Tree reactions and dune movements: Slowinski National Park, Poland

The effects on tree growth of both climatic and non-climatic variables were investigated in relation to dune dynamics at three sites on the Czolpinska dune in the Slowinski National Park, Poland where aeolian sediments are invading a forest of Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). We found that where dune advance was relatively rapid, tree vitality declined after stem burial was over 1.9 m, but where advance was under 1 m/yr survival was remarkably increased, one tree survived, albeit with thinning needles, after an estimated 11.4 m burial. Below sand-surface stem discs, cut 0.5 m apart, from a heavily suppressed tree revealed a difference in narrow-ring reactions of up to 2 years over a 2 m burial distance; the discs also showed a time lag of 4 years before compression wood formation. Consequently, when estimating sand-movement rates we discounted compression wood reactions; we also excluded climatic events and pest infestations. The remaining data supplied a sand-advance rate at Site 1 from 2.4 to 3.5 m/yr. At Site 2, rates were from 1.2 to 2.5 m/yr, with a direct measurement of 0.3 m/yr between 2006 and 2007. At Site 3 rates were from 0.3 to 1.2 m/yr, with dune migration here virtually at a standstill over the last seven years. Direct measurement of sand movement (3.03 m/yr) at Site 1 was slower than the lowest rate (3.5 m/yr) previously recorded by Borówka (1980) for the larger dune system.