Understanding Tremors Through Tree Rings

The width of tree rings of Pinus nigra Arn. trees growing near the ecological limits for the species, in the Vienna basin, Austria, showed a strong and positive correlation with spring–summer precipitation, indicating a dependence of growth on water availability during the growing season. During the late 20th century, tree rings grew wider than expected given the predicted relationship between rainfall and growth rate observed in the early 20th century. This resulted in models of the relationship between climate and growth rate systematically overestimating the total spring–summer (April–July) precipitation over the last half of the 20th century. Analysis of the temporal stability of the relationship between tree growth and climate variables shows a decrease in the sensitivity of the growth of tree rings to spring–summer precipitation towards the end of the 20th century. This change in sensitivity suggests that tree growth was no longer primarily dependent on water availability. We propose that there was an improvement in water-use efficiency arising from a stimulation of photosynthesis and declining stomatal conductance as a consequence of the increasing CO2 concentration in the atmosphere and that this effect was enhanced by a relatively high input of N due to the proximity of N emission sources.

Download Full-text

Understanding the Representativeness of Tree Rings and Their Carbon Isotopes in Characterizing the Climate Signal of Tajikistan

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12091215 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (9) ◽

pp. 1215

Author(s):

Yuting Fan ◽

Huaming Shang ◽

Shulong Yu ◽

Ye Wu ◽

Qian Li

Keyword(s):

Carbon Isotopes ◽

Tree Ring ◽

Tree Rings ◽

Tree Growth ◽

Climatic Factors ◽

Ring Width ◽

Limiting Factor ◽

Monthly Precipitation ◽

Growth Responses ◽

Climate Signal

The juniper tree forest is a critical component of the carbon, water, and energy cycles of Tajikistan. However, to date, long-term information about tree-ring isotopes is limited in this region. Here, we developed tree-ring width (TRW) and tree-ring 13C chronologies for juniper trees (Juniperus seravschanica (Juniperus excelsa subsp.polycarpos (K. Koch) Takht.) and Juniperus turkestanica (Juniperus pseudosabina Fisch. & C. A. Mey)) and investigated their dendroclimatic signals in the northwest of the Pamir-Alay (NWPA) mountains in Tajikistan. Tree-ring ∆13C and TRW of juniper presented different sensitivities to monthly precipitation. Moreover, ∆13C in juniper showed consistently significant relationships with climatic factors in larger seasonal windows than TRW did. Dendroclimatological analysis demonstrates that precipitation has significant effects on tree growth and isotope enrichment. Late summer to early winter temperature is one limiting factor for the TRW chronologies, but previous spring, summer, and autumn temperature and precipitation from the previous July to the current May were the dominant climatic factors accounting for inter-annual variations in the ∆13C chronologies. This verified that the multi tree-ring parameters of juniper in Tajikistan are a promising tool for investigating inter-annual climate variations. Furthermore, the stable carbon isotopes of tree rings have proven to be powerful evidence of climatic signals. The moisture-sensitive tree-ring isotope provides opportunities for complex investigations of changes in atmospheric circulation patterns and timing of seasonal rainfall. Our results highlight the need for more detailed studies of tree growth responses to changing climate and tree-ring isotopes to understand source water variations (especially baseflow) of the juniper tree forest.

Download Full-text

Tree growth and intrinsic water-use efficiency of inland riparian forests in northwestern China: evaluation via 13C and 18O analysis of tree rings

Tree Physiology ◽

10.1093/treephys/tpu067 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 34 (9) ◽

pp. 966-980 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

X. Liu ◽

W. Wang ◽

G. Xu ◽

X. Zeng ◽

G. Wu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Water Use ◽

Tree Rings ◽

Tree Growth ◽

Riparian Forests ◽

Northwestern China ◽

Intrinsic Water Use Efficiency ◽

Use Efficiency

Download Full-text

From Dendrochronology to Allometry

Forests ◽

10.3390/f11020146 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 146 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Franco Biondi

Keyword(s):

Tree Ring ◽

Tree Rings ◽

Tree Growth ◽

Scientific Inquiry ◽

Population Biology ◽

Wood Formation ◽

Allometric Relationships ◽

Growth Study ◽

Accurate Identification ◽

Ring Analysis

The contribution of tree-ring analysis to other fields of scientific inquiry with overlapping interests, such as forestry and plant population biology, is often hampered by the different parameters and methods that are used for measuring growth. Here I present relatively simple graphical, numerical, and mathematical considerations aimed at bridging these fields, highlighting the value of crossdating. Lack of temporal control prevents accurate identification of factors that drive wood formation, thus crossdating becomes crucial for any type of tree growth study at inter-annual and longer time scales. In particular, exactly dated tree rings, and their measurements, are crucial contributors to the testing and betterment of allometric relationships.

Download Full-text

Carbon Isotopic Research of Pinus Sylvestris L. Growing in the Southern Poland (near Kędzierzyn-Koźle, Dąbrowa GÓrnicza Katowice and Olesno)

Radiocarbon ◽

10.1017/rdc.2019.130 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 62 (2) ◽

pp. 497-502

Author(s):

Barbara Sensuła ◽

Natalia Piotrowska

Keyword(s):

Stable Isotope ◽

Coal Mining ◽

Carbon Isotopes ◽

Tree Rings ◽

Isotope Composition ◽

Stable Isotope Composition ◽

Carbon Isotopic ◽

Pine Tree ◽

Industry Sectors ◽

Important Branch

ABSTRACTIn this paper we present data from the measurements of carbon isotopes (Δ14C and δ13C) from α-cellulose extracted from pine tree-rings. The samples were collected in four forests located in the most industrialized part of Poland, where coal mining and coal-based energy are an important branch of industry. The investigated period of time (1975–2012) covers the period of development in coal mining and other industry sectors. Stable isotope composition has been determined with using IRMS and radiocarbon concentration was determinate by AMS.

Download Full-text

Implications of Reduced Stand Density on Tree Growth and Drought Susceptibility: A Study of Three Species under Varying Climate

Forests ◽

10.3390/f11060627 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 627

Author(s):

Mathias Steckel ◽

W. Keith Moser ◽

Miren del Río ◽

Hans Pretzsch

Keyword(s):

Scots Pine ◽

Tree Growth ◽

Water Availability ◽

Ponderosa Pine ◽

Stand Density ◽

Stand Age ◽

Short Term ◽

Sessile Oak ◽

Site Water ◽

Positive Effect

A higher frequency of increasingly severe droughts highlights the need for short-term measures to adapt existing forests to climate change. The maintenance of reduced stand densities has been proposed as a promising silvicultural tool for mitigating drought stress. However, the relationship between stand density and tree drought susceptibility remains poorly understood, especially across ecological gradients. Here, we analysed the effect of reduced stand density on tree growth and growth sensitivity, as well as on short-term drought responses (resistance, recovery, and resilience) of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.), and ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Douglas ex C. Lawson). Tree ring series from 409 trees, growing in stands of varying stand density, were analysed at sites with different water availability. For all species, mean tree growth was significantly higher under low compared with maximum stand density. Mean tree growth sensitivity of Scots pine was significantly higher under low compared with moderate and maximum stand density, while growth sensitivity of ponderosa pine peaked under maximum stand density. Recovery and resilience of Scots pine, as well as recovery of sessile oak and ponderosa pine, decreased with increasing stand density. In contrast, resistance and resilience of ponderosa pine significantly increased with increasing stand density. Higher site water availability was associated with significantly reduced drought response indices of Scots pine and sessile oak in general, except for resistance of oak. In ponderosa pine, higher site water availability significantly lessened recovery. Higher site water availability significantly moderated the positive effect of reduced stand density on drought responses. Stand age had a significantly positive effect on the resistance of Scots pine and a negative effect on recovery of sessile oak. We discuss potential causes for the observed response patterns, derive implications for adaptive forest management, and make recommendations for further research in this field.

Download Full-text

Stories hidden in tree rings: A review on the application of stable carbon isotopes to dendrosciences

Dendrochronologia ◽

10.1016/j.dendro.2020.125789 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 65 ◽

pp. 125789 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tatiana A. Shestakova ◽

Elisabet Martínez-Sancho

Keyword(s):

Carbon Isotopes ◽

Tree Rings ◽

Stable Carbon Isotopes ◽

Stable Carbon

Download Full-text

Tree-Ring Analyses can be Improved by Measurement of Component Widths and Densities

The Forestry Chronicle ◽

10.5558/tfc53091-2 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 53 (2) ◽

pp. 91-95 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

J. Harry G. Smith

Keyword(s):

Tree Ring ◽

Tree Rings ◽

Tree Growth ◽

Annual Rings ◽

Sources Of Information ◽

X Ray ◽

Annual Variations ◽

Binocular Microscope ◽

Study Component ◽

Ray Methods

Measurement of component widths of annual rings by binocular microscope and of densities by X-ray methods have increased the accuracy of estimation of effects of various factors on tree growth. Sources of information and examples of uses of tree-ring analyses are discussed. Measurements of latewood and earlywood components of tree rings are used to illustrate longterm trends and annual variations about them. It is concluded that foresters should study component widths and densities of tree rings in order to learn more about manipulation of tree growth toward desired goals.

Download Full-text

Are Commonly Measured Functional Traits Involved in Tropical Tree Responses to Climate?

International Journal of Ecology ◽

10.1155/2014/389409 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Fabien Wagner ◽

Vivien Rossi ◽

Christopher Baraloto ◽

Damien Bonal ◽

Clément Stahl ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Functional Traits ◽

Tree Growth ◽

Water Availability ◽

Growth Response ◽

Climate Models ◽

Growth Strategy ◽

Limiting Factor ◽

Maximum Height ◽

Growth Strategies ◽

Growth Responses

Climate models predict significant rainfall reduction in Amazonia, reducing water availability for trees. We present how functional traits modulate the tree growth response to climate. We used data from 3 years of bimestrial growth measurements for 204 trees of 53 species in the forest of Paracou, French Guiana. We integrated climate variables from an eddy covariance tower and functional trait values describing life history, leaf, and stem economics. Our results indicated that the measured functional traits are to some extent linked to the response of trees to climate but they are poor predictors of the tree climate-induced growth variation. Tree growth was affected by water availability for most of the species with different species growth strategies in drought conditions. These strategies were linked to some functional traits, especially maximum height and wood density. These results suggest that (i) trees seem adapted to the dry season at Paracou but they show different growth responses to drought, (ii) drought response is linked to growth strategy and is partly explained by functional traits, and (iii) the limited part of the variation of tree growth explained by functional traits may be a strong limiting factor for the prediction of tree growth response to climate.

Download Full-text