Impacts of the drought 2003 on the crown condition of suppressed and intermediate beech trees (Fagus sylvatica L.) at the ecotone between beech and downy oak forest in the nature reserve Innerberg, Sudbaden.

摘要

It is well known, that deciduous oak species (Quercus sp.) are more drought tolerant than beech (Fagus sylvatica). It can be expected, that the extreme drought of the year 2003 was a key factor for the survival of beech. An inventory on plots adjacent to the ecotone between downy oak (Quercus pubescens) and beech forest in south western Baden-Wurttemberg (Germany) in August 2003 showed that the dominating trees of the canopy had lost nearly no leaves. However suppressed and intermediate beech trees were strongly affected by drought. They lost between 30 and 70% of their foliage, mostly because of stagheadedness and dieback of side branches. In general, intermediate beech trees were more damaged than suppressed individuals..