Spatial Modeling of Douglas‐Fir Plantations in Italy After 120 Years of Experimentation

TL;DR

This study identifies temperature and moisture as key factors for the survival of Douglas-fir in Italy after 120 years of planting.

Contribution

The study uses spatial modeling to show how climate factors influence the survival of Douglas-fir in Italy and its match with the species' native range.

Findings

Temperature-related factors like GDD5 and AHM are the main predictors of Douglas-fir survival in Italy.

A large portion of central Italy is predicted to be suitable for Douglas-fir plantations.

Model projections align with the coastal variety of the species' native range.

Abstract

This study aims to identify the ecological factors that drive the survival of Douglas‐fir (
Pseudotsuga menziesii
[Mirb.] Franco) in Italy, using data from old‐growth experimental stands. A record of 124 Douglas‐fir plantations was compiled from a literature review and ground survey, including 98 Douglas‐fir stands established in the early 20th century. The probability of survival of the species at the surveyed sites was modeled using Species Distribution Models (SDM) with soil and climatic variables as predictors. Pseudo‐absences were also used to balance the proportion of presences and absences in the modeling steps. The best‐fitting models were used to predict the probability of survival of Douglas‐fir stands across the entire country and in the native range of the species to assess the model's goodness of fit. Fitted models performed well with a mean True Skill Statistics (TSS) score of 0.91, suggesting that temperature‐related factors primarily influence the survival of Douglas‐fir stands in Italy. The two most relevant predictors were GDD5 (growing degree‐days above 5°C) and AHM (Annual Heat Moisture), indicating the importance of temperatures and water availability also in the Mediterranean area. A large portion of Italy was predicted to be potentially suitable for Douglas‐fir afforestation or reforestation, mainly across the Apennine Mountains of central Italy. Model projections for the species' native area largely overlap with the range of the coastal variety of Douglas‐fir (
P. menziesii var. viridis
), supporting the hypothesis that most Douglas‐fir stands in Italy were established using propagation material from this region.

The spatial modeling of Douglas‐fir old‐growth stands in Italy demonstrated the relevance of temperatures (GDD5) also in the Mediterranean area and showed a good climate matching between the Italian planting range and the coastal part of Douglas‐fir native range.

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