Disturbance history is a key driver of tree lifespan in temperate primary forests

AIMS We examined differences in lifespan among the dominant tree species (spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.), fir (Abies alba Mill.), beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), and maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.)) across primary mountain forests of Europe. We ask how disturbance history, lifetime growth patterns, and environmental factors influence lifespan. LOCATIONS Balkan mountains, Carpathian mountains, Dinaric mountains. METHODS Annual ring widths from 20,600 cores from primary forests were used to estimate tree life spans, growth trends, and disturbance history metrics. Mixed models were used to examine species-specific differences in lifespan (i.e. defined as species-specific 90th percentiles of age distributions), and how metrics of radial growth, disturbance parameters, and selected environmental factors influence lifespan. RESULTS While only a few beech trees surpassed 500 years, individuals of all four species were older than 400 years. There were significant difference...