• Energy Research

The timing of diel stem growth of mature forest trees is still largely unknown, as empirical data with high temporal resolution have not been available so far. Consequently, the effects of day-night conditions on tree growth remained uncertain. Here we present the first comprehensive field study of hourly-resolved radial stem growth of seven temperate tree species, based on 57 million underlying data points over a period of up to 8 years. We show that trees grow mainly at night, with a peak after midnight, when the vapour pressure deficit (VPD) is among the lowest. A high VPD strictly limits radial stem growth and allows little growth during daylight hours, except in the early morning. Surprisingly, trees also grow in moderately dry soil when the VPD is low. Species-specific differences in diel growth dynamics show that species able to grow earlier during the night are associated with the highest number of hours with growth per year and the largest annual growth increment. We conclude that species with the ability to overcome daily water deficits faster have greater growth potential. Furthermore, we conclude that growth is more sensitive than carbon uptake to dry air, as growth stops before stomata are known to close.

The timing of diel stem growth of mature forest trees is still largely unknown, as empirical data with high temporal resolution have not been available so far. Consequently, the effects of day-night conditions on tree growth remained uncertain. Here we present the first comprehensive field study of hourly-resolved radial stem growth of seven temperate tree species, based on 57 million underlying data points over a period of up to 8 years. We show that trees grow mainly at night, with a peak after midnight, when the vapour pressure deficit (VPD) is among the lowest. A high VPD strictly limits radial stem growth and allows little growth during daylight hours, except in the early morning. Surprisingly, trees also grow in moderately dry soil when the VPD is low. Species-specific differences in diel growth dynamics show that species able to grow earlier during the night are associated with the highest number of hours with growth per year and the largest annual growth increment. We conclude that species with the ability to overcome daily water deficits faster have greater growth potential. Furthermore, we conclude that growth is more sensitive than carbon uptake to dry air, as growth stops before stomata are known to close.

The timing of diel stem growth of mature forest trees is still largely unknown, as empirical data with high temporal resolution have not been available so far. Consequently, the effects of day-night conditions on tree growth remained uncertain. Here we present the first comprehensive field study of hourly-resolved radial stem growth of seven temperate tree species, based on 57 million underlying data points over a period of up to 8 years. We show that trees grow mainly at night, with a peak after midnight, when the vapour pressure deficit (VPD) is among the lowest. A high VPD strictly limits radial stem growth and allows little growth during daylight hours, except in the early morning. Surprisingly, trees also grow in moderately dry soil when the VPD is low. Species-specific differences in diel growth dynamics show that species able to grow earlier during the night are associated with the highest number of hours with growth per year and the largest annual growth increment. We conclude that species with the ability to overcome daily water deficits faster have greater growth potential. Furthermore, we conclude that growth is more sensitive than carbon uptake to dry air, as growth stops before stomata are known to close.

The timing of diel stem growth of mature forest trees is still largely unknown, as empirical data with high temporal resolution have not been available so far. Consequently, the effects of day-night conditions on tree growth remained uncertain. Here we present the first comprehensive field study of hourly-resolved radial stem growth of seven temperate tree species, based on 57 million underlying data points over a period of up to 8 years. We show that trees grow mainly at night, with a peak after midnight, when the vapour pressure deficit (VPD) is among the lowest. A high VPD strictly limits radial stem growth and allows little growth during daylight hours, except in the early morning. Surprisingly, trees also grow in moderately dry soil when the VPD is low. Species-specific differences in diel growth dynamics show that species able to grow earlier during the night are associated with the highest number of hours with growth per year and the largest annual growth increment. We conclude that species with the ability to overcome daily water deficits faster have greater growth potential. Furthermore, we conclude that growth is more sensitive than carbon uptake to dry air, as growth stops before stomata are known to close.

The timing of diel stem growth of mature forest trees is still largely unknown, as empirical data with high temporal resolution have not been available so far. Consequently, the effects of day-night conditions on tree growth remained uncertain. Here we present the first comprehensive field study of hourly-resolved radial stem growth of seven temperate tree species, based on 57 million underlying data points over a period of up to 8 years. We show that trees grow mainly at night, with a peak after midnight, when the vapour pressure deficit (VPD) is among the lowest. A high VPD strictly limits radial stem growth and allows little growth during daylight hours, except in the early morning. Surprisingly, trees also grow in moderately dry soil when the VPD is low. Species-specific differences in diel growth dynamics show that species able to grow earlier during the night are associated with the highest number of hours with growth per year and the largest annual growth increment. We conclude that species with the ability to overcome daily water deficits faster have greater growth potential. Furthermore, we conclude that growth is more sensitive than carbon uptake to dry air, as growth stops before stomata are known to close.

The timing of diel stem growth of mature forest trees is still largely unknown, as empirical data with high temporal resolution have not been available so far. Consequently, the effects of day-night conditions on tree growth remained uncertain. Here we present the first comprehensive field study of hourly-resolved radial stem growth of seven temperate tree species, based on 57 million underlying data points over a period of up to 8 years. We show that trees grow mainly at night, with a peak after midnight, when the vapour pressure deficit (VPD) is among the lowest. A high VPD strictly limits radial stem growth and allows little growth during daylight hours, except in the early morning. Surprisingly, trees also grow in moderately dry soil when the VPD is low. Species-specific differences in diel growth dynamics show that species able to grow earlier during the night are associated with the highest number of hours with growth per year and the largest annual growth increment. We conclude that species with the ability to overcome daily water deficits faster have greater growth potential. Furthermore, we conclude that growth is more sensitive than carbon uptake to dry air, as growth stops before stomata are known to close.

Summary The timing of diel stem growth of mature forest trees is still largely unknown, as empirical data with high temporal resolution have not been available so far. Consequently, the effects of day–night conditions on tree growth remained uncertain. Here we present the first comprehensive field study of hourly‐resolved radial stem growth of seven temperate tree species, based on 57 million underlying data points over a period of up to 8 yr. We show that trees grow mainly at night, with a peak after midnight, when the vapour pressure deficit (VPD) is among the lowest. A high VPD strictly limits radial stem growth and allows little growth during daylight hours, except in the early morning. Surprisingly, trees also grow in moderately dry soil when the VPD is low. Species‐specific differences in diel growth dynamics show that species able to grow earlier during the night are associated with the highest number of hours with growth per year and the largest annual growth increment. We conclude that species with the ability to overcome daily water deficits faster have greater growth potential. Furthermore, we conclude that growth is more sensitive than carbon uptake to dry air, as growth stops before stomata are known to close.

Les forêts subissent des risques croissants de mortalité des arbres induite par la sécheresse. Les schémas de remplacement des espèces après la mortalité peuvent avoir un impact significatif sur le cycle mondial du carbone. Parmi les principaux feuillus, les chênes à feuilles caduques (Quercus spp.) sont de plus en plus signalés comme remplaçant les conifères mourants dans l'hémisphère Nord. Pourtant, nos connaissances sur les réponses de croissance de ces chênes à la sécheresse sont incomplètes, en particulier en ce qui concerne les effets de l'héritage post-sécheresse. Les objectifs de cette étude étaient de déterminer l'occurrence, la durée et l'ampleur des effets hérités des sécheresses extrêmes et comment cela varie selon les espèces, les sites et les caractéristiques de la sécheresse. Les effets hérités ont été quantifiés par la déviation des indices de croissance radiale observés par rapport aux indices de croissance radiale attendus au cours de la période 1940–2016. Nous avons utilisé des chronologies au niveau des peuplements provenant de 458 sites et de 21 espèces de chênes provenant principalement d'Europe, d'Amérique du Nord-Est et d'Asie orientale. Nous avons constaté que les effets hérités des sécheresses pouvaient durer de 1 à 5 ans après la sécheresse et étaient plus prolongés dans les sites secs. Les effets négatifs sur l'héritage (c.-à-d. une croissance plus faible que prévu) étaient plus fréquents après des sécheresses répétitives dans les sites secs. L'effet de la sécheresse répétitive était plus fort chez les chênes méditerranéens, en particulier chez Quercus faginea. Les analyses spécifiques aux espèces ont révélé que Q. petraea et Q. macrocarpa des sites secs étaient plus négativement affectés par les sécheresses tandis que la croissance de plusieurs espèces de chênes des sites mésiques augmentait pendant les années post-sécheresse. Les sites montrant des corrélations positives avec la température hivernale ont montré peu ou pas de dépression de croissance après la sécheresse, tandis que les sites avec une corrélation positive avec le bilan hydrique estival précédent ont montré une diminution de la croissance. Cela peut indiquer que, bien que le réchauffement hivernal favorise la croissance des arbres pendant les sécheresses, les précipitations estivales de l'année précédente peuvent prédisposer les chênes aux sécheresses extrêmes de l'année en cours. Nos résultats ont révélé un rôle massif des sécheresses répétitives dans la détermination des effets patrimoniaux et ont mis en évidence comment la sensibilité de la croissance au climat, la saisonnalité de la sécheresse et les traits spécifiques aux espèces déterminent les effets patrimoniaux chez les espèces de chênes à feuilles caduques. Los bosques corren un riesgo creciente de mortalidad arbórea inducida por la sequía. Los patrones de reemplazo de especies después de la mortalidad pueden tener un impacto significativo en el ciclo global del carbono. Entre las principales maderas duras, se informa cada vez más que los robles caducifolios (Quercus spp.) reemplazan a las coníferas moribundas en todo el hemisferio norte. Sin embargo, nuestro conocimiento sobre las respuestas de crecimiento de estos robles a la sequía es incompleto, especialmente con respecto a los efectos heredados posteriores a la sequía. Los objetivos de este estudio fueron determinar la ocurrencia, duración y magnitud de los efectos heredados de las sequías extremas y cómo varían según las especies, los sitios y las características de la sequía. Los efectos heredados se cuantificaron por la desviación de los índices de crecimiento radial esperados observados en el período 1940–2016. Utilizamos cronologías a nivel de stand de 458 sitios y 21 especies de roble, principalmente de Europa, el noreste de América y el este de Asia. Descubrimos que los efectos heredados de las sequías podían durar de 1 a 5 años después de la sequía y eran más prolongados en sitios secos. Los efectos negativos heredados (es decir, un crecimiento menor de lo esperado) fueron más frecuentes después de sequías repetitivas en sitios secos. El efecto de la sequía repetitiva fue más fuerte en los robles mediterráneos, especialmente en Quercus faginea. Los análisis específicos de la especie revelaron que Q. petraea y Q. macrocarpa de sitios secos se vieron más negativamente afectados por las sequías, mientras que el crecimiento de varias especies de roble de sitios mesicos aumentó durante los años posteriores a la sequía. Los sitios que mostraron correlaciones positivas con la temperatura invernal mostraron poca o ninguna depresión del crecimiento después de la sequía, mientras que los sitios con una correlación positiva con el balance hídrico del verano anterior mostraron un crecimiento disminuido. Esto puede indicar que, aunque el calentamiento invernal favorece el crecimiento de los árboles durante las sequías, las precipitaciones de verano del año anterior pueden predisponer a los robles a las sequías extremas del año en curso. Nuestros resultados revelaron un papel masivo de las sequías repetitivas en la determinación de los efectos heredados y destacaron cómo la sensibilidad del crecimiento al clima, la estacionalidad de la sequía y los rasgos específicos de las especies impulsan los efectos heredados en las especies de roble caducifolio. Forests are undergoing increasing risks of drought-induced tree mortality. Species replacement patterns following mortality may have a significant impact on the global carbon cycle. Among major hardwoods, deciduous oaks (Quercus spp.) are increasingly reported as replacing dying conifers across the Northern Hemisphere. Yet, our knowledge on the growth responses of these oaks to drought is incomplete, especially regarding post-drought legacy effects. The objectives of this study were to determine the occurrence, duration, and magnitude of legacy effects of extreme droughts and how that vary across species, sites, and drought characteristics. The legacy effects were quantified by the deviation of observed from expected radial growth indices in the period 1940–2016. We used stand-level chronologies from 458 sites and 21 oak species primarily from Europe, north-eastern America, and eastern Asia. We found that legacy effects of droughts could last from 1 to 5 years after the drought and were more prolonged in dry sites. Negative legacy effects (i.e., lower growth than expected) were more prevalent after repetitive droughts in dry sites. The effect of repetitive drought was stronger in Mediterranean oaks especially of Quercus faginea. Species-specific analyses revealed that Q. petraea and Q. macrocarpa from dry sites were more negatively affected by the droughts while growth of several oak species from mesic sites increased during post-drought years. Sites showing positive correlations to winter temperature showed little to no growth depression after drought, whereas sites with a positive correlation to previous summer water balance showed decreased growth. This may indicate that although winter warming favors tree growth during droughts, previous-year summer precipitation may predispose oak trees to current-year extreme droughts. Our results revealed a massive role of repetitive droughts in determining legacy effects and highlighted how growth sensitivity to climate, drought seasonality and species-specific traits drive the legacy effects in deciduous oak species. تتعرض الغابات لمخاطر متزايدة من نفوق الأشجار بسبب الجفاف. قد يكون لأنماط استبدال الأنواع بعد الوفاة تأثير كبير على دورة الكربون العالمية. من بين الأخشاب الصلبة الرئيسية، يتم الإبلاغ بشكل متزايد عن أن أشجار البلوط المتساقطة (Quercus spp.) تحل محل الصنوبريات الميتة في جميع أنحاء نصف الكرة الشمالي. ومع ذلك، فإن معرفتنا باستجابات النمو لهذه البلوط للجفاف غير مكتملة، خاصة فيما يتعلق بآثار إرث ما بعد الجفاف. كانت أهداف هذه الدراسة هي تحديد حدوث ومدة وحجم الآثار القديمة للجفاف الشديد وكيف يختلف ذلك عبر الأنواع والمواقع وخصائص الجفاف. تم قياس الآثار القديمة من خلال الانحراف الملحوظ عن مؤشرات النمو الشعاعي المتوقعة في الفترة 1940–2016. استخدمنا التسلسل الزمني على مستوى الوقوف من 458 موقعًا و 21 نوعًا من البلوط في المقام الأول من أوروبا وشمال شرق أمريكا وشرق آسيا. وجدنا أن الآثار القديمة للجفاف يمكن أن تستمر من 1 إلى 5 سنوات بعد الجفاف وكانت أطول في المواقع الجافة. كانت الآثار القديمة السلبية (أي نمو أقل مما كان متوقعًا) أكثر انتشارًا بعد الجفاف المتكرر في المواقع الجافة. كان تأثير الجفاف المتكرر أقوى في أشجار البلوط المتوسطية خاصةً من سعف البحر الأبيض المتوسط. كشفت التحليلات الخاصة بالأنواع أن Q. petraea و Q. macrocarpa من المواقع الجافة تأثرا سلبًا أكثر بالجفاف بينما زاد نمو العديد من أنواع البلوط من المواقع الإنسية خلال سنوات ما بعد الجفاف. أظهرت المواقع التي تظهر ارتباطات إيجابية لدرجة حرارة الشتاء انخفاضًا طفيفًا أو معدومًا في النمو بعد الجفاف، في حين أظهرت المواقع ذات الارتباط الإيجابي بتوازن المياه في الصيف السابق انخفاضًا في النمو. قد يشير هذا إلى أنه على الرغم من أن الاحترار الشتوي يفضل نمو الأشجار أثناء الجفاف، إلا أن هطول الأمطار في الصيف في العام السابق قد يهيئ أشجار البلوط للجفاف الشديد في العام الحالي. كشفت نتائجنا عن دور هائل للجفاف المتكرر في تحديد الآثار القديمة وأبرزت كيف أن حساسية النمو للمناخ وموسمية الجفاف والسمات الخاصة بالأنواع تدفع الآثار القديمة في أنواع البلوط المتساقطة.