Pine Looper Bupalus piniaria (L.) Outbreaks Reconstruction: A Case Study for Southern Siberia

The pine looper Bupalus piniaria is one of the most widespread phyllophagous insect species across Northern Eurasia, defoliating Scots pine forests over vast territories. Since there are not enough long-term documented observations on a series of outbreaks, there is a need for methods allowing them to be reconstructed to study their dynamics patterns. Previously, dendrochronological methods were successfully used to solve such issues. However, the most common approach is not applicable for the Western Siberian forest-steppe since it requires comparison with a non-damaged tree species close to pine in terms of longevity and resistance to rot. In the pine forests of the steppe and forest-steppe zones of Western Siberia, there are no species that are not damaged by the pine looper that meets these requirements. Methods allowing not using control species are also not free from disadvantages (e.g., weak specificity). Therefore, we have developed a new method based on the analysis, not of the tree-ring width but the early- and latewood width to reconstruct past defoliation events. The past defoliation by the pine looper is indicated by the presence of a negative pointer year for latewood, followed by a negative pointer year for earlywood in a subsequent year among the majority of individuals. Linear modeling showed a difference between the climate impact on radial growth and the defoliation one. The obtained reconstruction was compared with the results of other methods (mowing window, OUTBREAK, independent component analysis), literature, and Forest Service data. The developed new method (pointer year method; PYM) showed high efficiency confirmed by results of the tree-ring series analysis (11 revealed outbreaks in the past). Compared with other reconstruction techniques under the given conditions (a favorable combination of heat and humidity; probably low-intense and short defoliation), the proposed method provided more precise results than those proposed earlier. Due to high accuracy, the PYM can be useful for detecting late-summer and autumn past defoliations of tree species with clear difference between early- and latewood even though the damage was weak.

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Prospects of Using Tree-Ring Earlywood and Latewood Width for Reconstruction of Crops Yield on Example of South Siberia

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12020174 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 174

Author(s):

Elena A. Babushkina ◽

Dina F. Zhirnova ◽

Liliana V. Belokopytova ◽

Nivedita Mehrotra ◽

Santosh K. Shah ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tree Ring ◽

Spring Barley ◽

Ring Width ◽

Siberian Larch ◽

Forest Steppe ◽

Study Region ◽

Yield Variation ◽

South Siberia ◽

Crops Yield ◽

Reconstruction Model

Improvement of dendrochronological crops yield reconstruction by separate application of earlywood and latewood width chronologies succeeded in rain-fed semiarid region. (1) Background: Tree-ring width chronologies have been successfully applied for crops yield reconstruction models. We propose application of separated earlywood and latewood width chronologies as possible predictors improving the fitness of reconstruction models. (2) Methods: The generalized yield series of main crops (spring wheat, spring barley, oats) were investigated in rain-fed and irrigated areas in semiarid steppes of South Siberia. Chronologies of earlywood, latewood, and total ring width of Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) growing in forest-steppe in the middle of the study area were tested as predictors of yield reconstruction models. (3) Results: In the rain-fed territory, separation of earlywood and latewood allowed increasing variation of yield explained by reconstruction model from 17.4 to 20.5%, whereas total climatic-driven component of variation was 41.5%. However, both tree-ring based models explained only 7.7% of yield variation in the irrigated territory (climate inclusion increased it to 34.8%). Low temperature sensitivity of larch growth was the main limitation of the model. A 240-year (1780–2019) history of crop failures and yield variation dynamics were estimated from the actual data and the best reconstruction model. (4) Conclusions: Presently in the study region, breeding of the environment-resistant crops varieties compensates the increase of temperature in the yield dynamics, preventing severe harvest losses. Tree-ring based reconstructions may help to understand and forecast response of the crops to the climatic variability, and also the probability of crop failures, particularly in the rain-fed territories.

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Contrasting Signals of the Westerly Index and North Atlantic Oscillation over the Drought Sensitivity of Tree-Ring Chronologies from the Mediterranean Basin

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos11060644 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 644 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Pablo Casas-Gómez ◽

Raúl Sánchez-Salguero ◽

Pedro Ribera ◽

Juan C. Linares

Keyword(s):

North Atlantic Oscillation ◽

Tree Ring ◽

North Atlantic ◽

Tree Species ◽

Ring Width ◽

Pinus Nigra ◽

Western Mediterranean ◽

Drought Severity ◽

Drought Sensitivity ◽

Westerly Index

Extreme drought events are becoming increasingly frequent and extended, particularly in Mediterranean drought-prone regions. In this sense, atmospheric oscillations patterns, such as those represented by the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index and the Westerly Index (WI) have been widely proven as reliable proxies of drought trends. Here, we used the Standardized Precipitation–Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), as a reliable indicator of drought, to investigate the drought sensitivity of tree-ring width data (TRW) from several long-lived tree species (Abies borisii-regis, Abies cilicica, Abies pinsapo, Cedrus atlantica, Cedrus libanii, Pinus nigra, Pinus heldreichii). NAO and WI relations with TRW were also investigated in order to identify potential non-stationary responses among those drought proxies. Our temporal and spatial analyses support contrasting Mediterranean dipole patterns regarding the drought sensitivity of tree growth for each tree species. The spatial assessment of NAO and WI relationships regarding SPEI and TRW showed on average stronger correlations westward with non-stationary correlations between annual WI index and TRW in all species. The results indicate that the drought variability and the inferred drought-sensitive trees species (e.g., C. atlantica) are related to the NAO and the WI, showing that TRW is a feasible proxy to long-term reconstructions of Westerly Index (WI) variability in the Western Mediterranean region. Spatial variability of drought severity suggests a complex association between NAO and WI, likely modulated by an east–west Mediterranean climate dipole.

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A 3585-YEAR RING-WIDTH DATING CHRONOLOGY OF QILIAN JUNIPER FROM THE NORTHEASTERN QINGHAI-TIBETAN PLATEAU

IAWA Journal ◽

10.1163/22941932-90000226 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 30 (4) ◽

pp. 379-394 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Xuemei Shao ◽

Shuzhi Wang ◽

Haifeng Zhu ◽

Yan Xu ◽

Eryuan Liang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tibetan Plateau ◽

Tree Ring ◽

Tree Species ◽

Qaidam Basin ◽

Ring Width ◽

Northwestern China ◽

Tree Ring Width ◽

Living Tree ◽

Qilian Juniper

This article documents the development of a precisely dated and wellreplicated long regional tree-ring width dating chronology for Qilian juniper (Juniperus przewalskii Kom.) from the northeastern Qinghai- Tibetan Plateau. It involves specimens from 22 archeological sites, 24 living tree sites, and 5 standing snags sites in the eastern and northeastern Qaidam Basin, northwestern China. The specimens were cross-dated successfully among different groups of samples and among different sites. Based on a total of 1438 series from 713 trees, the chronology covers 3585 years and is the longest chronology by far in China. Comparisons with chronologies of the same tree species about 200 km apart suggest that this chronology can serve for dating purposes in a region larger than the study area. This study demonstrates the great potential of Qilian juniper for dendrochronological research.

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Multiproxy records of climate variability for Kamchatka for the past 400 years

Climate of the Past ◽

10.5194/cp-3-119-2007 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 119-128 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

O. Solomina ◽

G. Wiles ◽

T. Shiraiwa ◽

R. D'Arrigo

Keyword(s):

Climate Variability ◽

Tree Ring ◽

Ice Core ◽

Ring Width ◽

Summer Temperature ◽

Positive Anomaly ◽

Temperature Decrease ◽

Positive Mass ◽

The Past ◽

Tree Ring Data

Abstract. Tree ring, ice core and glacial geologic histories for the past several centuries offer an opportunity to characterize climate variability and to identify the key climate parameters forcing glacier expansion in Kamchatka over the past 400 years. A newly developed larch ring-width chronology (AD 1632–2004) is presented that is sensitive to past summer temperature variability. Individual low growth years in the larch record are associated with several known and proposed volcanic events from the Northern Hemisphere. The comparison of ring width minima and those of Melt Feature Index of Ushkovsky ice core helps confirm a 1–3 year dating accuracy~for this ice core series over the late 18th to 20th centuries. Decadal variations of low summer temperatures (tree-ring record) and high annual precipitation (ice core record) are broadly consistent with intervals of positive mass balances measured and estimated at several glaciers in 20th century, and with moraine building. According to the tree-ring data the 1860s–1880s were the longest coldest interval in the last 350 years. The latest part of this period (1880s) coincided with the positive anomaly in accumulation. This coincidence led to a positive mass balance, which is most likely responsible for glacier advances and moraine deposition of the end of 19th-early 20th centuries. As well as in some other high latitude regions (Spitsbergen, Polar Urals, Franz Jozef Land etc.) in Kamchatka these advances marked the last millennium glacial maximum. In full agreement with subsequent summer warming trend, inferred both from instrumental and tree ring data, glacier advances since 1880s have been less extensive. The late 18th century glacier expansion coincides with the inferred summer temperature decrease recorded by the ring width chronology. However, both the advance and the summer temperature decrease were less prominent that in the end of 19th century. Comparisons of the glacier history in Kamchatka with records from Alaska and the Canadian Rockies suggests broadly consistent intervals of glacier expansion and inferred summer cooling during solar irradiance minima.

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Dendroecological assessment of climate resilience of the rare and scattered forest tree species Tilia cordata Mill. in northwestern Europe

Forestry An International Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1093/forestry/cpaa011 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 93 (5) ◽

pp. 675-684

Author(s):

Nicolas Latte ◽

Philippe Taverniers ◽

Tanguy de Jaegere ◽

Hugues Claessens

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Climatic Change ◽

Tree Ring ◽

Tree Species ◽

Forest Tree ◽

Tilia Cordata ◽

The Past ◽

Lime Tree ◽

Over Time ◽

Forest Managers

Abstract To increase forest resilience to global change, forest managers are often directing forest stands towards a broader diversity of tree species. The small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata Mill.), a rare and scattered species in northwestern Europe, is a promising candidate for this purpose. Its life traits suggest a high resilience to climate change and a favourable impact on forest ecosystem services. This study used a dendroecological approach to assess how lime tree radial growth had responded to the past climatic change. First, 120 lime trees from nine sites were selected in southern Belgium based on criteria adapted to the rareness of the species. Chronology quality was assessed and resulting tree-ring series were validated at site and region levels. Second, a range of dendrochronological methods was used to analyze the changes over time in the variability and long-term trends of lime tree growth and their relation to climate during the period 1955–2016. Last, behaviour of lime trees was compared with that of beech from the same region and time period. For this purpose, the same methodology was applied to an additional beech tree-ring dataset (149 trees from 13 sites). Beech is the climax tree species of the region, but is known to be drought-sensitive and has shown weaknesses in the current climate. The quality of our tree-ring series attests that dendroecological investigation using rare and scattered species is possible, opening the way to further analysis on other such lesser-known forest tree species. The analysis showed that the small-leaved lime had been resilient to the past climatic change in multiple ways. Lime growth increased during the preceding decades despite an increased frequency and intensity of stressful climatic events. Lime growth quickly recovered in the years following the stresses. The growth–climate relationships were either stable over time or had a positive evolution. The behaviour of lime contrasted strongly with that of beech. Lime performed better than beech in every analysis. Small-leaved lime is thus a serious candidate for addressing climate change challenges in the region. It should be considered by forest managers planning to improve the sustainability and resilience of their forests, in particular in vulnerable beech stands.

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Climate response of tree-ring width in Larix sibirica growing in the drought-stressed forest-steppe ecotone of northern Mongolia

Annals of Forest Science ◽

10.1007/s13595-011-0043-9 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 68 (2) ◽

pp. 275-282 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Choimaa Dulamsuren ◽

Markus Hauck ◽

Hanns Hubert Leuschner ◽

Christoph Leuschner

Keyword(s):

Tree Ring ◽

Ring Width ◽

Larix Sibirica ◽

Forest Steppe ◽

Climate Response ◽

Tree Ring Width ◽

Northern Mongolia

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Reconstruction of Past Erosional Force from Tree Ring Information around the Rokko Mountains, Japan

Quaternary Research ◽

10.1016/0033-5894(90)90034-i ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 34 (2) ◽

pp. 240-248 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kenji Kashiwaya ◽

Takashi Okimura

Keyword(s):

Tree Ring ◽

Debris Flows ◽

Ring Width ◽

Tree Ring Width ◽

Mountain Areas ◽

Rainfall Events ◽

The Past ◽

The North ◽

First Approximation ◽

Landslides And Debris Flows

AbstractTorrential rainfalls in the Rokko Mountains have often triggered severe landslides and debris flows, but few such phenomena have occurred in the area just to the north of the mountains during the same rainfall events. The periodicity of 25–30 years in excess rainfall data (i.e., the annual summation of heavy rainfall of more than 100 mm/day during the past 100 years) around the mountains correlates with the increased frequency of landslides and debris flows. Analyses of tree-ring widths that span the past 50–240 years in samples taken from various areas in the mountains and the area just to the north indicate that most sequences have a dominant periodicity of about 25–30 years, the ring series in the mountain areas having a more conspicuous periodicity than those from the area just to the north. These results lead to the conclusion that excess rainfall may provide a first approximation of erosional force in areas affected by slope movement, and that tree-ring width may be used as a proxy for erosional force.

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Advanced X-ray CT scanning can boost tree ring research for earth system sciences

Annals of Botany ◽

10.1093/aob/mcz126 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 124 (5) ◽

pp. 837-847 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Jan Van den Bulcke ◽

Marijn A Boone ◽

Jelle Dhaene ◽

Denis Van Loo ◽

Luc Van Hoorebeke ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tree Ring ◽

Tree Rings ◽

Tree Species ◽

Ring Width ◽

Ct Scanning ◽

Earth System ◽

X Ray ◽

Spatial Coverage ◽

Wood Traits ◽

Ct System

AbstractBackground and AimsTree rings, as archives of the past and biosensors of the present, offer unique opportunities to study influences of the fluctuating environment over decades to centuries. As such, tree-ring-based wood traits are capital input for global vegetation models. To contribute to earth system sciences, however, sufficient spatial coverage is required of detailed individual-based measurements, necessitating large amounts of data. X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning is one of the few techniques that can deliver such data sets.MethodsIncrement cores of four different temperate tree species were scanned with a state-of-the-art X-ray CT system at resolutions ranging from 60 μm down to 4.5 μm, with an additional scan at a resolution of 0.8 μm of a splinter-sized sample using a second X-ray CT system to highlight the potential of cell-level scanning. Calibration-free densitometry, based on full scanner simulation of a third X-ray CT system, is illustrated on increment cores of a tropical tree species.Key ResultsWe show how multiscale scanning offers unprecedented potential for mapping tree rings and wood traits without sample manipulation and with limited operator intervention. Custom-designed sample holders enable simultaneous scanning of multiple increment cores at resolutions sufficient for tree ring analysis and densitometry as well as single core scanning enabling quantitative wood anatomy, thereby approaching the conventional thin section approach. Standardized X-ray CT volumes are, furthermore, ideal input imagery for automated pipelines with neural-based learning for tree ring detection and measurements of wood traits.ConclusionsAdvanced X-ray CT scanning for high-throughput processing of increment cores is within reach, generating pith-to-bark ring width series, density profiles and wood trait data. This would allow contribution to large-scale monitoring and modelling efforts with sufficient global coverage.

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On the ‘Divergence Problem’ in the Alatau Mountains, Central Asia: A Study of the Responses of Schrenk Spruce Tree-Ring Width to Climate under the Recent Warming and Wetting Trend

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos10080473 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (8) ◽

pp. 473 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Zhang ◽

Jiang ◽

Bagila ◽

Ainur ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Central Asia ◽

Tree Ring ◽

Tree Growth ◽

Tree Species ◽

Climatic Factors ◽

Ring Width ◽

Tree Ring Width ◽

Recent Warming ◽

Divergence Problem ◽

The Stability

The divergence problem, which manifests as an unstable response relationship between tree-ring growth and climatic factors under the background of global warming, poses a challenge to both the traditional theory of dendroclimatology and the reliability of climatic reconstructions based on tree-ring data. Although Schrenk spruce, as the dominant tree species in the Tianshan Mountains, is frequently applied in the dendrochronological studies, the understanding of the divergence problem of this tree species is still limited. This study conducted correlation analysis between climatic factors and tree-ring width chronologies from 51 living and healthy specimens of Schrenk spruce at sites of high and low elevation in the Alatau Mountains to determine the stability of the response. The results revealed that the tree-ring width of the spruce specimens was correlated positively with precipitation and correlated negatively with temperature. Although the variations of the two tree-ring chronologies were similar, the radial growth of the spruce at the low elevation was found more sensitive to climatic factors. Furthermore, the sensitivity of tree growth to climate demonstrated an obvious increase after an abrupt change of climate under the background of the recent warming and wetting trend. Increased drought stress, calculated based on climatic data, was regarded as the main reason for this phenomenon. The results supply the gap of the stability of climatic response of tree growth in Central Asia to some extent.

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TREE-RING STUDIES IN INDIA PAST APPRAISAL, PRESENT STATUS AND FUTURE PROSPECTS

IAWA Journal ◽

10.1163/22941932-90000224 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 30 (4) ◽

pp. 361-370 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Amalava Bhattacharyya ◽

Santosh K. Shah

Keyword(s):

Tree Ring ◽

Tree Rings ◽

Tree Species ◽

Present Status ◽

Regional Climate ◽

Ring Width ◽

Climate Reconstruction ◽

Global Perspective ◽

Future Prospects ◽

The Himalaya

A large number of tree species, especially of conifers growing in the Himalaya and a few broad-leaved taxa in the peninsular region, have been dendrochronologically analyzed in India. This paper is a review providing information as regards the present status and future prospects of tree-ring research in India. Many trees are recorded to have datable tree rings but only some of them have been used for climate reconstruction and other aspects, e.g., glacial fluctuation or palaeo-seismic dating. In future not only ring width which is widely used so far, but also other tree-ring parameters need to be analyzed for a better understanding of the regional climate and its linkage with other climatic phenomena in a global perspective.

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