Abstract ID: 3.12845 | Accepted as Talk | Poster | TBA | TBA

Reforestation with species resilient to rising temperatures and drought is increasingly important. In Austria, silver fir (Abies alba) represents a potential candidate; however, its reforestation is hindered by the declining quality of its reproductive material. High habitat fragmentation due to land use changes and preferential planting of other species has left silver fir populations sparse and isolated. We hypothesize that the declining quality of silver fir seeds results from habitat loss and fragmentation, affecting its reproductive success through demographic, genetic, or climate-related disturbances. To investigate these effects, we conducted a common garden experiment, sowing seeds from 64 seed stands and six seed orchards across Austria’s ecological gradient. Using a Generalized Linear Model, we analyzed seedling emergence in relation to habitat fragmentation, stand age, climate parameters, and seed weight. Our results indicate a positive relationship between the number of conspecifics within and around a seed stand and seedling emergence, suggesting that habitat fragmentation contributes to variation in seed quality. While the underlying mechanisms remain uncertain, our findings emphasize the need for further studies that disentangle demographic, genetic, and climatic influences on mating patterns and resulting seed production. This study provides valuable insights into the impact of habitat fragmentation on forest reproductive material and highlights the importance of sourcing seeds from large, continuous populations to ensure seed quality in reforestation efforts.