Leaf phenology and tree growth are uncoupled in three deciduous tree species

Climate warming is expected to lengthen the phenological season of deciduous broadleaf trees. Such longer phenological seasons could also lead to higher growth rates. This hypothesis was tested by examining and relating leaf phenology and tree-ring width series of three European deciduous tree speci...

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Main Authors: J.Julio Camarero, Álvaro Rubio-Cuadrado
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:Trees, Forests and People
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266671932400267X
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author J.Julio Camarero
Álvaro Rubio-Cuadrado
author_facet J.Julio Camarero
Álvaro Rubio-Cuadrado
author_sort J.Julio Camarero
collection DOAJ
description Climate warming is expected to lengthen the phenological season of deciduous broadleaf trees. Such longer phenological seasons could also lead to higher growth rates. This hypothesis was tested by examining and relating leaf phenology and tree-ring width series of three European deciduous tree species (Betula pendula, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur). Leaf onset and fall dates were used to define the duration of the phenological season. Leaf phenological variables were compared with climate and radial growth rates (basal area increment) obtained from nearby sites. This comparison was done in 17 sites located across a wide geographical gradient in Europe (7.12–87.80 °E, 46.14–66.37° N). In general, leaf emergence dates are advancing as spring temperatures rise. In most sites and species, growth variability, phenology (dates of leaf emergence and senescence) and the duration of the phenological season were not related. In the few sites where relationships between growth and phenology were found, they changed through time. These findings indicate that a longer phenological season does not entail higher growth rates in deciduous tree species. Climate warming may trigger an earlier start of the phenological season in some species, which may lead to longer phenological seasons, but not necessarily to enhanced radial growth rates and carbon sequestration in the form of woody tissues.
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spelling doaj-art-6935f2b1a43f4689b5bc18ba8d64e47c2025-08-20T02:55:10ZengElsevierTrees, Forests and People2666-71932025-03-011910076110.1016/j.tfp.2024.100761Leaf phenology and tree growth are uncoupled in three deciduous tree speciesJ.Julio Camarero0Álvaro Rubio-Cuadrado1Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología (IPE-CSIC), Avda. Montañana 1005 50192, Zaragoza, Spain; Corresponding author.Departamento de Sistemas y Recursos Naturales, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería de Montes, Forestal y del Medio Natural, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. Ciudad Universitaria s/n 28040, Madrid, SpainClimate warming is expected to lengthen the phenological season of deciduous broadleaf trees. Such longer phenological seasons could also lead to higher growth rates. This hypothesis was tested by examining and relating leaf phenology and tree-ring width series of three European deciduous tree species (Betula pendula, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur). Leaf onset and fall dates were used to define the duration of the phenological season. Leaf phenological variables were compared with climate and radial growth rates (basal area increment) obtained from nearby sites. This comparison was done in 17 sites located across a wide geographical gradient in Europe (7.12–87.80 °E, 46.14–66.37° N). In general, leaf emergence dates are advancing as spring temperatures rise. In most sites and species, growth variability, phenology (dates of leaf emergence and senescence) and the duration of the phenological season were not related. In the few sites where relationships between growth and phenology were found, they changed through time. These findings indicate that a longer phenological season does not entail higher growth rates in deciduous tree species. Climate warming may trigger an earlier start of the phenological season in some species, which may lead to longer phenological seasons, but not necessarily to enhanced radial growth rates and carbon sequestration in the form of woody tissues.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266671932400267XDendroecologyGrowing seasonLeaf fallLeaf onsetPhenological seasonRadial growth
spellingShingle J.Julio Camarero
Álvaro Rubio-Cuadrado
Leaf phenology and tree growth are uncoupled in three deciduous tree species
Trees, Forests and People
Dendroecology
Growing season
Leaf fall
Leaf onset
Phenological season
Radial growth
title Leaf phenology and tree growth are uncoupled in three deciduous tree species
title_full Leaf phenology and tree growth are uncoupled in three deciduous tree species
title_fullStr Leaf phenology and tree growth are uncoupled in three deciduous tree species
title_full_unstemmed Leaf phenology and tree growth are uncoupled in three deciduous tree species
title_short Leaf phenology and tree growth are uncoupled in three deciduous tree species
title_sort leaf phenology and tree growth are uncoupled in three deciduous tree species
topic Dendroecology
Growing season
Leaf fall
Leaf onset
Phenological season
Radial growth
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266671932400267X
work_keys_str_mv AT jjuliocamarero leafphenologyandtreegrowthareuncoupledinthreedeciduoustreespecies
AT alvarorubiocuadrado leafphenologyandtreegrowthareuncoupledinthreedeciduoustreespecies