Variability of European beech wood density as influenced by interactions between treering growth and aspect

Daniela Diaconu; Marc Wassenberg; Heinrich Spiecker

doi:10.1186/s40663-016-0065-8

Forest Ecosystems 2016, 3(3): 6 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40663-016-0065-8

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Open Access | Issue | Published: 27 February 2016

Variability of European beech wood density as influenced by interactions between treering growth and aspect

Show Author's Information Hide Author's Information Daniela Diaconu(

), Marc Wassenberg, Heinrich Spiecker

Chair of Forest Growth and Dendroecology, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Tennenbacher Str. 4, 79106 Freiburg, Germany

Keywords:

Fagus sylvatica, HF densitometry, Wood quality, Wood density, Aspect

Cite this article:

Diaconu D, Wassenberg M, Spiecker H. Variability of European beech wood density as influenced by interactions between treering growth and aspect. Forest Ecosystems, 2016, 3(3): 6. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40663-016-0065-8

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Abstract Full text About this article

Abstract

Background

Wood density is considered to be the most important predictor of wood quality but despite its importance, diffuse-porous tree species have been the subject of only a limited number of studies. The importance of European beech forests for Central Europe calls for profound research to examine the potential impact of a warmer climate on the quality of beech timber.

Methods

In this study we analysed the influence of tree-ring width and tree-ring age on the wood density of beech, and whether the wood density response to these two parameters is modified by aspect. A linear mixed-effects model for wood density was constructed for mean density data measured with high frequency densitometry on stem discs from 72 beech trees sampled from two different aspects (northeast -NE and southwest -SW) of a valley in southwestern Germany.

Results

Part of the variability of mean annual wood density was explained by cambial age: an increase in cambial age resulted in an increase in mean wood density. Tree-ring width and aspect had only a small influence on wood density. Wood density on the SW aspect was lower than on the NE with a difference of approximately 0.006 g/cm3. The between-tree variability was very high.

Conclusions

The significant interaction between cambial age and aspect reflects the importance of site conditions at older tree ages: with increasing cambial age the difference between aspects becomes stronger. Our results give a better understanding of the importance of site conditions on the wood quality

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Abstract

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About this article

Variability of European beech wood density as influenced by interactions between treering growth and aspect

Show Author's information Hide Author's Information Daniela Diaconu(

), Marc Wassenberg, Heinrich Spiecker

Chair of Forest Growth and Dendroecology, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Tennenbacher Str. 4, 79106 Freiburg, Germany

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keywords: Fagus sylvatica, HF densitometry, Wood quality, Wood density, Aspect

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Acknowledgements

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Publication history

Received: 20 December 2015

Accepted: 24 February 2016

Published: 27 February 2016

Issue date: September 2016

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Acknowledgements

This study used material from the collaborative research project SFB 433 ("Buchendominierte Laubwälder unter dem Einfluß von Klima und Bewirtschaftung: Ökologische, waldbauliche und sozialwissenschaftliche Analysen"- Beech dominated deciduous forests under the influence of climate and forest management). DD is funded by the project BuKlim within Waldklimafods program of BMEL/BMUB ("Gefördert durch Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft und das Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz, Bau und Reaktorsicherheit aufgrund eines Beschlusses des Deutschen Bundestages"). The authors would like to thank Jonathan Sheppard for English language revisions to the manuscript.

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