Seminar: Drought Responses and Intraspecific Variation in European Beech Across Europe

The common European beech (Fagus sylvatica) is a dominant forest species in many parts of Europe, yet it is sensitive to prolonged drought and projected to decline locally under future climate conditions. While some individuals and populations appear more drought-tolerant than others, we still know little about the extent and structure of intraspecific variation in this species—and thus about its potential to adapt.

To begin addressing this gap, we are conducting drought experiments with young beech saplings originating from different regions across Europe. By exposing individuals to controlled drought conditions, we aim to uncover patterns of physiological and biochemical variation that may underlie differences in drought sensitivity. We use leaf reflectance spectroscopy to track non-destructively how saplings respond in terms of leaf structure, pigmentation, and water content. First results suggest that southern populations, particularly from the Iberian Peninsula, are less affected by drought compared to those from temperate regions.

To deepen our understanding of stress responses, we are also analyzing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by the trees, which may serve as early biochemical indicators of drought stress.

In parallel, we explore how such variation might be observed at larger spatial scales. Using airborne imaging spectroscopy data from two forest biodiversity experiments in Germany, we assess whether species—and potentially intraspecific traits—can be detected remotely based on spectral patterns.

Together, these efforts aim to better understand intraspecific variation in Fagus sylvatica and evaluate its potential for coping with a changing climate.

Our public seminars are hybrid, with the option to attend in-person or online.

Zoom webinar: link (ID: 650 3334 2319, Password: 348826)

The Biodiversity Seminar Series are organized by the WSL Biodiversity Center. Every two weeks, we aim to host a seminar speaker who presents research or outreach on topics relevant to the biodiversity community at WSL. The seminars are public and are usually broadcast online.

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