Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41014197›Full record

ArticleTree physiology2025

Effects of soil and atmospheric drought on intra-annual δ13C patterns in tree rings.

Valentina Vitali, Jernej Jevšenak, Georg von Arx, Marina Fonti, Meisha Holloway-Phillips, Rubén D Manzanedo, Kerstin Treydte, Lorenz Walthert, Roman Zweifel, Matthias Saurer

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Tree physiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Valentina VitaliDepartment of Environmental Systems Science, Forest Ecology, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zürich, Universitätstrasse 16, Zürich 8092, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0002-3045-6178
Jernej JevšenakDepartment of Forest and Landscape Planning and Monitoring, Slovenian Forestry Institute, Večna pot 2, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia.
Georg von ArxSwiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf 8903, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0002-8566-4599
Marina FontiSwiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf 8903, Switzerland.
Meisha Holloway-PhillipsSwiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf 8903, Switzerland.
Rubén D ManzanedoOeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Falkenplatz 16, Bern 3012, Switzerland.
Kerstin TreydteSwiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf 8903, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0001-8399-6517
Lorenz WalthertSwiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf 8903, Switzerland.
Roman ZweifelSwiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf 8903, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0001-9438-0582
Matthias SaurerSwiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf 8903, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0002-3954-3534

Funding

Alexander von Humboldt FoundationSERI MB23.00011Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (Programme and Research Group P4-0107)Swiss National Science Foundation 182092Swiss National Science Foundation 205492Swiss National Science Foundation 207360Swiss National Science Foundation 219358
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

High-resolution carbon isotope ratio (δ13C) measurements of tree rings have the potential to provide seasonal environmental information. However, due to the complexity of the wood formation processes, the reliability of this method for intra-seasonal reconstruction of growing conditions remains unclear. We therefore investigated the intra-annual variation of δ13C in tree rings of three conifer species (Pinus sylvestris L., Picea abies (L.) H. Karst., Abies alba Mill.) across sites from the Swiss Alps to assess their response to seasonal variation of soil water potential (SWP) and vapour pressure deficit (VPD). Intra-annual δ13C values at a resolution of 10 points per year were assessed using laser-ablation isotope-ratio mass spectrometry. Seasonal δ13C patterns were analysed for synchronicity across trees and species, and their correlation with on-site environmental variables was used to determine the driving factors of δ13C, to reconstruct growing-season dynamics, and to estimate the timings of the growth dynamics and the allocation of carbon to xylem formation. The δ13C patterns showed high synchronicity between species, with characteristic maxima in wet and dry years occurring in the middle of the ring and at the end of the ring, respectively. Seasonal δ13C variations reliably reflected atmospheric dryness. Higher than normal soil dryness hindered the integration of further fresh assimilates into the xylem, thus allowing the identification of species- and site-specific threshold conditions that disrupt wood formation. The δ13C of Scots pine shows the strongest correlations with VPD and SWP, making it an excellent indicator of environmental variability. Silver fir appeared to integrate carbon into xylem structural material over a longer season than the other conifers, whilst Norway spruce shows more plastic, site-specific responses to environmental conditions. In conclusion, we identify how atmospheric and soil drought jointly impact tree growth and intra-annual δ13C patterns across conifer species, offering valuable insights for climate reconstructions and wider applications in forest dynamics.

Indexed as

AbiesDroughtsPiceaPinus sylvestrisSoilTreesAtmosphereCarbon IsotopesSeasonsSwitzerlandWaterXylemCarbon-13Carbon IsotopesSoilWatercarbon isotopesintra-annual growthlaser ablationtree-ring isotopeswater availability

Identifiers

PMID41014197
PMCPMC12596289

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.