From xylogenesis to tree rings: wood traits to investigate tree response to environmental changes

ABSTRACTIt is noteworthy that the largest part of global vegetation biomass depends on a thin layer of cells: the vascular cambium. Understanding the wood formation processes and relationships with environmental factors is a crucial and timely research question requiring interdisciplinary efforts, also to upscale the information gained and to evaluate implications for tree growth and forest productivity.We provide an overview of wood formation processes up to tree-ring development, bearing in mind that the combined action of intrinsic factors and environmental drivers determines the anatomical traits of a tree ring formed at a specific time and position within the tree’s architecture. After briefly reviewing intrinsic factors, we focus attention on environmental drivers highlighting how a correct interpretation of environmental signals in tree rings must be grounded in a deep knowledge of xylogenesis and consequent wood anatomical traits. We provide guidelines on novel methods and approaches recently developed to study xylem formation. We refer to existing literature on established techniques for retrospective analyses in tree-ring series of anatomical and isotopic traits, to assess long-term ecophysiological responses to environmental variations, also giving advice on possible bias because of interand within-tree variability.Finally, we highlight that, once the temporal axis of intra-annual tree-ring variability of xylem traits is established by xylogenesis analysis, a multidisciplinary approach linking classical dendro-ecology, wood functional traits (dendro-anatomy) and eco-physiology (here focusing on dendro-isotopes) allows a better interpretation of past environmental events hidden in tree rings, and more reliable forecasts of wood growth in response to climate change.

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The significance of compression wood in restoration of the leader in Pinus sihestris L. damaged by moose (Alces alces). II. Structure of growth rings in regenerating stems in relation to juvenile wood formation

Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae ◽

10.5586/asbp.1971.020 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 40 (2) ◽

pp. 315-340 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

B. A. Molski

Keyword(s):

Tree Ring ◽

Tree Rings ◽

Compression Wood ◽

Juvenile Wood ◽

Alces Alces ◽

Wood Formation ◽

Ring Structure ◽

Growth Rings ◽

Late Wood ◽

Wood Compression

The corewood of pine ds very prone to compression wood formation, this changing the whole pattern of the tree ring structure and the siz.es of early and late wood. Compression wood always increases the formation of late wood at the expense of early wood. Tree rings with compression wood are generally wider than those without it, but there occur also tree rings wihout compression wood wider than those in which it is present, formed in the same year and in the same tree.

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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.

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Evidences of Different Drought Sensitivity in Xylem Cell Developmental Processes in South Siberia Scots Pines

Forests ◽

10.3390/f11121294 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. 1294

Author(s):

Liliana V. Belokopytova ◽

Patrick Fonti ◽

Elena A. Babushkina ◽

Dina F. Zhirnova ◽

Eugene A. Vaganov

Keyword(s):

Cell Division ◽

Tree Ring ◽

Tree Rings ◽

Ring Formation ◽

Environmental Drivers ◽

Developmental Processes ◽

Wall Deposition ◽

South Siberia ◽

Holistic Understanding ◽

Climatic Drivers

Research Highlights: This study emphasized the importance of multi-parameter analyses along ecological gradients for a more holistic understanding of the complex mechanism of tree-ring formation. Background and Objectives: The analysis of climatic signals from cell anatomical features measured along series of tree-rings provides mechanistic details on how environmental drivers rule tree-ring formation. However, the processes of cell development might not be independent, limiting the interpretation of the cell-based climatic signal. In this study, we investigated the variability, intercorrelations and climatic drivers of wood anatomical parameters, resulting from consequent cell developmental processes. Materials and Methods: The study was performed on thin cross-sections from wood cores sampled at ~1.3 m stem height from mature trees of Pinus sylvestris L. growing at five sampling sites along an ecological gradient from cold and wet to hot and dry within continental Southern Siberia. Tracheid number per radial file, their diameters and wall thicknesses were measured along the radial direction from microphotographs for five trees per site. These parameters were then averaged at each site for earlywood and latewood over the last 50 tree rings to build site chronologies. Their correlations among themselves and with 21-day moving climatic series were calculated. Results: Our findings showed that wood formation was not simply the result of environmentally driven independent subprocesses of cell division, enlargement and wall deposition. These processes appear to be interconnected within each zone of the ring, as well as between earlywood and latewood. However, earlywood parameters tend to have more distinctive climatic responses and lower intercorrelations. On the other hand, there are clear indications that the mechanisms of cell division and enlargement share similar climatic drivers and are more sensitive to water limitation than the process of wall deposition. Conclusions: Indications were provided that (i) earlywood formation left a legacy on latewood formation, (ii) cell division and enlargement shared more similar drivers between each other than with wall deposition, and (iii) the mechanism of cell division and enlargement along the gradient switch from water to heat limitations at different thresholds than wall deposition.

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Tree ring research in the Himalayas – a key resource for extending environmental records into the pre-instrumental period

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-9237 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Nazimul Islam ◽

Torsten Vennemann ◽

Stuart N. Lane

Keyword(s):

Tree Ring ◽

Tree Rings ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Volcanic Eruptions ◽

Tibet Plateau ◽

Lower Latitude ◽

High Latitudes ◽

Climate Conditions ◽

Wide Range ◽

The Himalaya

Original dendrochronological research has developed rapidly over the last few decades to cover a wide range of environmental reconstruction, not only mean climate conditions but also climate extremes (e.g. floods, droughts) and other environmental hazards (e.g. landslides, debris flows, sea-level rise, volcanic eruptions). Similarly, the focus has expanded its geographical coverage from the temperate and high latitudes to lower latitudes (e.g.&#160; the Himalaya, Tibet Plateau). Analysis of the two main dedicated dendrochronology journals (Dendrochronologia (2002-) and Tree Ring Research (2015-)) shows that the focus of the majority of published papers has been temperate and high latitudes and many fewer have considered lower latitudes such as the Himalaya. This may be due to the long-lasting controversy and doubt of the existence of tree-rings in lower latitude trees and the lower scientific acceptance of seasonal tree growth in such regions. However, such regions have some of the most preferred tree species (e.g. Larix griffithii, Abies spectabilis, Betula utilis, Juniperus polycarpos etc) for dendrochronological analysis making them suitable for tree-ring research and for answering questions regarding century-scale and longer environmental changes in regions with a relatively short history of instrumented recording of environmental parameters.Perhaps the most interesting development in tree ring research is the realization that tree cellulose can be used to acquire information not only of climatic significance but also hydrological significance, by using environmental isotopes. To date, despite of being one of the most climate and geopolitically sensitive regions, the Himalaya has got very less or no attention for combined research of isotopes and anatomical analysis of tree rings. Based on its huge significance, it is critical to combine these two methods to allow us to make linkages between historical climate fluctuations and associated hydrological response. In this poster, we present the conception of a project to do this in a large catchment (4264 km2) in the Sikkim Himalaya with the purpose to understand how climate change is simultaneously impacting both water-related risks and water-related resources and crucially how far downstream which is highly significant as millions of people living downstream get freshwater from the seasonal snow and glacier-melt in this part of the Himalayas.

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Developmental and environmental factors driving xylem anatomy and micro-density

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-10423 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Annie Deslauriers ◽

Valentinà Buttò ◽

Fabrizio Cartenì ◽

Sergio Rossi ◽

Hubert Morin

Keyword(s):

Cell Wall ◽

Tree Ring ◽

Wood Density ◽

Tree Rings ◽

Growing Season ◽

Wood Formation ◽

Cell Diameter ◽

Wall Deposition ◽

Sugar Signal ◽

Simple Sugar

The current research on the dynamics of tree ring formation in conifers has provided new insights into how rate and duration xylem-cell production and development control the size of the xylem conduits leading to the formation of earlywood and latewood. So far, the physiology behind wood formation processes and the associated kinetics has rarely been considered, leading to the impossibility to grasp the drivers of wood density changes along the tree-rings. Despite the importance of wood density for carbon sequestration and tree hydraulics, little is known about the factors controlling variations in wood density across the tree ring, i.e. micro-density, at the intra-annual scale. We first developed a process-based mechanistic model that simulates the development of conifer tracheids from a simple sugar signal that we discuss together with the main kinetics and environmental variables leading to the formation of micro-density in black spruce, the main conifers species in the boreal forest of Canada. At the beginning of the growing season, low sugar availability in the cambium results in slow wall deposition that allows for a lengthier enlargement time thus producing large cells with thin walls (i.e. earlywood). In late summer and early autumn, high sugar availability produces narrower cells with thick cell walls (i.e. latewood). Wood formation dynamics had an indirect effect on micro-density. Micro-density increased under longer periods of cell wall deposition and shorter durations of enlargement. Cell diameter indirectly affected micro-density via cell wall thickness, which was the most important parameter affecting micro-density. Cell traits experienced the joint action of enlargement and secondary wall deposition in shaping the intra-annual patterns of tree rings. Our results point to the predictive power of a simple sugar signal. During the growing season, the amount of carbon allocated to wood formation largely influences the duration of cell differentiation, thus modulating cell diameter, cell wall thickness and by result tree-ring micro-density.&#160;

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Climatic influence on tree wood anatomy: a review

Journal of Wood Science ◽

10.1186/s10086-021-01956-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 67 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sudip Pandey

Keyword(s):

Tree Ring ◽

Tree Rings ◽

Wood Anatomy ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Climatic Factors ◽

Structural Features ◽

Response Strategies ◽

Geographical Regions ◽

New Vision ◽

The Relationship

AbstractWood anatomical traits of xylem are the characteristics of tree rings at cellular and subcellular scales providing important insights on structural features and their linkage to the environment. Therefore, studying the relationship between anatomical traits and environmental changes not only provide physiological explanations, but also provide a new vision of studying the adaptation process and response strategies of tree growth to climate. In this paper, I review and synthesize literature on the influence of climatic parameters on wood anatomy from the different geographical regions using recent (2015–2020) published articles on the topic. This paper discusses the relationship between the anatomical features of angiosperm and gymnosperm xylem with climatic factors. Based on the literature, I then purpose to explore the temporal and spatial variations in the anatomical characteristics of xylem tree rings with environmental changes. Also, more studies can be conducted to assess the synergetic and antagonistic effects among different tree-ring proxies and to determine the specific roles and contributions of major climatic factors during different periods of tree-ring formation.

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Tree-Ring Analysis of Intermediate Hawthorn (Crataegus media Bechst.) in NW Poland

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12010029 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 29

Author(s):

Anna Cedro ◽

Bernard Cedro

Keyword(s):

Tree Ring ◽

Tree Rings ◽

Agricultural Landscape ◽

Positive Influence ◽

Dominant Factor ◽

Incremental Growth ◽

High Precipitation ◽

Ring Analysis ◽

Uncultivated Land ◽

Nw Poland

Intermediate hawthorn (Crataegus × media Bechst.) is broadly distributed in Europe but very rarely examined by dendrochronologists. In NW Poland, it is one of three naturally occurring hawthorn species, growing mainly at forest margins, along roads, in mid-field woodlots, and on uncultivated land. Biocenotically, it is a very valuable species. This study aimed to determine the age of trees, tree-ring dynamics, and growth–climate relationship for intermediate hawthorn. Signature years were also determined. Samples for analysis were collected from 22 trees growing in a typical agricultural landscape in a monospecific mid-field woodlot comprised of several hundred specimens of various ages and forms (shrubs and trees). Using classic methods of dendrochronological dating, a 40-year long chronology spanning 1981–2020 was constructed. The radial growth rate of intermediate hawthorn is comparable to other tree species forming stands in NW Poland and equals 2.41 mm/year. Considerable intersubject variability is noted, from 1.48 to 4.44 mm/year. The chronology was also used for dendroclimatological analyses, including correlation and response function and signature years. Of the meteorological parameters analyzed, annual incremental growth in hawthorn is the most strongly shaped by precipitation totals from May to August of the current vegetation year: high rainfall favors the formation of wide tree-rings. Statistically significant growth–climate relationships were also obtained for winter months (December of the preceding vegetation year, January and February), for which period negative correlation and regression values are noted for air temperature and insolation. Furthermore, high precipitation, low-temperature and low insolation late in the preceding vegetation year (especially in August) make a positive influence on the condition of trees in the upcoming growing season. Signature year analysis clearly pointed to precipitation as the dominant factor in shaping tree-rings in the studied hawthorn population. As there are no dendrochronological papers concerning indigenous hawthorn species, future studies should be expanded to include diverse geographic locations and habitat conditions and should include all three species of hawthorn occurring in Poland.

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A Tree Ring Measurement Method Based on Error Correction in Digital Image of Stem Analysis Disk

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12040464 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 464

Author(s):

Wenjie Zhang ◽

Tianzhong Zhao ◽

Xiaohui Su ◽

Baoguo Wu ◽

Zhiqiang Min ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Error Correction ◽

Tree Ring ◽

Tree Rings ◽

Digital Image ◽

Regression Equation ◽

Distortion Correction ◽

Geometric Distortion ◽

Stem Analysis ◽

Correction Model ◽

Ring Radius

Stem analysis is an essential aspect in forestry investigation and forest management, as it is a primary method to study the growth law of trees. Stem analysis requires measuring the width and number of tree rings to ensure the accurate measurement, expand applicable tree species, and reduce operation cost. This study explores the use of Open Source Computer Vision Library (Open CV) to measure the ring radius of analytic wood disk digital images, and establish a regression equation of ring radius based on image geometric distortion correction. Here, a digital camera was used to photograph the stem disks’ tree rings to obtain digital images. The images were preprocessed with Open CV to measure the disk’s annual ring radius. The error correction model based on the least-square polynomial fitting method was established for digital image geometric distortion correction. Finally, a regression equation for tree ring radius based on the error correction model was established. Through the above steps, click the intersection point between the radius line and each ring to get the pixel distance from the ring to the pith, then the size of ring radius can be calculated by the regression equation of ring radius. The study’s method was used to measure the digital image of the Chinese fir stem disk and compare it with the actual value. The results showed that the maximum error of this method was 0.15 cm, the average error was 0.04 cm, and the average detection accuracy reached 99.34%, which met the requirements for measuring the tree ring radius by stem disk analysis. This method is simple, accurate, and suitable for coniferous and broad-leaved species, which allows researchers to analyze tree ring radius measurement, and is of great significance for analyzing the tree growth process.

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ABSOLUTE DENDROCHRONOLOGICAL SCALE FOR PINE (PINUS SYLVESTRIS L.) FROM UJŚCIE (NW POLAND), DATED USING RAPID ATMOSPHERIC 14C CHANGES

Radiocarbon ◽

10.1017/rdc.2020.116 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Marek Krąpiec ◽

Andrzej Rakowski ◽

Jacek Pawlyta ◽

Damian Wiktorowski ◽

Monika Bolka

Keyword(s):

High Resolution ◽

Pinus Sylvestris ◽

Middle Ages ◽

Tree Ring ◽

Tree Rings ◽

Matching Method ◽

Early Middle Ages ◽

Rapid Changes ◽

Absolute Age ◽

Nw Poland

ABSTRACT Radiocarbon (14C) analyses are commonly used to determine the absolute age of floating tree-ring chronologies. At best, with the wiggle-matching method, a precision of 10 years could be achieved. For the early Middle Ages, this situation has been markedly improved by the discovery of rapid changes in atmospheric 14C concentrations in tree-rings dated to 774/775 and 993/994 AD. These high-resolution changes can be used to secure other floating tree-ring sequences to within 1-year accuracy. While a number of studies have used the 774 even to secure floating tree-ring sequences, the less abrupt 993 event has not been so well utilized. This study dates a floating pine chronology from Ujście in Wielkopolska (Greater Poland) (NW Poland), which covers the 10th century period and is critical for studies on the beginning of the Polish State to the calendar years 859–1085 AD using the changes in single year radiocarbon around 993/4 AD.

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Drought signals inferred from ring-width and stable carbon isotope chronologies from Thuja occidentalis trees growing at their northwestern distribution limit, central Canada

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x2012-012 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 42 (3) ◽

pp. 517-531 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Robert Au ◽

Jacques C. Tardif

Keyword(s):

Tree Ring ◽

Tree Rings ◽

Stable Carbon Isotopes ◽

Stable Carbon Isotope ◽

Ring Width ◽

Ring Formation ◽

Moisture Regime ◽

Stable Carbon ◽

Thuja Occidentalis ◽

Central Canada

Stable carbon isotopes (δ13C) fixed in tree rings are dependent upon environmental conditions. Old northern white-cedar ( Thuja occidentalis L.) trees were sampled at their northwestern limit of distribution in central Canada. The objectives of the study were (i) to investigate the association between tree-ring δ13C values and radial growth in addition to the response of these variables to climate, (ii) to assess site differences between two sites varying in moisture regime, and (iii) to compare tree-ring δ13C of T. occidentalis with that of other boreal tree species growing at the northern limit of their distribution in central Canada. Over 2500 tree rings comprised of 15 T. occidentalis trees were analyzed for δ13C. Annually resolved δ13C (1650–2006) and ring-width (1542–2006) chronologies were developed. During the year of ring formation, ring width was associated with spring and early-summer conditions, whereas δ13C was more indicative of overall summer conditions. However, compared with δ13C values, ring width was more often associated with climate conditions in the year prior to ring formation. Conditions conducive to moisture stress were important for both parameters. Although ring width and δ13C corresponded to the drought intervals of the 1790s, 1840s, 1890s, 1930s, and 1960–1970, ring width may be more responsive to prolonged drought than δ13C. Tree-ring δ13C could, however, provide important information regarding physiological adaptations to drought.

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