The Radial Growth of Picea wilsonii Was More Restricted by Precipitation Due to Climate Warming on Mt. Guandi, China

Transitional climate zones (TCZ) are characterized by instability due to rapid changes in climate and biological variables, and trees growing there are particularly sensitive to climate change. Therefore, knowledge about the shifted relationships of tree growth in response to climate warming will shape regional forest conservation and management strategies. China has experienced rapid warming in recent decades. However, how tree growth in semihumid to semiarid regions, such as the Guandi Mountains, responds to more sophisticated changes in the hydrothermal combination is not yet clear. In this study, we used tree-ring width data from three sites along an elevational gradient in the Guandi Mountains to present the response of Picea wilsonii Mast. radial growth to increasing temperature and elevational differences in the relationship between tree growth and climate. The results indicated that the Guandi Mountains have experienced rapid warming with a clear trend toward aridity. From 1959 to 1995, the radial growth of P. wilsonii was mainly influenced by temperature, while it was controlled by both temperature and precipitation after rapid warming in 1996. From 1959 to 2017, this species showed a generally consistent growth–climate relationship at different elevations in the Guandi Mountains. However, the radial growth of trees at higher elevations had a higher climatic correlation than at lower elevations, and it was more conditioned by higher summer temperatures and precipitation in December of the previous year. These results suggested that P. wilsonii was more susceptible to drought and high temperatures due to a warming climate and that more attention should be devoted to forest management, especially the adverse consequences of summer drought on P. wilsonii.

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The impact of drought on tree growth in Mediterranean sites

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-8635 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Giovanna Battipaglia ◽

Francesco Niccoli ◽

Arturo Pacheco-Solana

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Tree Growth ◽

Sustainable Forest Management ◽

Climatic Factors ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Ring Width ◽

Limiting Factor ◽

Individual Tree ◽

Annual Growth Rings ◽

The Impact

Climate-induced forest mortality is a critical issue in the Mediterranean basin, with major consequences for the functioning of these key ecosystems. Indeed, in Mediterranean ecosystems, where water stress is already the most limiting factor for tree performance, climatic changes are expected to entail an increase in water deficit. In this context, annual growth rings can provide short- (e.g., years) and long-term (e.g., decades) information on how trees respond to drought events. With climate change, Pinus pinaster and Pinus pinea L. are expected to reduce their distribution range in the region, being displaced at low altitudes by more drought tolerant taxa such as sub Mediterranean Quercus spp.This study aims was to assess the physiological response of Pinus and Quercus species growing in the Vesuvio National park, located in Southern Italy and where an increase of temperature and drought events has been recorded in the recent years. Our preliminary results underlined the importance of temperature on the tree ring width of all the analyses species. The high temperatures can cause a change in the constant kinetics of the RuBisCo, leading to a consequent decrease in carboxylation rate and thus to a reduction in tree growth. On the other hand, also precipitation seemed to affect the growth of the sampled trees: indeed, in all the chronologies a reduction in growth was found after particular dry years: for example, the low rainfall in 1999 (455 mm/year) determined a drastic decline in growth in 2000 in all the species. In addition to the climatic factors, competition can also play an important role in the growth rate: dendrochronological analyzes have highlighted how stand specific properties (i.e. density, structure and composition) can influence individual tree responses to drought events. The knowledge of those researches should be integrated into sustainable forest management strategies to minimize the potential impacts of climate change on forest ecosystems.

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Responses of Larix principis-rupprechtii Radial Growth to Climatic Factors at Different Elevations on Guancen Mountain, North-Central China

Forests ◽

10.3390/f13010099 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 99

Author(s):

Jiachuan Wang ◽

Shuheng Li ◽

Yili Guo ◽

Qi Yang ◽

Rui Ren ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tree Ring ◽

Radial Growth ◽

Climatic Factors ◽

Pearson Correlation ◽

Coniferous Forest ◽

Ring Width ◽

Central China ◽

Summer Drought ◽

Climate Trends

Larix principis-rupprechtii is an important afforestation tree species in the North China alpine coniferous forest belt. Studying the correlations and response relationships between Larix principis-rupprechtii radial growth and climatic factors at different elevations is helpful for understanding the growth trends of L. principis-rupprechtiind its long-term sensitivity and adaptability to climate change. Pearson correlation, redundancy (RDA), and sliding analysis were performed to study the correlations and dynamic relationships between radial growth and climatic factors. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) The three-elevation standard chronologies all exhibited high characteristic values, contained rich climate information and were suitable for tree-ring climatological analyses. (2) Both temperature and precipitation restricted low-elevation L. principis-rupprechtii radial growth, while monthly maximum temperatures mainly affected mid-high-elevation L. principis-rupprechtii radial growth. (3) Mid-elevation L. principis-rupprechtii radial growth responded to climate factors with a “lag effect” and was not restricted by spring and early summer drought. (4) Long-term sliding analysis showed that spring temperatures and winter precipitation were the main climatic factors restricting L. principis-rupprechtii growth under warming and drying climate trends at different elevations. The tree-ring width index and Palmer drought severity index (PDSI) were positively correlated, indicating that L. principis-rupprechtii growth is somewhat restricted by drought. These results provide a reference and guidance for L. principis-rupprechtii management and sustainable development in different regions under warming and drying background climate trends.

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Exploring Growth Variability and Crown Vitality of Sessile Oak (Quercus Petraea) in the Czech Republic

Geochronometria ◽

10.1515/geochr-2015-0003 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 42 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Michal Rybníček ◽

Petr Čermák ◽

Tomáš Žid ◽

Tomáš Kolář ◽

Miroslav Trnka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Management Strategies ◽

Ring Width ◽

Quercus Petraea ◽

Future Climate Change ◽

Summer Drought ◽

Crown Condition ◽

Spring Precipitation ◽

Climatic Effects ◽

Growth Variability ◽

Width Measurements

Abstract Unraveling climatic effects on growth of oak - Europe’s most ecologically and economically important forest species - has been the subject of many recent studies; however, more insight based on field data is necessary to better understand the relationship between climate and tree growth and to adapt forest management strategies to future climate change. In this report, we explore the influence of temperature, precipitation and drought variability on the productivity and vitality of oak stands in the Czech Highlands. We collected 180 cores from mature oaks (Quercus petraea) at four forest stands in the Czech Drahany Highlands. Standard dendromethods were used for sample preparation, ring width measurements, cross-dating, chronology development, and the assessment of growth-climate response patterns. Crown vitality was also evaluated, using the modified ICP Forests methodology. Late spring precipitation totals between May and June as well as the mean July temperature for the year of ring formation were found to be the most important factors for oak growth, whereas crown condition was significantly affected by spring and summer drought. This study is rep-resentative for similar bio-ecological habitats across Central Europe and can serve as a dendroclima-tological blueprint for earlier periods for which detailed meteorological information is missing

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Climate Warming Alters Age-Dependent Growth Sensitivity to Temperature in Eurasian Alpine Treelines

Forests ◽

10.3390/f9110688 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 688 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Raúl Sanchez-Salguero ◽

J. Camarero ◽

Emilia Gutiérrez ◽

Antonio Gazol ◽

Gabriel Sangüesa-Barreda ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Warming ◽

Tree Growth ◽

Radial Growth ◽

Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽

Tree Age ◽

Growth Responses ◽

Polar Urals ◽

Cold Environments ◽

Age Related ◽

Old Trees

Treeline ecotones are considered early-warning monitors of the effects of climate warming on terrestrial ecosystems, but it is still unclear how tree growth at treeline will track the forecasted temperature rise in these cold environments. Here, we address this issue by analysing and projecting growth responses to climate on two different cold-limited alpine treelines: Pinus uncinata Ram. in the Spanish Pyrenees and Larix sibirica Ledeb. in the Russian Polar Urals. We assess radial-growth changes as a function of tree age and long-term climate variability using dendrochronology and a process-based model of tree growth. Climate‒growth relationships were compared considering young (age < 50 years) and old trees (age > 75 years) separately. Warm summer conditions enhanced radial growth, particularly after the 1980s, in the Polar Urals sites, whereas growth was positively related to warm spring and winter conditions in the Pyrenees sites. These associations were stronger in young than in old trees for both tree species and regions. Forecasted warm conditions are expected to enhance growth rates in both regions, while the growing season is forecasted to lengthen in the Pyrenees treelines, mostly in young trees. The observed age-related responses to temperature also depend on the forecasted warming rates. Although the temperature sensitivity is overall increasing for young trees, those responses seem more divergent, or even reversed, throughout the contrasting emission scenarios. The RCP 8.5 emission scenario corresponding to the most pronounced warming and drier conditions (+4.8 °C) could also amplify drought stress in young trees from the Pyrenees treelines. Our modelling approach provides accessible tools to evaluate functional thresholds for tree growth in treeline ecotones under warmer conditions.

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Physiological and Growth Responses to Increasing Drought of an Endangered Tree Species in Southwest China

Forests ◽

10.3390/f10060514 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 514 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Wuji Zheng ◽

Xiaohua Gou ◽

Jiajia Su ◽

Haowen Fan ◽

Ailing Yu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tree Growth ◽

Tree Species ◽

Radial Growth ◽

Intercellular Co2 Concentration ◽

Ring Width ◽

Co2 Concentration ◽

Growth Responses ◽

Endangered Tree ◽

Endangered Tree Species ◽

Intrinsic Water Use Efficiency

Research Highlights: We compared annually resolved records of tree-ring width and stable isotope of dead and surviving Fokienia hodginsii (Dunn) Henry et Thomas trees. We provide new insights into the relationships and sensitivity of tree growth to past and current climate, and explored the underlying mechanism of drought-induced mortality in F. hodginsii. Background and Objectives: Drought-induced tree decline and mortality are increasing in many regions around the world. Despite the high number of studies that have explored drought-induced decline, species-specific responses to drought still makes it difficult to apply general responses to specific species. The endangered conifer species, Fokienia hodginsii, has experienced multiple drought-induced mortality events in recent years. Our objective was to investigate the historical and current responses to drought of this species. Materials and Methods: We used annually resolved ring-width and δ13C chronologies to investigate tree growth and stand physiological responses to climate change and elevated CO2 concentration (Ca) in both dead and living trees between 1960 and 2015. Leaf intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), Ci/Ca and intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE) were derived from δ13C. Results: δ13C were positively correlated with mean vapor pressure deficit and PDSI from previous October to current May, while ring widths were more sensitive to climatic conditions from previous June to September. Moreover, the relationships between iWUE, basal area increment (BAI), and Ci/Ca changed over time. From 1960s to early 1980s, BAI and iWUE maintained a constant relationship with increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration. After the mid-1980s, we observed a decrease in tree growth, increase in the frequency of missing rings, and an unprecedented increase in sensitivity of 13C and radial growth to drought, likely related to increasingly dry conditions. Conclusions: We show that the recent increase in water stress is likely the main trigger for the unprecedented decline in radial growth and spike in mortality of F. hodginsii, which may have resulted from diminished carbon fixation and water availability. Given that the drought severity and frequency in the region is expected to increase in the future, our results call for effective mitigation strategies to maintain this endangered tree species.

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Sensitivity of tree growth to the atmospheric vertical profile in the Boreal Plains of Manitoba, Canada

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x04-144 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 35 (1) ◽

pp. 48-64 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Martin-Philippe Girardin ◽

Jacques Tardif

Keyword(s):

Atmospheric Circulation ◽

Tree Growth ◽

Geopotential Height ◽

Pinus Banksiana ◽

Radial Growth ◽

Late Summer ◽

Summer Drought ◽

Spring Temperature ◽

Species Response ◽

Growing Season Length

This paper investigates the influence of surface climate and atmospheric circulation on radial growth of eight boreal tree species growing in the Duck Mountain Provincial Forest, Manitoba, Canada. Tree-ring residual chronologies were built, transformed into principal components (PCs), and analysed through correlation and response functions to reveal their associations to climate (temperature, precipitation, and drought data for the period 19121999, as well as local geopotential height data for the period 19481999). Geopotential height correlation and composite charts for the Northern Hemisphere were also constructed. Correlation and response function coefficients indicated that radial growth of all species was negatively affected by temperature-induced drought stresses from the summers previous and current to ring formation. The summer drought stress alone explained nearly 28% of the variance in PC1. Warm spring temperature was also a positive factor for Pinus banksiana Lamb. and Picea glauca (Moench) Voss, but a negative one for all hardwoods. Analyses performed on geopotential height highlighted the importance of the Northern Hemispheric atmospheric circulation in the species' response to climate. The variability within the 500-hPa level over southern Manitoba explained 39% and 58% of the variability in PC1 and PC2, respectively. The relationships were highly significant with the middle and high troposphere during spring and late summer (determinant factor for growing season length) and with the troposphere and stratosphere during summer. The sensitivity of tree growth to atmospheric circulation exceeded the synoptic scale, with a response associated with yearly variations in the amplitude of the mid-tropospheric longwaves.

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Geographical, Climatological, and Biological Characteristics of Tree Radial Growth Response to Autumn Climate Change

Frontiers in Forests and Global Change ◽

10.3389/ffgc.2021.687749 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

Author(s):

Shunsuke Tei ◽

Ayumi Kotani ◽

Atsuko Sugimoto ◽

Nagai Shin

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Northern Hemisphere ◽

Tree Growth ◽

Radial Growth ◽

Forest Ecosystems ◽

Ring Width ◽

Biological Characteristics ◽

Growth Responses ◽

Western Asia ◽

Tree Radial Growth

Terrestrial forest ecosystems are crucial to the global carbon cycle and climate system; however, these ecosystems have experienced significant warming rates in recent decades, whose impact remains uncertain. This study investigated radial tree growth using the tree-ring width index (RWI) for forest ecosystems throughout the Northern Hemisphere to determine tree growth responses to autumn climate change, a season which remains considerably understudied compared to spring and summer, using response function and random forest machine learning methods. Results showed that autumn climate conditions significantly impact the RWI throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Spatial variations in the RWI response were influenced by geography (latitude, longitude, and elevation), climatology, and biology (tree genera); however, geographical and/or climatological characteristics explained more of the response compared to biological characteristics. Higher autumn temperatures tended to negatively impact tree radial growth south of 40° N in regions of western Asia, southern Europe, United State of America and Mexico, which was similar to the summer temperature response found in previous studies, which was attributed to temperature-induced water stress.

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Changes in Sensitivity of Tree-Ring Widths to Climate in a Tropical Moist Forest Tree in Bangladesh

Forests ◽

10.3390/f9120761 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. 761 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Mizanur Rahman ◽

Mahmuda Islam ◽

Jakob Wernicke ◽

Achim Bräuning

Keyword(s):

Climate Sensitivity ◽

Tree Growth ◽

Radial Growth ◽

Forest Type ◽

Ring Width ◽

Geographic Location ◽

Growing Season ◽

Positive Trend ◽

Growth Responses ◽

Moist Forest

Tree growth in the tropics is strongly influenced by climate. However, reported tree growth responses to climate are largely inconsistent, varying with geographic location, forest type, and tree species. It is thus important to study the growth responses of tropical trees in sites and species that are under-represented so far. Bangladesh, a country influenced by the Asian monsoon climate, is understudied in terms of tree growth response to climate. In the present study, we developed a 121-year-long regional ring-width index chronology of Chukrasia tabularis A. Juss. sampled in two moist forest sites in Bangladesh to investigate tree growth responses to climate in monsoon South Asia. Standard dendrochronological methods were used to produce the ring-width chronologies. The climate sensitivity of C. tabularis was assessed through bootstrap correlation analysis and the stationarity and consistency of climate–growth relationships was evaluated using moving correlation functions and comparing the regression slopes of two sub-periods (1950–1985 and 1986–2015). Tree growth was negatively correlated with the mean, minimum, and maximum temperatures, particularly during the early growing season (March). Likewise, precipitation negatively influenced tree growth in the later growing season (October). Besides, radial growth of Chukrasia sharply ceased in years following strong and moderate El Niño events. In parallel with a significant positive trend in local temperatures, tree growth sensitivity to early growing season (March–April) mean temperatures and July minimum temperatures increased in recent decades. Tree growth sensitivity to October precipitation and April vapor pressure deficit also increased. Overall, climate–growth relationships were stronger during the period 1986–2015 than during 1950–1985. Changes in climate sensitivity might be linked to a warming trend that induced an increase in the dry season length during recent decades. With a further predicted temperature increase at our study sites, our results suggest that radial growth of C. tabularis will further decline in response to climate warming.

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Tree ring variability and climate response of Abies spectabilis along an elevation gradient in Mustang, Nepal

Banko Janakari ◽

10.3126/banko.v24i1.13473 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 3-13 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

D. K. Kharal ◽

H. Meilby ◽

S. Rayamajhi ◽

D. Bhuju ◽

U. K. Thapa

Keyword(s):

Tree Ring ◽

Tree Growth ◽

Radial Growth ◽

Global Climate ◽

Elevation Gradient ◽

Ring Width ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Spring Temperature ◽

Central Nepal ◽

Abies Spectabilis

In mountainous areas including the Himalayas, tree lines are expected to advance to higher altitudes due to global climate change affecting the distribution and growth of plant species. This study aimed at identifying the tree ring variability of Abies spectabilis (D. Don) and its response to the climate along an elevation gradient in the high Himalayas of central Nepal. Tree core samples were collected from four sites in Mustang district. All sites were located in the same valley and exposed to similar weather conditions. Out of 232 samples collected from the sites, Titi lower (2700 m), Titi upper (2900 m), Pangukhark (3100 m) and Lete upper (3300 m), 44, 40, 39 and 41 series were successfully cross-dated and ring-width chronologies including 168, 79, 138 and 156 years previous to 2012 were developed, respectively. Statistically significant differences in average annual radial growth were noted among the four sites with the highest radial growth observed at mid-elevation sites. Chronological statistics based on residual chronologies for the common period revealed that A. spectabilis at the upper elevation site was more climate sensitive than at the other three sites. At the highest-elevation sites the correlation between pre-monsoon precipitation and tree growth was positive, and for the month of May this was statistically significant (p<0.05). Moreover, spring temperature (March-June) was negatively correlated with precipitation and with tree growth at all sites, and at the upper elevation site (3300 m) the correlation was significant for March, April and May. Banko Janakari, Vol. 24, No. 1 pp. 3-13

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The Spatially Inhomogeneous Influence of Snow on the Radial Growth of Schrenk Spruce (Picea schrenkiana Fisch. et Mey.) in the Ili-Balkhash Basin, Central Asia

Forests ◽

10.3390/f13010044 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 44

Author(s):

Li Qin ◽

Kainar Bolatov ◽

Yujiang Yuan ◽

Huaming Shang ◽

Shulong Yu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Central Asia ◽

Tree Growth ◽

Radial Growth ◽

Ring Width ◽

Summer Precipitation ◽

Important Influence ◽

Picea Schrenkiana ◽

Spatially Inhomogeneous ◽

Winter Snow ◽

Weak Trend

Snow has an important impact on forest ecosystems in mountainous areas. In this study, we developed 14 tree-ring-width chronologies of Schrenk spruce (Picea schrenkiana Fisch. et Mey.) for the Ili-Balkhash Basin (IBB), Central Asia. We analyzed the response of radial growth to temperature, precipitation and snow parameters. The results show that previous winter and current summer precipitation have an important influence on the radial growth of P. schrenkiana. Further, we find spatially inhomogeneous effects of snow on subsequent growing-season tree growth in IBB. The radial growth response of P. schrenkiana to snow shows a weak–strong–weak trend from west to east across the Ili-Balkhash Basin. This spatial difference is mainly related to precipitation, as snow has little effect on tree growth in regions that receive more precipitation. Thus, winter snow has an important influence on the radial growth of trees in regions that receive limited amounts of precipitation.

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