How Does Radial Growth of Water-Stressed Populations of European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) Trees Vary under Multiple Drought Events?

European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) trees are becoming vulnerable to drought, with a warming climate. Existing studies disagree on how radial growth varies in response droughts. We aimed find the impact of multiple droughts trees’ annual at their ecological drought limit created by soil water availability forest. Besides, we quantified influence competition and canopy openness mean basal area trees. carried out this study five near-natural temperate forests three localities Germany Switzerland. available storage capacity (AWC) plots laid transition zone from oak dominated forests. The were classified as ‘dry’ (AWC < 60 mL) ‘less-dry’ > mL). performed dendroecological analyses starting 1951 continuous discontinuous series climatic (i.e., precipitation-potential evapotranspiration) dry less-dry plots. used observed values for analysis did not use interpolated historical records study. selected six events resistance, recovery, resilience level. was significantly higher than increase had reduced tree growth. Frequent resulted more significant correlations, hence, increased dependency AWC. showed that recovery plots, but it opposite resistance. heterogeneous between drought. Mean (basal increment) negatively impacted neighborhood positively influenced openness. emphasized growing low AWC risk decline. concluded changes conditions even microsite level could under changing Along lack light can also reduce This will enrich state knowledge about ongoing debate vulnerability Europe.