Publications by authors named "F Ripullone"
Water transport, mechanical support and storage are the vital functions provided by the xylem. These functions are carried out by different cells, exhibiting significant anatomical variation not only within species but also within individual trees. In this study, we used a comprehensive dataset to investigate the consistency of predicted hydraulic vessel diameter widening values in relation to the distance from the tree apex, represented by the relationship Dh ∝ Lβ (where Dh is the hydraulic vessel diameter, L the distance from the stem apex and β the scaling exponent).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPrevious favorable climate conditions stimulate tree growth making some forests more vulnerable to hotter droughts. This so-called structural overshoot may contribute to forest dieback, but there is little evidence on its relative importance depending on site conditions and tree species because of limited field data. Here, we analyzed remote sensing (NDVI) and tree-ring width data to evaluate the impacts of the 2017 drought on canopy cover and growth in mixed Mediterranean forests (Fraxinus ornus, Quercus pubescens, Acer monspessulanum, Pinus pinaster) located in southern Italy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The study examined how the growth of Pinus heldreichii, a pine species, responds to varying air temperatures across different elevations in the southern Italian Apennines.
- Researchers conducted fieldwork over three years, collecting wood cores from 214 trees to assess growth patterns and climatic influences using a combination of tree-ring analysis and genetic methods.
- The findings revealed a bell-shaped relationship between tree growth and air temperature, with increased growth at higher elevations linked to warmer temperatures, as well as a strong positive correlation between growth and April mean temperatures, indicating the trees' ability to acclimate to changing climatic conditions.
Extreme climate events such as late spring frosts (LSFs) negatively affect productivity and tree growth in temperate beech forests. However, detailed information on how these forests recover after such events are still missing. We investigated how LSFs affected forest cover and radial growth in European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFKey Message: Managing forest residues according to the carbon content of the soil helps to minimize the ecological footprint of their removal.
Context: In Mediterranean mountain ecosystems, unsustainable harvesting of wood residues might contribute to land degradation, carbon, and nutrient depletion in forest soils.
Aims: This study aimed to assess the amount of forest biomass residues that should be left on-site to minimize the depletion of soil fertility.