Radial growth resilience of sessile oak after drought is affected by site water status, stand density, and social status

Key message Tree resilience to drought was higher in drier sites and lower for suppressed trees grown in higher density stands, highlighting the role of acclimation and selection in tree responses to drought. Ongoing climate change will drive more frequent drought events in the future, with potential impacts on tree community structure and functioning. Growth responses of tree communities may depend on their past water status and on competition pressure. We investigated the effects of site water status, population density, and tree social status on tree growth resistance and resilience following the severe drought of 1976 in even-aged stands of sessile oak ( Quercus petraea ). We used retrospective growth data collected in permanent plots experiencing contrasted climatic and stand density conditions. We used boosted regression trees to calibrate a tree growth model over 1960–1975, which was then used to provide a baseline of expected tree growth following 1976. Growth dynamics during and after 1976 was examined using the ratio between observed and expected growths over 1976–1983. Tree radial growth was on average 0.6 times its expected values in 1976 and was still 0.63 times its expected value in 1977. Despite experiencing higher summer soil water deficit in 1976, trees growing in drier sites exhibited remarkably faster growth recovery than those in moister sites. Suppressed trees grown in higher density stands recovered their normal growth rate slower than dominant trees. Forest growth is evidenced to be more vulnerable to drought in moister than in drier sites. Competitive pressures also alter tree capacity to recover from a severe drought, accelerating suppression of smaller trees in high-density stands. These results highlight the role of acclimation and selection processes in tree community responses to present and future climates.