Resistance of European tree species to drought stress in mixed versus pure forests: evidence of stress release by inter‐specific facilitation

Abstract While previous studies focused on tree growth in pure stands, we reveal that tree resistance and resilience to drought stress can be modified distinctly through species mixing. Our study is based on tree ring measurement on cores from increment boring of 559 trees of Norway spruce ( Picea abies [L.] Karst.), European beech ( Fagus sylvatica [L.]) and sessile oak ( Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) in South Germany, with half sampled in pure, respectively, mixed stands. Indices for resistance, recovery and resilience were applied for quantifying the tree growth reaction on the episodic drought stress in 1976 and 2003. The following general reaction patterns were found. (i) In pure stands, spruce has the…

• BS
  Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Forsten