promote participant exchange, and advances research forefronts aimed at quantifying impacts of climatic extremes.

Partners and International Organizations (English)

AT; BE; BA; BG; HR; CZ; DK; EE; FI; FR; DE; EL; HU; IE; IS; IL; IT; LU; NL; NO; PL; PT; RO; RS; SK; ES; CH; UK; MK

Abstract (English)

Climate change will likely increase drought stress with consequences on forest productivity and tree mortality. While drought broadly impacts formation and functioning of water conducting cells, plant-level hydraulic architecture, carbon allocation and tree fitness, the relative importance and intertwined roles of these mechanisms is debated. Unifying expertise in tree-ring anatomy, plant-water relations, and growth-climate interactions, D-STRESS-CH quantifies how prolonged drought affects hydraulic functioning and carbon allocation. We: (Task 1) relate water use and storage to fluctuating environmental conditions to quantify hydrological limitations; (Task 2) attribute variability in water use and productivity to xylem architecture acclimation; and (Task 3) quantify tracheid functionality under contrasting drought regimes to advance mechanistic understanding of hydraulic failure. D-STRESS-CH, situated at the Pfynwald Pinus sylvestris irrigation experiment, capitalizes upon a unique long-term, large-scale, and data rich framework and notably catch tree response when 10 years of irrigation end. The exceptional research setting and interdisciplinary approach fosters understanding of xylem functioning and limitation under drought. Congruent with the STReESS COST Action goals, D-STRESS-CH forms an ideal basis to improve eco-physiological models, promote participant exchange, and advances research forefronts aimed at quantifying impacts of climatic extremes.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: COST-DB of the State Secretariat for Education and Research Hallwylstrasse 4 CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland Tel. [phone] Swiss Project-Number: C12.0100