CLIMATE AND SILVICULTURAL IMPLICATIONS IN MODIFYING STAND COMPOSITION IN MIXED FIR-PINE STANDS

Abstract

A growing concern exists over the decreasing proportion of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) trees in mixed Trojan fir (Abies nordmanniana subsp. equi-trojani [Asch. & Sint. Ex Boiss] Coode & Cullen)-Scots pine forests in northern Turkey. Given the changes in mean annual temperature and annual precipitation for the last 40 years in the region, understanding of the sensitivity of Trojan fir and Scots pine trees to changing climate seems to be critical so that better management strategies can be developed against the potential climate extremes of the future in the region. Moreover, our knowledge on the influence of current silvicultural methods on seedling density and growth in these forests is limited. Therefore, in this study, the growth response (i.e., radial growth) of Trojan fir and Scots pine trees to the changing climate were examined. In addition, the influence of current silvicultural practices on seedling growth and density in these forests was also monitored. Trojan fir appeared more sensitive to the climatic variables (i.e., temperature and precipitation) than Scots pine in the region. It was also found that the current silvicultural practices might favor Trojan fir over Scots pine in these forests. Natural dynamics and current silvicultural implications would benefit Trojan fir, however, given the species’ potential sensitivity to the changing climate, current silvicultural approaches can be modified to favor Scots pine, and to increase the resilience of these forests against climate extremes expected in the region’s future.