1. negative effects on flowering trends of forest trees in Austria
Climatic Change:
negative effects on flowering trends of forest trees in Austria
Rudolf Litschauer¹, Karin Robitschek¹ ,
Bortenschlager Sigmar², Schantl Hanna³
¹ Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape (BFW), Department of Genetics, Vienna, Austria
² University of Innsbruck, Botany, Austria
³ University of Salzburg, Botany, Austria

2. 1. Introduction 2. Material & Methods 4. Results 5. Conclusion
The Earth’s climate has already warmed by 0.6°C over the past century.
In Austria during the same time period the temperature increased by approximately 1.8 °C .
This temperature increase was found in all altitudes (Böhm et al. 1998).
In general, climatic changes in the alpine region are more strongly pronounced.
Therefore, the alpine area ranks among the most sensitive areas which the climatic changes concerns (Kromp-Kolb 2001).

3. In the forest ecosystem climate change plays a decisive role
1. Introduction 2. Material & Methods 4. Results 5. Conclusion
In the forest ecosystem climate change plays a decisive role
Trees have to produce pollen and seeds to disseminate genes to the next generation and to maintain regeneration and reproduction. Hence, pollen and seed dispersion are important for natural reproduction.
The growing season is influenced with an earlier start of spring and a later start of fall.

4. (European Aeroallergen Network)
1. Introduction 2. Material & Methods 4. Results 5. Conclusion
Pollendata
are provided by EAN
(European Aeroallergen Network)
some for the Austrian forest important traps were selected
annual pollen totals were used
to present changes because of climate change
Climatedata
are provided by ZAMG (Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics, Vienna, Austria)
Average annual temperatre????

5. 1. Introduction 2. Material & Methods 4. Results 5. Conclusion

6. 1. Introduction 2. Material & Methods 4. Results 5. Conclusion
Regressions of spruce (Picea abies)

7. Major storm disasters in Austria
1. Introduction 2. Material & Methods 4. Results 5. Conclusions
Major storm disasters in Austria
February / March 1990
Vivian and Wiebke
147km/h ("Hörsching")
5th April 1997
coupled with heavy snowfalls in the next few days
5th February 1999
Lara
130 km/h (Vienna Airport)
26th December 1999
Lothar
one dead person and two seriously injured persons in Lower Austria
19th March 2001
Emma
hurricane; 216 km/h ("Gaisberg")
15th December 2005
Dorian
18th January 2007
Kyrill
100 million Euro adversity
January 2008
Paula
230 km/h ("Schneeberg"), heavy losses
in Styria
1 -2 March 2008
222 km/h ("Wendelstein")

8. 1. Introduction 2. Material & Methods 4. Results 5. Conclusion

9. 1. Introduction 2. Material & Methods 4. Results 5. Conclusion

10. 1. Introduction 2. Material & Methods 4. Results 5. Conclusion
Flowering of „green alder“ (Alnus viridis) in Lienz (Eastern Tyrol)

11. 1. Introduction 2. Material & Methods 4. Results 5. Conclusion

12. 1. Introduction 2. Material & Methods 4. Results 5. Conclusion

13. 1. Introduction 2. Material & Methods 4. Results 5. Conclusion

14. 1. Introduction 2. Material & Methods 4. Results 5. Conclusion
The increase of catastrophic storm and hail events northern of the alpine ridge will damage forest tree species more than in the past.
The increase of temperature and additionally a decrease of precipitation in the alpine valleys and especially southern of the alpine rim will injure and reject tree species pretentious to soil moisture.
In the eastern part of Austria the differences between increasing temperature and decreasing precepitation are “viel geringer”.

15. Thank you for your attention!