Abstract Climate projections predict shifts in environmental conditions, with cascade effects on forest growth dynamics. As such, Pinus pinea L., an ecologically important low-elevation Mediterranean tree, can be threatened by drought events. The occurrence of negative stem growth anomalies (“negative pointer years”, or NPY) and its relation to climatic conditions were analyzed, as well as the influence of extreme dry spells upon the species growth. NPY were temporally independent among the analyzed forest stands, likely due to local factors. We observed that NPY depended on dry and hot conditions during the spring-summer period at both sites, while differences in the NPY-climate reflected the species medium term dendroclimatological signal. Extremely dry years directly reduced stem growth rates. Water stress differentially affected growth at each site, likely reflecting local adaptation to droughts. Because of the increasing drought trend expected for the Mediterranean basin, our findings must be considered regarding the conservation and management of these forests.

RESUMO Em uma área da Floresta Ombrófila Mista Aluvial impactada por vazamento de óleo bruto no município de Araucária - PR, Brasil, conduziu-se o estudo dendroecológico de Sebastiania commersoniana (Baill.) L.B.Sm. & Downs (Euphorbiaceae) e da espécie exótica Hovenia dulcis Thunb. (Rhamnaceae). Os objetivos do estudo foram avaliar o efeito do alagamento da área a partir da construção de diques como medida de descontaminação de petróleo e de fatores meteorológicos no crescimento em diâmetro do tronco de ambas as espécies. Foram coletadas três séries temporais radiais do lenho de cada indivíduo adulto selecionado com uso de sondas de incremento, em duas condições, ambas com solo hidromórfico (Gleissolo Háplico), tendo como diferença a altura do lençol freático: SHT - saturação hídrica temporária (Sebastiania commersoniana n=12; Hovenia dulcis n= 10) e SHP - saturação hídrica permanente (Sebastiania commersoniana n=6; Hovenia dulcis n= 0). Séries cronológicas foram desenvolvidas, correlacionando-as com dados meteorológicos da região. Os resultados demonstraram que os indivíduos da espécie nativa em ambas as condições apresentaram padrão semelhante de crescimento, com tendência de diminuição ao longo dos anos; diferentemente dos indivíduos da espécie exótica, com tendência de aumento do incremento ao longo dos anos. Os indivíduos da condição SHP tiveram taxas menores de incremento após o ano do derramamento, o que mostra que o alagamento da área a partir da construção de diques como tentativa de descontaminação afetou o crescimento dos indivíduos. O crescimento das espécies correlacionou-se com a precipitação apenas na condição SHT. A temperatura mínima representou ser fator limitante ao crescimento de Sebastiania commersoniana, mostrando que temperaturas mais elevadas são importantes para o crescimento, principalmente no início do período deste. Entretanto, a ocorrência de temperaturas muito altas nos meses mais quentes pode ser limitante ao crescimento. Para Hovenia dulcis, nenhuma correlação significativa foi observada com a temperatura, porém, a precipitação mostrou-se fundamental nos meses em que a espécie mais cresce, sendo, no entanto, prejudicial em meses subsequentes às fortes chuvas devido ao efeito de saturação hídrica do solo.

ABSTRACT In a forest remnant of the Alluvial Mixed Rain Forest impacted by crude oil spill in the district of Araucaria in Paraná, Brazil, we conducted a dendroecological study of Sebastiania commersoniana (Baill.) L.B.Sm. & Downs (Euphorbiaceae) and the exotic species Hovenia dulcis Thunb. (Rhamnaceae). The study objectives were to evaluate the effect of the flooding area by dyke construction as way to decontamination petroleum and the meteorological factors in the tree diameter growth of both species. Wood samples were collected using increment borer, from two conditions, both on hydromorphic soils (Haplic Gleisol), but at two sites differing in the depth of the water table: SHT - temporary water saturation (Sebastiania commersoniana n=12; Hovenia dulcis n= 10) and SHP - Permanent water saturation (Sebastiania commersoniana n=6; Hovenia dulcis n= 0). Radial time series were developed and correlated with the meteorological data from the region. Results show that individuals of native species at both soil conditions experienced similar inter-annual growth patterns with decreasing trend over the years; differently individuals of exotic species, with increase of increment over the years. Individuals of SHP condition had lower rates of growth after the year of the spill, which shows that the flooding of the area by construction of dykes as attempt to decontaminate, affected the growth of individuals. The construction of dykes as attempt to decontaminate the area affected de individual growth. Precipitation showed a direct link with tree growth, only at sites with temporary water saturation. Moreover, minimum air temperature is a factor limiting the growth of Sebastiania commersoniana, showing that high temperatures stimulate growth, particularly at the early stages of the growth period while warmer months may depress the growth. Hovenia dulcis showed no significant correlation with temperature, but precipitation arises as crucial factor for growth, but the effect of soil saturation in the subsequent months may limit tree growth.

In this work we report the phenological response experienced by the foliage of A. araucana seedlings to four levels of freezing temperatures (-2 °C, -6 °C, -10 °C and -15°C) induced during the active plant growth season. Nursery seedlings were exposed to different frost levels in a freezer under computer control. The results showed that after three weeks of the thermal treatments, 90% of the A. araucana seedlings remained with living leaves at temperatures up to -6°C, whereas when the temperature decreased to -10°C or lower, the seedlings showed a variable percentage of dead leaves and even total death of the foliage. Under natural conditions, late frosts in northern Patagonia may expose seedlings of A. araucana to potentially lethal consequences. Therefore, a better understanding of the response of A. araucana to extreme low temperatures is particularly useful for interpreting forest dynamics processes and for management and conservation guidelines in relation to future climate change scenarios.

En este trabajo se comunica la respuesta fenológica que experimenta el follaje de plantines de Araucaria araucana sometidos a cuatro niveles de temperaturas de congelamiento (-2°C, -6°C, -10°C y -15°C), inducidas durante la temporada de activo crecimiento vegetal. Para ello se utilizaron plantines de vivero y los distintos niveles de congelamiento fueron producidos en freezer mediante control por computador. Los resultados mostraron que, a tres semanas del tratamiento térmico, el 90% de los plantines de A. araucana mantuvieron vivas todas sus hojas hasta -6°C, mientras que al descender la temperatura del aire a -10°C o menos, los plantines presentaron porcentajes variables de hojas necrosadas hasta muerte total del follaje. En condiciones naturales, heladas tardías en el norte de Patagonia expondrían los plantines de A. araucana a consecuencias potencialmente letales. Por ello, un mayor conocimiento de la respuesta de A. araucana a extremos de frío resulta de particular utilidad para interpretar procesos de dinámica forestal y establecer pautas de manejo y conservación frente a escenarios de cambio climático.