Ecotypic variation in European beech

During recent droughts, also the climax tree species European beech suffered in major parts of Europe. Therefore, the evaluation of seed sources of beech used for reforestation receives greater attention. In a study by Katharina Liepe and co-workers that was recently published in the European Journal of Forest Research, the performance of 85 European beech provenances was compared over a 25-year period at provenance trials in the north, west and east of Germany. More specifically, tree height, basal area and stem quality were evaluated. Considerable provenance differentiation exists, explaining 21% to 45% of the variance on single sites and 20 to 39% across sites, while provenance by environment interactions were absent. The study gives first indications for the potential benefits of assisted migration.