Autecology and growth of Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.): A comprehensive study in France

• Published in: Forest ecology and management Vol. 413; pp. 32 - 47
• Main Authors: Vennetier, Michel, Ripert, Christian, Rathgeber, Cyrille
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-04-2018; Elsevier
• Subjects: Climatic change; Life Sciences; Mediterranean forest; Pinus halepensis; Site index; Tree growth; Pinus halepensis; Tree growth; Climatic change; Site index; Mediterranean forest; mediterranean region; région méditerranéenne; roche mere; autoecology; DROUGHT; autoécologie; TREE-GROWTH; MODEL; FOREST SOILS; CLIMATIC-CHANGE; IBERIAN PENINSULA; DIFFERENT CROWN CLASSES; forest site; substratum; POSTFIRE REGENERATION; pinus halepensis; station forestière; OAK QUERCUS-PETRAEA; aleppo pine; sud est france; France; WATER
• ISSN: 0378-1127; 1872-7042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2018.01.028

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•Aleppo pine growth depends on both climate, soil, parent-rock and topography.•Local water balance weight more than climate for Aleppo pine growth to date.•Two models were computed to assess a tree height site index in all environments.•A practical tool was developed to be used by forest managers.•This tools can easily be adapted to most of Aleppo pine distribution area.
Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) is one of the dominant conifer species in the Mediterranean area. Many studies have investigated the role of climate variables (precipitations, temperature) in its occurrence and growth, but few have taken the effect of local site conditions into account, nor their interaction with climate.
This study aimed at thoroughly assessing forest sites potential for Aleppo pine in France, and designing a practical tool to help forest managers implementing these results. The study is based on a network of 512 plots laid out in the French Mediterranean area, where 2158 trees were measured. A site index was computed using a height growth model calibrated on these plots. Using neural networks and partial least square regression models (PLS), we disentangled the effects of climatic factors and local site conditions in Aleppo pine presence and growth.
Local water balance (assessed through topography, soil, geology and legacies of past human activities) was the main factor driving Aleppo pine productivity in the study area. Climate played a significant role as a whole but more important at the species distribution margins, frost and snow limiting Aleppo pine range northwards and in elevation. Based on these results, a practical tool was designed for two different types of mother rocks to help assessing forest site potential for Aleppo pine.
As the span of climate conditions in south-eastern France includes most of those found in Aleppo pine distribution area, except the driest and hottest ones found in its southernmost locations, this study could easily be used or adapted in most other concerned countries. Because of the ongoing climate change and increasing drought in the Mediterranean area, the balance between local and climate factors may change in time and space. Our results show that without an accurate knowledge of local conditions, the impact of climate change cannot be predicted.