Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The Schinopsis brasiliensis Engl. (braúna) is a long-lived species with wide distribution in phytogeographical areas of caatinga and cerrado. Due to uncontrolled exploitation of its timber and the environmental devastation of the caatinga is currently a threatened species. However, these trees have higher dimensions than other species of this environment and, therefore, have higher ecological importance. The biological and ecological characteristics of this species highlights the need of studies about theirs structures and reaction to environmental and climatic changes, among these wood anatomy and dendrochronology. The present study collected specimens of S. brasilienis from São Pedro Farm, in the municipality of Porto da Folha/SE. Living wood and construction wood samples were collected in June and July, 2013, through a non-destructive method, afterwards the samples were kept in the UFS Plant Anatomy and Dendroecology Laboratory, for sample preparations and data analisys. The heartwood and sapwood were significantly different in structure (p<0.05 for all analysis), which revealed that the structure of the heartwood is more resistant to environmental weathering, justifying its use for rural constructions in areas of caatinga. It has growth rings limited by marginal parenchyma band and/or thickness of the fiber walls; small vessels, and tyloses when in the heartwood; rays with procumbent and square cells that store many calcium oxalate crystals; and short and thick fibers. The cross-dating of growth rings series showed correlation of 0.52 between their live individuals and 0.49 among the construction wood. The chronology showed positive correlations with rainfall in the beginning and ending of the rainy season, and fall in the increase rate in the warmer and drier periods of the year, coinciding with the leaf fall and consequent disruption of metabolic activity in new xylem cells´ generation. The analysis of the rings in construction woods allowed new chronology expansion in Brazil, for the previous 20 years to the formation of the first growth ring of the older sample of S. brasiliensis. / A Schinopsis brasiliensis Engl. (braúna) é uma espécie longeva com ampla distribuição nos domínios fitogeográficos da caatinga e cerrado. Por conta da exploração sem controle de sua madeira e da devastação ambiental que assola a caatinga, encontra-se atualmente ameaçada de extinção. Porém, é uma espécie que se destaca por possuir indivíduos com dimensões superiores às geralmente encontradas em outras espécies deste ambiente, e por isso foi classificada como de alta importância ecológica. Suas características biológicas e ecológicas enfatizam a necessidade de estudos sobre suas estruturas e reações às mudanças ambientais e climáticas, dentre estes os de anatomia da madeira e dendrocronologia. O estudo foi realizado com indivíduos de S. brasiliensis provenientes da Fazenda São Pedro, município de Porto da Folha/SE. Amostras de árvores e de madeiras de construção foram coletadas nos meses de junho e julho de 2013, através de método não destrutivo, e posteriormente foram armazenadas no Laboratório de Anatomia Vegetal e Dendroecologia da UFS, para preparo e análise dos dados. A madeira de S. brasiliensis apresentou cerne e alburno significativamente distintos estruturalmente (p<0,05), houve destaque para as características estruturais que tornam o cerne a região mais resistente e duradoura, justificando seu uso em construções rurais em áreas de caatinga. Apresentou anéis de crescimento delimitados por banda de parênquima marginal e/ou espessamento das paredes das fibras; vasos pequenos, com tiloses quando no cerne; raios formados por células procumbentes e quadradas que armazenam muitos cristais de oxalato de cálcio; e fibras curtas e grossas. A espécie foi passível de datação cruzada com 0,52 de correlação entre seus indivíduos vivos e 0,49 entre as árvores e madeiras de construção. Apresentou correlações positivas com a precipitação no início e final do período chuvoso e queda na taxa de incremento nos períodos mais quentes e secos do ano, coincidindo com a queda foliar e consequente interrupção das atividades metabólicas de formação de novas células xilemáticas. A análise dos anéis das madeiras de construção permitiu a inédita expansão de uma cronologia no Brasil, com a inclusão de 20 anos de medidas anteriores à formação do primeiro anel de crescimento da árvore mais velha amostrada na área de estudo.

La formation du bois (xylogénèse) produit une large partie de la biomasse de la planète et une ressource essentielle pour l'Homme. Les cellules du bois sont produites par division dans le cambium puis s'élargissent, forment une paroi épaisse lignifiée et meurent. Pendant l'année, ces processus sont définis par des dates, durées et vitesses qui caractérisent la dynamique intra-annuelle de la xylogénèse. Cette dynamique reste peu explorée alors que c'est un aspect clé, car c'est elle qui détermine la quantité et la qualité du bois produit et c'est sur elle que les facteurs de régulation agissent. Ce travail vise à améliorer nos connaissances sur la dynamique intra-annuelle de la xylogénèse. Pendant trois ans (2007-2009), la xylogénèse a été suivie pour 45 arbres de trois espèces de conifères (sapin pectiné, épicéa commun et pin sylvestre) dans les Vosges. Pour ça, des petits échantillons de bois ont été prélevés chaque semaine sur le tronc des arbres sélectionnés. Les échantillons ont été préparés au laboratoire, puis des sections anatomiques ont été réalisées pour observer la xylogénèse au microscope. Cette thèse a permis d'améliorer notre connaissance du fonctionnement de la xylogénèse, un système biologique d'une fascinante complexité. Nous avons caractérisé - grâce à l'innovation d'une méthode statistique performante - les aspects méconnus de la dynamique de différenciation des cellules du bois. Nous avons alors pu dévoiler les mécanismes par lesquels la dynamique de la xylogénèse donne forme à la structure du cerne, établir la dynamique intra-annuelle de l'accumulation du carbone dans le bois et évaluer les mécanismes de l'influence du climat sur la xylogénèse / Wood formation (xylogenesis) produces a large part of the biomass of this planet and provides a crucial resource to Mankind. Wood cells are produced by division in the cambium, after what they enlarge, build a lignified thick wall and die. During a year, these processes take place at certain dates, last for certain durations and go at certain rates. These dates, durations and rates characterize the intra-annual dynamics of xylogenesis. This dynamics remains poorly explored whereas it is a key aspect as it determines the quantity and quality of the produced wood and conveys the influence of intrinsic (gene, hormone) and extrinsic (environment) regulatory factors. This work aims to improve our knowledge on the intra-annual dynamics of xylogenesis. During three years (2007-2009), xylogenesis was monitored for 45 trees of three conifer species (silver fir, Norway spruce, and Scots pine) in northeast France. For that, small wood samples were collected weekly on tree stem. Samples were prepared at the laboratory, and anatomical sections were cut to observe xylogenesis under a light microscope. This thesis has improved our knowledge on the functioning of xylogenesis, a biological system of a fascinating complexity. We characterized - thanks to the development of an efficient statistical method - the little known aspects of wood cell differentiation dynamics. Based on this characterization, we eluded the mechanisms by which xylogenesis dynamics shapes tree ring structure, we established the intra-annual dynamics of carbon accumulation in wood and we evaluated the mechanisms of the climate influence on xylogenesis

Les avalanches sont susceptibles d’affecter le réseau routier et les infrastructures bâties, mettant en péril la population. L’extension des avalanches est généralement évaluée à l’aide de modèles physiques et/ou statistiques. Ces modèles sont très performants pour simuler des événements relativement fréquents, cependant, les incertitudes augmentent dès lors que l’on considère des événements plus rares. Il est donc indispensable de valider les procédures de modélisation afin de confirmer les prédictions qui en découlent. Dans ce travail, la dendrogéomorphologie a été utilisée comme un outil de validation. Cette approche se fonde sur le fait que les arbres forment un cerne de croissance par année et que les individus affectés par des processus naturels enregistrent l’évidence d’une perturbation dans leurs cernes. Cette thèse a permis de proposer une nouvelle approche pour l’identification des événements avalancheux fondée sur l’expertise du dendrogéomorphologue et d’évaluer la qualité de l’approche dendrogéomorphologique. Il a également été possible de réaliser une validation croisée entre des avalanches extrêmes prédites par un modèle statistique-dynamique et des informations sur des périodes de retour d’avalanches similaires obtenues à l’aide de l’approche dendrogéomorphologique. Les résultats montrent une très bonne concordance pour des événements dont la période de retour est égale ou inférieure à 300 ans. Finalement, une analyse des relations statistiques avalanche-climat a montré que les arbres enregistrent préférentiellement les événements qui ont eu lieu durant des épisodes froids associés à des tempêtes hivernales accompagnées de fortes précipitations. / Snow avalanches are a significant natural hazard that impact roads, structures and threaten human lives in mountainous terrain. The extent of avalanches is usually evaluated using topographic or statistic models. These models are well capable to simulate contemporary events, but uncertainties increase as soon as longer return periods are investigated. Thus, there is a real need for validation of modelling procedures to corroborate model predictions. In the present work, dendrogeomorphology has been used as a validation tool. This approach is based on the fact that trees affected by mass movements record the evidence of geomorphic disturbance in their growth-ring series and thereby provide a precise geochronological tool for the reconstruction of past mass movement activity. This PhD thesis presents a new tree-ring-based semi-quantitative approach for the identification of avalanche events based on the analytical skills of the dendrogeomorphic expert and proposes an evaluation of the completeness of tree-ring records. Furthermore, this work proposes the first cross-validation of high return period avalanches derived from a locally calibrated statistical-dynamical model and the long-term, higher-return period information gathered from tree-ring records. Comparison of relations between runout distances and return periods between both approaches shows very good agreement for events with return periods of < 300 yr. Finally, a statistical analysis of avalanche-climate relations suggests that tree rings preferentially record events that occurred during cold winter storms with heavy precipitation.

No contexto das mudanças climáticas, a sobrevivência e a produtividade das plantações de eucaliptos poderão ser afetadas. Assim, são necessárias pesquisas em nutrição florestal, como a avaliação do K e do Na e sua interação com a disponibilidade hídrica com o crescimento e propriedades do lenho de eucaliptos. Em experimento instalado, em 20 de junho de 2010 de tipo \"Split-plot\", foram avaliadas as árvores de Eucalyptus grandis submetidas a dois regimes hídricos (100% e 63%) e três tipos de fertilização (K, Na e controle). O diâmetro do tronco (cada 15 dias, com dendrômetros) e a altura total (cada 6 meses) das árvores foram mensurados no período do 40º ao 61º mês. A umidade do solo foi analisada semanalmente e a precipitação e temperatura diariamente. Foram analisadas as propriedades do lenho de 48 árvores, no 47º mês, por amostragem destrutiva, avaliando-se a sua densidade aparente, densidade básica, estrutura anatômica e proporção cerne/alburno. Os resultados mostraram que a precipitação influenciou significativamente o crescimento das árvores, seguindo-se a temperatura mínima e a umidade do solo. O K e o Na mostraram interação com a precipitação, (i) no período seco, com a redução do incremento do tronco das árvores com o Na e a sua paralisação com o K, (ii) no período chuvoso, com o aumento do incremento em diâmetro e altura do tronco, em relação ao controle. O Na em relação ao K resultou em menor crescimento das árvores de eucalipto. Com a exclusão de 37% da chuva houve efeito negativo nas árvores com K; no tratamento controle e com aplicação de Na a exclusão não mostrou efeito significativo até o 58º mês. Em relação à (i) densidade do lenho das árvores- ocorreu a sua diminuição com K e Na (menor com Na), e incremento com a menor disponibilidade hídrica; K não diminuiu a densidade sob maior disponibilidade hídrica; (ii) anatomia do lenho- observaram-se vasos de maior diâmetro e menor frequência com K e Na (maior com K); as fibras apresentaram variação significativa com Na (com fibras mais longas e largas com menor espessura da parede); a menor disponibilidade hídrica resultante da exclusão de 37% da chuva não afetou aos vasos e fibras; (iii) relação cerne/alburno- o K e Na promoveram a formação de maior proporção de cerne em relação às árvores do tratamento controle, sem influência significativa da exclusão parcial de chuva. Relações entre anatomia e densidade do lenho mostraram que mudanças nas dimensões das fibras foram acompanhadas de mudanças na densidade do lenho; e maior taxa de crescimento nem sempre se relaciona com a diminuição da densidade do lenho. Os resultados indicaram que a perda de características desejáveis na densidade, fibras e proporção de alburno, com a adição de K ou Na (principalmente Na) na adubação básica, são altamente compensados pela maior produção de lenho, no entanto em regiões mais áridas e com maior risco de seca prolongada, potássio e sódio podem agravar o déficit hídrico. / In the context of climate change, survival and productivity of eucalyptus plantations may be affected. Thus, research is needed on nutrition and forest ecophysiology, such as the evaluation of K and Na and their interaction with water availability on the growth and wood properties of eucalyptus. In a split-plot type, experiment installed on June 20, 2010 we evaluated Eucalyptus grandis trees submitted to two water regimes (100% and 63%) and three fertilizer supplies (K, Na and control). The stem diameter was measured every 15 days with dendrometers and total height, every 6 months in the period from 40th to 61st month. Soil moisture was analyzed weekly and precipitation and temperature daily. The wood properties of 48 trees were analyzed after 47 months, by destructive sampling, evaluating their apparent density, specific gravity, anatomical structure and heartwood/sapwood proportion. The results showed that precipitation significantly influenced the growth of the trees, followed by the minimum temperature and soil moisture. K and Na showed interaction with precipitation, (i) in the dry season, by reducing the growth of the tree trunks with Na and its stoppage with K, (ii) during the rainy season, with increasing growth in diameter and height of the trunk, compared with the control. The Na, as compared to K, resulted in lower growth of the eucalyptus trees. With the artificial exclusion of 37% of throughfall there was a negative effect on the growth of trees fertilized with K; but in the control and Na treatment the rainfall exclusion showed no significant effect until 58º month. In relation to (i) density of the wood of trees, there was a decrease in K and Na (lower with Na), and an increase with lower water availability; although the K did not reduce the density under higher water availability; (ii) wood anatomy- larger vessels with lower frequency were formed with K and Na supply (with higher K); the fibers showed significant variations with Na (longer and wider fibers with smaller wall thickness); and the lower water availability from the of 37% rainfall exclusion did not affect vessels and fibers; (iii) Heartwood/sapwood ratio; K and Na promoted the formation of larger proportion of heartwood in relation to the trees from the control treatment, and there was no significant influence of the partial rainfall exclusion. Relationships between anatomy and wood density showed that changes in fiber dimensions were accompanied by changes in the wood density; and the higher growth rate is not always associated with decreased wood density. The results indicate that the loss of desirable characteristics in density, fiber and proportion of sapwood, with the addition of K or Na (mainly Na) in the basic fertilization are highly compensated by the increased wood production, though in more arid regions with increased risk of prolonged drought, potassium and sodium can aggravate water deficit.

Il est probable que les changements climatiques futurs diminuent la croissance forestière en région tempérée. Cette vulnérabilité des espèces face aux contraintes du climat peut être étudiée via les cernes des arbres. Ces derniers sont en effet des archives du carbone utilisé par les arbres pour leur croissance, en lien avec les caractéristiques spécifiques de gestion du carbone et de réponse au climat. L’objectif principal de cette thèse est de déterminer, à partir des cernes, les réponses fonctionnelles de trois essences forestières tempérées (Fagus sylvatica, Quercus petraea et Pinus sylvestris) aux variations climatiques. Pour cela, nous avons réalisé une approche expérimentale en étudiant deux proxys (ou indices climatiques) : la croissance et la composition isotopique en 13C (δ13C) des cernes, à deux échelles temporelles : interannuelle et saisonnière. A l’échelle interannuelle, sur la période 1960-2007, une étude dendrochronologique a été réalisée sur les trois essences et a été complétée par l’analyse du δ13C des cernes (en relation avec le climat). A l’échelle saisonnière, nous avons déterminé précisément, sur une année (2009), les dynamiques de croissance du cerne et les variations de δ13C intra-cerne. Nos résultats mettent en évidence une sensibilité de la croissance et du δ13C des cernes des trois essences aux sécheresses estivales. Grâce à la complémentarité des proxys et des échelles temporelles, nous avons également trouvé des réponses climatiques contrastées entre espèces. La croissance du Hêtre est la plus réactive au climat d’une année à l’autre. Cette croissance ainsi que le δ13C des cernes sont fortement sensibles aux températures de juillet, en plus des précipitations printanières et estivales. Cette réponse immédiate au climat peut être expliquée par une forte dépendance de la croissance au fonctionnement foliaire et une faible utilisation des réserves carbonées pour assurer le début de la croissance. Le Chêne présente lui des arrières-effets climatiques sur sa croissance, via une forte sensibilité aux sécheresses de l’automne précédent, contrairement aux deux autres espèces. Ce résultat est à mettre en relation avec l’utilisation importante de réserves carbonées par rapport aux assimilats pour la croissance du bois initial, cette dernière étant très rapide, comme nous l’avons observé grâce à l’analyse saisonnière de la croissance. Concernant le Pin, la croissance, parce qu’elle dure plus longtemps que celle des décidues, est influencée par les températures et les précipitations de juin jusqu'à août. Le δ13C des cernes de pins est celui qui enregistre le plus la réponse au VPD, aussi bien à l’échelle saisonnière qu'interannuelle, probablement du fait d’une forte sensibilité de la conductance stomatique à ce paramètre. Les informations fournies par les cernes permettent d’appréhender la survie des espèces face aux changements climatiques futurs et peuvent être utilisées pour comprendre le dépérissement lié à ces changements. / Climate change will probably alter the tree growth in temperate forests. The species vulnerability to climatic constraints can be studied using tree rings. The latter's are natural archives of carbon used for tree growth and are linked to species carbon transfer and response to climate. The main thesis objective was to determine the functional response of three temperate species (Fagus sylvatica, Quercus petraea et Pinus sylvestris) under climatic variations using tree rings. For this, an experimental approach was conducted using two proxies (or climatic indices): the radial growth and the carbon isotope composition in 13C (δ13C) of rings at two time scales: interannual and intra-annual (or seasonal). At interannual scale, over the period 1960-2007, a dendrological study was done for three species and was completed by analysis of ring δ13C (in relation to climate). Over one year (2009) at seasonal scale, we precisely determined the radial growth dynamics and the variations in intra-ring δ13C. Our results highlighted growth and ring δ13C sensitivities to summer droughts. Because of proxy and time-scale complementarities, we have also found contrasted climatic responses among species. The beech growth is the most year-to-year responsive to climate. This growth and ring δ13C were highly sensitive to temperature in July in addition to spring and summer precipitation. This quick response of beech growth to climate could be explained by strong growth dependence to leaf functioning and low carbon reserve use to ensure the growth beginning. Contrary to the two others species, long-term consequences of climate on oak growth were found, via a high sensitivity to previous autumnal droughts. This result could be related to the high use of carbon reserves compared to assimilates for earlywood growth, which was very quick as observed by seasonal growth analysis. Concerning pine, the growth was influenced by temperatures and precipitation from June to August because the growth lasted longer for pine than that of the deciduous species. At both seasonal and interannual scales, the ring δ13C of pine trees was the best recorder of the VPD response, probably because of strong sensitivity of stomatal conductance to VPD. The information provided by tree rings allow to anticipate the species survival under future climate change and could be used to understand the declining due to these changes.

No description available.

No contexto das mudanças climáticas, a sobrevivência e a produtividade das plantações de eucaliptos poderão ser afetadas. Assim, são necessárias pesquisas em nutrição florestal, como a avaliação do K e do Na e sua interação com a disponibilidade hídrica com o crescimento e propriedades do lenho de eucaliptos. Em experimento instalado, em 20 de junho de 2010 de tipo \"Split-plot\", foram avaliadas as árvores de Eucalyptus grandis submetidas a dois regimes hídricos (100% e 63%) e três tipos de fertilização (K, Na e controle). O diâmetro do tronco (cada 15 dias, com dendrômetros) e a altura total (cada 6 meses) das árvores foram mensurados no período do 40º ao 61º mês. A umidade do solo foi analisada semanalmente e a precipitação e temperatura diariamente. Foram analisadas as propriedades do lenho de 48 árvores, no 47º mês, por amostragem destrutiva, avaliando-se a sua densidade aparente, densidade básica, estrutura anatômica e proporção cerne/alburno. Os resultados mostraram que a precipitação influenciou significativamente o crescimento das árvores, seguindo-se a temperatura mínima e a umidade do solo. O K e o Na mostraram interação com a precipitação, (i) no período seco, com a redução do incremento do tronco das árvores com o Na e a sua paralisação com o K, (ii) no período chuvoso, com o aumento do incremento em diâmetro e altura do tronco, em relação ao controle. O Na em relação ao K resultou em menor crescimento das árvores de eucalipto. Com a exclusão de 37% da chuva houve efeito negativo nas árvores com K; no tratamento controle e com aplicação de Na a exclusão não mostrou efeito significativo até o 58º mês. Em relação à (i) densidade do lenho das árvores- ocorreu a sua diminuição com K e Na (menor com Na), e incremento com a menor disponibilidade hídrica; K não diminuiu a densidade sob maior disponibilidade hídrica; (ii) anatomia do lenho- observaram-se vasos de maior diâmetro e menor frequência com K e Na (maior com K); as fibras apresentaram variação significativa com Na (com fibras mais longas e largas com menor espessura da parede); a menor disponibilidade hídrica resultante da exclusão de 37% da chuva não afetou aos vasos e fibras; (iii) relação cerne/alburno- o K e Na promoveram a formação de maior proporção de cerne em relação às árvores do tratamento controle, sem influência significativa da exclusão parcial de chuva. Relações entre anatomia e densidade do lenho mostraram que mudanças nas dimensões das fibras foram acompanhadas de mudanças na densidade do lenho; e maior taxa de crescimento nem sempre se relaciona com a diminuição da densidade do lenho. Os resultados indicaram que a perda de características desejáveis na densidade, fibras e proporção de alburno, com a adição de K ou Na (principalmente Na) na adubação básica, são altamente compensados pela maior produção de lenho, no entanto em regiões mais áridas e com maior risco de seca prolongada, potássio e sódio podem agravar o déficit hídrico. / In the context of climate change, survival and productivity of eucalyptus plantations may be affected. Thus, research is needed on nutrition and forest ecophysiology, such as the evaluation of K and Na and their interaction with water availability on the growth and wood properties of eucalyptus. In a split-plot type, experiment installed on June 20, 2010 we evaluated Eucalyptus grandis trees submitted to two water regimes (100% and 63%) and three fertilizer supplies (K, Na and control). The stem diameter was measured every 15 days with dendrometers and total height, every 6 months in the period from 40th to 61st month. Soil moisture was analyzed weekly and precipitation and temperature daily. The wood properties of 48 trees were analyzed after 47 months, by destructive sampling, evaluating their apparent density, specific gravity, anatomical structure and heartwood/sapwood proportion. The results showed that precipitation significantly influenced the growth of the trees, followed by the minimum temperature and soil moisture. K and Na showed interaction with precipitation, (i) in the dry season, by reducing the growth of the tree trunks with Na and its stoppage with K, (ii) during the rainy season, with increasing growth in diameter and height of the trunk, compared with the control. The Na, as compared to K, resulted in lower growth of the eucalyptus trees. With the artificial exclusion of 37% of throughfall there was a negative effect on the growth of trees fertilized with K; but in the control and Na treatment the rainfall exclusion showed no significant effect until 58º month. In relation to (i) density of the wood of trees, there was a decrease in K and Na (lower with Na), and an increase with lower water availability; although the K did not reduce the density under higher water availability; (ii) wood anatomy- larger vessels with lower frequency were formed with K and Na supply (with higher K); the fibers showed significant variations with Na (longer and wider fibers with smaller wall thickness); and the lower water availability from the of 37% rainfall exclusion did not affect vessels and fibers; (iii) Heartwood/sapwood ratio; K and Na promoted the formation of larger proportion of heartwood in relation to the trees from the control treatment, and there was no significant influence of the partial rainfall exclusion. Relationships between anatomy and wood density showed that changes in fiber dimensions were accompanied by changes in the wood density; and the higher growth rate is not always associated with decreased wood density. The results indicate that the loss of desirable characteristics in density, fiber and proportion of sapwood, with the addition of K or Na (mainly Na) in the basic fertilization are highly compensated by the increased wood production, though in more arid regions with increased risk of prolonged drought, potassium and sodium can aggravate water deficit.

Les changements environnementaux à l’échelle globale peuvent se traduire par une modification des conditions abiotiques et de la diversité biologique. La fonction de production des écosystèmes forestiers a la particularité d'être à la fois soumise à, et régulatrice de ces changements environnementaux. Il apparaît alors primordial de comprendre la manière dont la diversité en essences et les facteurs abiotiques exercent le contrôle de cette fonction. Au cours de mes travaux j’ai étudié la variation de l'effet du mélange d’essences sur leur productivité dans un contexte climatique et édaphique changeant. Grâce à une double approche, basée sur des données locales et des données de l'Inventaire forestier national, je me suis concentrée sur cinq espèces forestières européennes majeures en peuplements purs et bispécifiques : Quercus petraea, Pinus sylvestris, Fagus sylvatica, Abies alba et Picea abies. En plaine je montre que l'effet du mélange d’essences varie peu avec les facteurs abiotiques. De plus cet effet est déterminé par la tolérance à l'ombrage de l'espèce accompagnatrice. En montagne l’effet du mélange d’essences sur leur productivité est plus fort et positif lorsque les facteurs abiotiques sont les plus limitants pour la croissance. Ces résultats illustrent l’intérêt d'intégrer les facteurs abiotiques et les caractéristiques fonctionnelles des espèces comme déterminants de l'effet de la diversité biologique sur les fonctions de l'écosystème. / Global environmental changes may lead to a modification of abiotic factors and biological diversity. The production function in forest ecosystems has the particularity to be both subjected to, and a regulator of, these environmental changes. Understanding how forest productivity is driven by species diversity and environmental factors is therefore a critical issue. This PhD thesis studies how tree species mixture affects their productivity along edaphic and climatic gradients. Based on an approach using both an original dataset and the national forest inventory dataset, I focused on five major species of European forests in pure and two-species forests: Quercus petraea, Pinus sylvestris, Fagus sylvatica, Abies alba and Picea abies. In lowlands, abiotic factors had little impacts on the outcome of tree species mixture on productivity. In addition, the effect of tree species mixture was determined by the shade tolerance of companion species. In highlands, the positive effects of tree species mixture were strongest when the abiotic factors were the most limiting for growth. These results highlight the importance of considering abiotic factors and the functional characteristics of species as drivers of the effect of biological diversity on ecosystem functions.

Dans un contexte de changement global, prédire l’évolution de la productivité de la végétation dans le sud-ouest (SO) Sibérien reste un défi du fait d’incertitudes fortes sur les processus régulant la disponibilité en eau et en nutriments. Nous avons mis en évidence des relations entre cycles biogéochimiques, climat et propriétés du sol sur six sites contrastés.La croissance radiale des tiges de peuplier est principalement sensible au bilan hydrique du sol en forêt de steppe, au sud du SO Sibérien, alors qu’elle est stimulée par de hautes températures estivales en sub-taïga, dans le nord de la région.Des mesures de terrain et des simulations du bilan hydrique du sol ont montré que la fonte des neiges est importante pour la recharge des réserves hydriques du sol au sud. Au nord, ces réserves sont souvent rechargées en automne. La fonte des neiges est alors associée à du drainage. De plus, au nord, une épaisse couverture de neige protège le sol du gel en hiver. La distribution des racines fines est plus profonde en forêt de steppe qu’en sub-taïga, impactée par le déficit hydrique et le gel.L’homogénéité du statut en phosphore (P) des sols dans le SO Sibérien montre qu’il n’est pas encore très impacté par la pédogénèse. Les stocks en P élevés, notammen tles formes disponibles pour les plantes, suggèrent que le P n’est pas et ne sera pas limitant dans le futur.La décomposition des litières aériennes et la libération de l’azote (N) sont plus rapides en sub-taïga qu’en forêt de steppe. Un fort drainage pourrait expliquer un transfert profond du N dans les sols en sub-taïga. Cependant ces sols semblent efficaces pour retenir le N, limitant les pertes pour le système sol–plante. / Predicting the evolution of vegetation productivity in SW Siberia in the contextof global change remains a challenge because of major uncertainties concerningthe biogeochemical cycling and the plant-availability of water and nutrients. Weprovided insights on their relation to climate and soil properties, investigating sixcontrasting sites.Aspen stem radial growth is mainly sensitive to soil water budget in the foreststeppezone established in the south of SW Siberia while it is enhanced by highsummer temperatures in the sub-taiga, in the north of the region.Field measurements and water budget simulations revealed that snow-melt isimportant re-filling soil water reserves in the south. In the north, these reservesare mostly re-filled in autumn and snow-melt is associated with drainage. A thicksnow-pack also prevents soil from freezing in winter in the sub-taiga. Water deficitand soil freezing largely impact the distribution of fine roots within the soil profilewhich is deeper in forest-steppe than in sub-taiga.The homogeneous soil phosphorus (P) status in the region investigated revealedthis nutrient has not been yet very impacted by contrasting soil processes. High Pstocks, and in particular plant-available forms, suggest P is unlikely to be limitingunder current and future conditions.By contrast, we found differences in nitrogen (N) status. Above-ground litterdecay and the release of N occurs faster in sub-taiga than in forest-steppe. Higherdrainage may explain deeper N transfer in sub-taiga soils. However, sub-taiga soilsalso seem to be efficient in retaining N, limiting losses from the soil–plant system.

Dans le contexte du développement durable qui a vu l’introduction de la directive produits biocides BPD 98/8/CE, l’étude des méthodes innovantes de préservation du bois comme le traitement thermique revêt une importance prépondérante. Le traitement thermique du bois permet d’améliorer ses propriétés de résistance biologique, de stabilité dimensionnelle ainsi que son aspect esthétique, sans ajout de produit chimique. Les études actuelles sur la problématique de la qualité du bois traité thermiquement se focalisent sur les caractéristiques finales du bois déjà traité, l’influence des conditions de traitement ou encore l’effet essence. Les propriétés intrinsèques du bois avant le traitement ne sont pas encore prises en compte. Les propriétés du bois telles que la densité ou la composition chimique étant variables principalement sous l’effet de l’activité humaine comme la sylviculture, l’objectif de cette thèse était d’évaluer l’impact de cette variabilité chez le chêne sessile (Quercus petraea Liebll.) et le sapin (Abies alba Mill) sur leur modification par voie thermique. Un scanner et un micro-densitomètre à rayons X ont été utilisés pour caractériser la variation de la densité des échantillons de planches et des cernes de croissance provenant des arbres étudiés. Des traitements thermiques ont été réalisés dans un four pilote à conduction sous vide de type macro-thermobalance et un analyseur thermogravimétrique (ATG). Des analyses chimiques ont été également réalisées. Les résultats montrent qu’en prenant la perte de masse due à la dégradation thermique du bois comme réponse, les types de tissus du bois et la composition chimique influencent sa thermo-dégradation. Que ce soit chez Quercus petraea ou chez Abies alba, le bois de printemps était plus sensible au traitement thermique que son voisin de bois d’été. De plus, les portions radiales du tronc, du bois juvénile à l’aubier en passant par le bois mature, se dégradaient suivant des cinétiques différentes. En conclusion, la variation de la microstructure et la composition chimique de ces bois influencent leur cinétique globale de thermo-dégradation. La sylviculture impacte cette différence intraspécifique de cinétique de dégradation à l’échelle intra- et interarbre. En effet, dans le cas du sapin pectiné, une gestion très dynamique des forêts dans le but de stimuler la croissance rapide des arbres qui produisent de gros bois contenant des cernes très larges, est source de variation dans la structure anatomique et la composition chimique à l’intérieur des arbres en comparaison aux petits bois à croissance lente plus homogènes. Toutes ces analyses ont pour objectif final de comprendre le lien entre les propriétés initiales du bois et les modifications thermiques intervenant au cours du traitement afin d’apporter une information utile aux industriels lors du choix des pièces de bois destinées au traitement thermique en vue d’une amélioration de la qualité du bois traité thermiquement / In the context of sustainable development which has seen the introduction of the biocides directive BPD 98/8/CE in the EU, innovative wood preservation practices such as Heat Treatment (HT) become relevant. Wood HT, also termed wood thermal modification, is a physical modification technology by which wood is heated at around 200 °C in an inert atmosphere. The main purpose of the treatment is to improve the biological durability and dimensional stability of wood. Current studies on thermally modified wood (TMW) quality are focusing on treated material, on treatment conditions or on species effect on the end-product characteristics. Relatively little is known about the effect of intrinsic wood properties on its thermal modification. As wood properties vary especially under the influence of human activities through sylviculture, this thesis studied the effect of European oak and silver fir wood density and chemical composition on their thermal modification kinetic. An X rays computed tomography (CT) and densitometer were used to characterize wood samples. Boards were heat-treated by conduction under vacuum using a pilot furnace, whereas sawdust samples underwent thermo-gravimetric analysis under nitrogen. The analysis allowed finding intra- and interspecific variations, especially within growth rings and along radial direction (from pith to bark). Forest management impacted heat modification kinetic of the studied samples, especially in silver fir where fast grown wood was more sensitive to treatment. The finding will be used as additional information to the wood industry which will account for homogeneity of loadings destined to heat treatment