Le rôle clé des déficits hydriques dans le dépérissement de chênaies en Forêt de la Harth (Alsace du Sud) établi par une analyse dendroécologique et écophysiologique

National audienceThe taxonomic status of oak species on 70 plots selected from the 134 plots of the Harth Forest Ecological Observation Areawas identified using leaf morphological analysis. About 40 % of teh studied trees were pedunculate oaks (Quercus Robur), the other trees being mainly sessile oaks (Quercus petraea). A strong reduction of radial growth has been pointed out in recent years throught a dendroecological study, this decline being stronger for pedunculate oaks. Both a restricting pedoclimat(shallow and stony soils) and a hight leaf area index (old coppice with standards) are responsible dor severe and frequent droughts. Reduction of radial growth has been clearly related to water shortage as computed from a daily soil water balance model