Publications

Ersahin, S; Bilgili, BC; Dikmen, U; Ercanli, I (2016). Net Primary Productivity of Anatolian Forests in Relation to Climate, 2000-2010. FOREST SCIENCE, 62(6), 698-709.

Abstract
There is currently considerable interest in the impact of climate on the degradation of forest ecosystems. However, we do not yet have a clear understanding of this relationship across distinct geographical regions, land uses, forest types, and climates. Changes in the net primary productivity (NPP) of vegetation are an important indicator of climate effect. In this study, we used the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) NPP data set to evaluate the impact of climate on the productivity of needleleaf, broadleaf, and needleleaf-broadleaf mixed forests in nine locations and six distinct climate zones in Anatolia, Turkey, between 2000 and 2010. Results of partial least-squares analysis showed that monthly precipitation and monthly maximum temperature were the most common variables contributing to the NPP of the study forests. We found that some of these forests experienced a reduction in NPP during the 11-year study, with climate anomalies in 2003 and 2007 having a considerable short-term impact on productivity. Forests in the semihumid Eastern Marmara Transition Subregion had the most significant reduction in NPP, whereas forests located in the rainy summer semihumid cold continental northeastern Anatolian Subregion experienced an increase in production. The study forests responded inconsistently between overall climate and climate anomalies. We conclude that changes in NPP may be a good indicator of the impact of climate on forests and that the MODIS NPP data set is useful for monitoring the relation between climate and forest ecosystems at a moderate resolution.

DOI:
10.5849/forsci.15-171

ISSN:
0015-749X