Novel insights from point-dendrometers in an urban setting: linking environmental variation to fluctuations in stem radius
AbstractBackgroundThe unique environment of urban/suburban areas affects tree growth in surprising and currently unrecognized ways. Real-time monitoring of tree growth could provide novel information about these trees and the myriad ecosystem services they provide.MethodsInternet enabled, high-resolution point dendrometers were installed on four trees in Southampton, NY. The instruments, along with a weather station, streamed data to a project web page that was updated once an hour. (https://ecosensornetwork.com).ResultsRadial growth of spruce began April 14 after the accumulation of 69.7 °C growing degrees days and ended September 7th. Cedar growth began later (4/26), after the accumulation of 160.6 °C and ended later (11/3). During our observations, these three modest suburban trees sequestered 108.3 kg of CO2. Growth took place primarily at night and was best predicted by a combination of air temperature, soil moisture, VPD and interaction terms.ConclusionsThis project’s two-year time series provided insights into the growth of trees in a residential area. Linking tree growth to fluctuations in environmental conditions facilitates the development of a mechanistic predictive understanding useful for ecosystem management and growth forecasting across future altering climates. Live-streaming tree growth data enables a deeper appreciation of the biological activity of trees and the ecosystem services they provide in urban environments and thus can be a powerful tool connecting urban social and ecological systems.