Background:IntheGermanDemocraticRepublic(GDR),resintappinginScotspine(PinussylvestrisL.)forestswasamajoreconomicactivity,andresin-tappedstandsarefrequentlyfoundupuntilthisday.Inthisstudy,weinvestigatehowthemechanicaldamagecausedbyresintappingaffectsthegrowthandclimatesensitivityofScotspineusingadendroecologicalapproach.Methods:Tree-ringsampleswerecollectedfromresin-tappedandnon-tappedtreesintwoforestareasinnortheasternGermany,andtree-growthpatternswereanalyzed.Forelucidatingeffectsofresintappingontheclimatesensitivityofpinegrowth,climate-growthrelationshipsandpointeryearswerestudied.Results:Weobservedthatresintappingpositivelyaffectstreegrowthatbreastheight,likelyaswoodformationisconcentratedonthelivingpartofthebole(i.e.aftertappingthereisnogrowthtakingplaceonthetappingfaceduetothemechanicaldamagedonetothecambium).Weobservednodifferencesintheclimatesensitivityoftappedandnon-tappedtrees,norintheoccurrenceofextremegrowthresponses.Conclusion:Ourresultshighlightthatresinextractionis,apartfrominflictingmechanicaldamage,notalteringthesensitivityofScotspinegrowthtoclimaticconditions.
