Norway spruce shows stronger growth sensitivity and weaker intrinsic water-use efficiency response than Scots pine under increasing water limitation in southern Finland

Abstract. Boreal forests, essential for carbon sequestration and multiple ecosystem services, face increasing pressure from climate-induced water stress. This study investigates how increasing water limitation affects growth and intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE) in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst) in southern Finland. We combined site-level tree-ring data on basal area increment (BAI) and carbon isotope discrimination (Δ¹³C) from three sites per species, representing contrasting soil moisture conditions (dry versus wet), with regional growth indices from the Finnish National Forest Inventory (NFI) spanning 1990–2022. Our results show that forests in southern Finland have become increasingly water-limited over the past decade. Site-level and NFI based growth decline post-2015 is pronounced in Norway spruce, indicating strong sensitivity to water limitation, while Scots pine exhibits only marginal reductions beginning around 2010. Δ¹³C analyses indicate increased stomatal regulation in Scots pine and, to a lesser extent, in Norway spruce after 2015, consistent with intensifying water limitations. iWUE derived from tree ring Δ¹³C increased more steeply Scots pine than in Norway spruce, suggesting weaker physiological adjustment in spruce to rising atmospheric moisture demand. Interannual variability in both growth and iWUE for both species was strongly correlated with the standardized precipitation-evapotranspiration index (SPEI) and vapor-pressure-deficit (VPD). Linear mixed-effects models confirm that Norway spruce growth sensitivity to VPD and SPEI intensified after 2015, whereas Scots pine showed consistent Δ¹³C responses and relatively buffered growth. These findings highlight the growing vulnerability of boreal conifers, particularly Norway spruce, to intensifying water stress. Sensitivity varied by soil type: Scots pine was more responsive on organic soils, while Norway spruce was more vulnerable on mineral soils. Species- and site-specific differences in water-use strategies underscore the importance of adaptive forest management, including species choice, site matching, and silvicultural planning, to support forest resilience and productivity under warmer, drier climate.