The effect of age and sample position on eucalypt tree-ring width series
In this study, we examine within-tree variance in proportionate tree-ring width (prw) and correlation between radii (rwt), samples (rbh), and trees (rbt) in four eucalypt species common throughout eastern Victoria, Australia. In all species and sites studied, rwt and rbh differ significantly between cambial-age and sample-height classes. Differences between rwt and rbh are nonsignificant between tree-age or radial-azimuth classes. Significant differences in prw exist between cambial-age, tree-age, and sample-height classes and between radii on different compass bearings. Whilst differences in rwt and rbh between cambial-age classes appears to be the result of variation in mechanical demands with increasing stem size, stem deformation may account for differences between sample-height classes. Variation in prw appears to be due to stem geometry, stem eccentricities associated with root buttressing, and tree-age dependent variation in the rate of radial growth. No significant differences in rbt exist between sample-height classes. Analysis of the expressed population signal statistic indicates that site-level and species differences are far more significant than sample position on variance within tree-ring width series collected from eucalypts. We discuss the implications of the current work for eucalypt dendroclimatology.