Evidence of a Climate-Change-Induced Shift in European Beech Distribution: An Unequal Response in the Elevation, Temperature and Precipitation Gradients

Climate is a strong predictor of the geographic distribution tree species, and thus climate change may trigger shifts in species and/or its demographic structure. In study, we aim to comprehensively compare distributions four life stages European beech (Fagus sylvatica) (i.e., regeneration, recruitment, young trees mature trees) forests Slovenia, Central Europe, which are characterized by gradients elevation (ELV), temperature (TEMP) precipitation (PREC) detect possible demography. Beech were surveyed on 3366 plots. To depict disparities between ELV, TEMP PREC stages, applied several non-parametric methods: basic statistical tests study differences medians, means, 1st 9th deciles; generalized additive models optimum; extreme value analysis at trailing leading edges. A substantial shift juvenile upward toward colder sites was detected. However, not uniform along distributions; most significant detected edge ELV (+73 m) (?2.6 °C), but surprisingly there no movement identified edge. The observed be result interplay change, high spatial variability microclimate, unexceptional droughts recent past, changes forest use limitations migration ability adaptation capacity.